When it first appeared in 1986, the Desert Equations: Azax Attra album was greeted with enthusiasm, awe and disbelief: nobody had done anything quite like that before, and this dizzying, inspired blend of Persian tradition, New York avantgarde and electronic music remains incomparable, powerful and mesmerising to this day. A haunting and futuristic album, it combines the sublime voice of Iranian vocalist Deyhim and the electronic wizardry of US composer Horowitz. Desert Equations wonderfully blends the duo’s multiple sources, including their experiences at the epicentre of New York’s early 1980s avantgarde music and theatre scene, Sussan Deyhim’s knowledge of traditional Persian music and its reverberation in modern Iranian arts, and Richard Horowitz’s background in jazz, electronics and Moroccan folk music. This 2021 remastered vinyl reissue includes three previously-unreleased bonus tracks, one included on the LP and two only available as downloads, and a rich booklet with photographs and notes recounting the duo’s fascinating life stories. Sussan Deyhim went on to work with the likes of Peter Gabriel, Jah Wobble, Bobby McFerrin, Adrian Sherwood, Ornette Coleman, and renowned visual artist Shirin Neshat. Richard Horowitz has collaborated with David Byrne, was the original artistic director of the Gnaoua Festival in Essaouira, and has written and recorded film soundtracks for the likes of Oliver Stone. In April 2021, Deyhim and Horowitz were invited to perform at the first Nobel Prize Summit.
