Zendooni (Funk, Psychedelia And Pop From The Iranian Pre-Revolution Generation)

Released in 2012 by Pharaway Sounds, Zendooni serves as a vital archival compilation of Iranian music produced between the mid-1960s and the 1979 revolution. The collection was curated to document a vibrant era of cultural synthesis, where Western-influenced psychedelic rock, funk, and surf music were blended with traditional Persian melodies and instrumentation, creating a unique soundscape that was largely suppressed or lost following the shift in the country's political climate.

The compilation highlights the work of artists operating within the thriving Tehran nightclub and studio circuit of the era. By sourcing rare 45s and lost studio tapes, the producers aimed to preserve the artistic experimentation of pre-revolutionary Iran. Upon its release, the record was well-received by global music critics and crate-diggers, who praised it for shedding light on a sophisticated, historically neglected intersection of Middle Eastern culture and global pop music movements.