Rituals Of The Last Dawn by SABA ALIZADEH

 

Iranian music whether it is classical, popular, modern or experimental has been leaving an indefinite

mark on anything that has been composed, improvised or brought back to light. In the light of the

recent developments, I think it is just fair to say, it needs recognition and our attention more than

ever.

Saba Alizadeh is a musician that comes from a family of long- cultivated musical traditions. His father

Hossein is a world-renowned tar and setar virtuoso. Saba, himself is a master of kamancheh, a spike

fiddle. But he has established himself as an experimenting musician and composer and this album

which is a beautifully edited and released as a vinyl record comprised of two long tracks, shows the

high quality of this musical bet.

Two tracks – two rituals which he has recorded together with befriended musicians: Pietro Caramelli

on guitar and electronics in the first one and Liew Niyomkarn on lap steel and electronics in the

second one. Both of the tracks are a beautiful flow of musical dialogue – balancing the equations

between mild experimentation illustrative and poetic current of Saba’s kamancheh.

To be a mature and self-aware composer you probably have to fulfil certain tasks or a list of qualities

and features. But in case of Saba Alizadeh, it is not only the virtuosity but how he combines all those

little elements together making the compositions both memorable, balanced and set against the

time, where he always wins.

It is an album of combining elements that would probably didn’t fit together if it is for the pacing,

managing the space and time which is done uniquely beautiful.

New album by SABA ALIZADEH, a groundbreaking voice in contemporary Iranian music who blends

classical Persian traditions with avantgarde experimentation.

Born in Tehran in 1983 as son of the world renowned tar and setar virtuoso HOSSEIN ALIZADEH,

SABA ALIZADEH established himself not only as a true master on the Iranian spike fiddle kamancheh

but one of the groundbreaking voices in contemporary Iranian music, blending classical Persian

traditions with avantgarde experimentation. His music, praised by THE WIRE as “a bridge between

the ancient and the contemporary”, turns sound and image into powerful narratives of memory and

resistance. Over the past years, ALIZADEH (who relocated to the Netherlands a few years ago) has

appeared at key festivals and venues such as Reeperbahn Festival, CTM, Flow Festival, Philharmonie

Berlin, Kölner Philharmonie, solidifying his reputation as a singular live performer.

After the critically acclaimed releases “Scattered Memories” (his international debut, released on

Karlrecords in 2019), “I May Never See You Again” (2021) and last year’s “Temple of Hope”, his new

album fascinates again with a unique artistic voice, weaving together centuries-old sonic heritage

and the urgency of the present through deeply immersive, meditative landscapes in two epic pieces.

“Rituals Of The Last Dawn” may feel like a sad or resigned title (compared to the positively fierce

“Temple Of Hope”), but at the same time the highly meditative music provides a good lot of

contemplative strength. Appealing to an open-minded “world music” audience as well as fans of

current streams of ambient or drone in its most subtle forms, ALIZADEH’s latest work is a strongly

needed soul food in bitter times. Created on the spot with his musical partners PIETRO CARAMELLI

(guitar and electronics on “First Ritual”) and LIEW NIYOMKARN (lap steel and electronics on “Last

Ritual”), “Rituals Of The Last Dawn” is a pure, unfiltered emotional expression from one of

contemporary Iranian music’s leading artists.

credits

released March 20, 2026

Credits:

Mixed at NoiseWorks Studio, September 2025

Mastering & cut by Helmut Erler, mastering.heyrec.org

Layout & design by kaidoh

Calligraphy by Mohammad Enshai

First Ritual:

Kamancheh: Saba Alizadeh

Guitar, electronics: Pietro Caramelli

Recorded at NoiseWorks, July 2025, Leiden

Last Ritual:

Kamancheh: Saba Alizadeh

Lap steel guitar, electronics: Liew Niyomkarn

Recorded at Liew's studio, July 2025, Brussels

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