AzadiProduced by local scenester Steve Tobin for Fire Museum and Electro Motive Records, this benefit compilation for the Revolutionary Association of the Women of Afghanistan (RAWA) brings together a wide variety of players spanning a multiplicity of genres, from jazz, modern classical, and experimental improv to folk, indie rock, and dance. While a few of the featured artists hail from distant lands — e.g., freaky instrumentalists Godspeed You Black Emperor! (Montreal) and Turkish avant-garde singer Saadet Turkoz — most were handpicked from our own back yard. Familiar names include art
punks Deerhoof, global-minded altrockers Charming Hostess, estrogen-powered a cappella sensation Jou Jou, and haunted fairy-tale duo Faun Fables; lesser-known standouts are post-Pixies pop group 20 Minute Loop and queer hip-hoppers Deep Dickollective.