Editor's info:
Compiled by world music editor and film maker Simon Broughton, this unique album brings together the traditions of a country that suffered under a radical ban on music imposed by the Taliban between 1996 and 2001. Although he died in 1979 aged just 33, Ahmad Zahir is still the most popular musician in Afghanistan. Known as the 'Afghan Elvis', 'Leili-Jan' is a love song and one of his greatest hits. A hugely popular Pashtun singer in the 1980s, Naghma left Afghanistan once the mujahideen came to power and when the Taliban fell it was her music, recorded in Pakistan, which was the biggest seller. Her song 'Meena Dakhklo Sanga Kaygi' is about a young girl asking for advice. Mahwash is the most respected female Afghan singer around and this album features her Sufi track 'Gar Konad Saheb-E-Man', as well as 'Mola Mamad Djan', one of the country's best-loved songs. Ahmad Sham Sufi Qawwali Group is one of the most highly regarded qawwali groups and their music can be explored further on the bonus CD.

Since the overthrow of the Taliban, commercial radio and television have transformed the music scene and documentary shows, such as Afghan Star (a sort of American Idol contest), have had a massive impact. Setara Hussainzada is one of the most interesting characters from the Afghan Star phenomenon and even received death threats after her headscarf slipped slightly when on stage. Her song 'Zim Zim Zim' was composed by Nainawaz and is massively popular. Winner of the third contest in 2008, Rafi Naabzada, an Uzbek from Mazar-i Sharif, sings a duet with his fellow contestant, Hameed Sakhizada, an ethnic Hazara, on 'Sabza Ba Naaz Mea Ayad'. The country's most famous contemporary pop star, Farhad Darya left the country in 1990 and now lives in the USA. This album features two of his songs: 'Salaamalek', recorded in 2006 with bestselling German rock musician Peter Maffay; and 'Salaam Afghanistan', his big hit in 2004 when he returned to Afghanista.......
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