Salim Ghazi Saeedi - 'Iconophobic'

An intriguing listening experience.

Whilst reading through some posts on a music forum I frequent, I noticed a message from a guy that posted a topic that said "Music has no boundaries". Intrigued I read his post a couple of times then contacted him. It turned out the man Salim Ghazi Saeedi was a musician from Iran of all places, who had recorded an album of instrumental prog rock music, that he was keen to tell the world all about. After some back and forth correspondence between us, Salim kindly sent me his CD to review, and I'm here to tell you that on what I would imagine was a very limited budget, he has made something very interesting indeed. What Salim has come up with is an album that reminded me of a weird combination of light prog rock mixed with ambient guitar sounds, that put me in mind of that wonderful guitar player/musician Scott Mosher and his music. And although the songs are a little on the short side (for true prog heads, that is) they do tell you about the interesting story of this man's musical journey and what he was feeling at the time he recorded the tracks.



So where to start ? Well with the songs 'Composers Laughter', 'A Satire On Hell' the intriguing 'The Songful Song Of Songbirds', 'Music In A Harem' and the clever 'Give My Childhood Back', multi instrumentalist Salim Ghazi Saeedi shows that music really doesn't or maybe that should read "should not", have any boundaries because he has put out an album that is very different, quirky, odd at times, yet very accessible. Of course being where he is from (Iran) and all that entails in today's troubled world, it probably isn't easy to be a musician, but with the Internet and good luck Salim will, I'm sure, get his music out to an appreciative world. 'Iconophobic' isn't your usual prog album, filled as it is with it's ambient sounds and strange ideas, yet that is what makes this album such an intriguing listening experience. If you like to give different types of music and musiciansa chance then do please give Mr Salim Ghazi Saeedi and his album a listen. 

Ian Johnson

Please visit: www.salimworld.com