Hiatus can mean, among many things, an interruption in the intensity of something or a subtle difference in pitch between two musical tones. The music created by Cyrus Shahrad under this moniker, then, is just as such. His music is poignant, evocative and thoughtful, with the most delicate intimations of his Iranian heritage peppered throughout. Using warm drones of bass as foundation, he arranges layers of fluctuating synthesised melodies to illuminate his music with brilliant emotion.

Often heard on many of Hiatus‘ tracks are the captivating vocals of Shura, a regular collaborator who played a big part in creating the ethereal atmospheres of Parklands, his latest LP. The combination of the two artists’ talents is humbling, to say the least. It evokes a beautiful melancholy even when the melodies themselves are wholly uplifting, the deep textures carrying themselves with haunting grace.

The opening track of the…