Ashkan

The violin/viola duo instrumentation is defined by its focus and its limitations. Two instruments, at the high range of their instrumental family, with the same mechanism of sound production, and yet possessing distinct voices due to their subtle differences in register, size, and string thickness. The result is an instrumental combination that is simultaneously symbiotic and individualistic, highlighting the points at which the two merge into one while underscoring their dialogue with one another. The duo andPlay (Maya Bennardo, violin and Hannah Levinson, viola) have made it their mission to excavate the potential of their instrumentation, encouraging composers to write works that produce music that is far beyond the sum of the two parts. “Playlist” is their first release chronicling this work, and features music written for them by David Bird and Ashkan Behzadi, alongside the first commercial studio release of a work by Clara Iannotta, all of which approach sound in layered ways, while preserving a cohesive aural result.

2008 three CD box set, the follow-up to the hugely successful Island Records Prog box set, Strangely Strange But Oddly Normal. Strange Pleasures - Further Sounds of the Decca Underground contains 49 tracks from the golden age of British Prog and features early recordings by Genesis, Egg, Caravan, Khan, Moody Blues, Ten Years After and Thin Lizzy, all recorded for the Decca and Deram labels between 1966 and 1975. Compiled with exhaustive sleeve notes and annotation by Mark Powell. Design by Phil Smee at Waldo's Design and Dream Emporium.

Psych', a newly compiled 64 song 3CD set celebrating an extraordinary era in British Pop and Rock music that saw an expansion of musical styles that heralded Psychedelia and the arrival of Prog (or Progressive) Rock. It coincided with the launch of the eclectic, occasionally esoteric but always interesting Deram label - the music press of the day described it as a 'hip label for groovy people'. Includes esteemed artists such as Genesis, The Moody Blues and Caravan alongside hidden gems within the catalogue.

Psych', a newly compiled 64 song 3CD set celebrating an extraordinary era in British Pop and Rock music that saw an expansion of musical styles that heralded Psychedelia and the arrival of Prog (or Progressive) Rock. It coincided with the launch of the eclectic, occasionally esoteric but always interesting Deram label - the music press of the day described it as a 'hip label for groovy people'. Includes esteemed artists such as Genesis, The Moody Blues and Caravan alongside hidden gems within the catalogue.

Psych', a newly compiled 64 song 3CD set celebrating an extraordinary era in British Pop and Rock music that saw an expansion of musical styles that heralded Psychedelia and the arrival of Prog (or Progressive) Rock. It coincided with the launch of the eclectic, occasionally esoteric but always interesting Deram label - the music press of the day described it as a 'hip label for groovy people'. Includes esteemed artists such as Genesis, The Moody Blues and Caravan alongside hidden gems within the catalogue.