I placed the first disc of this album in my player with some trepidation wondering to myself if this indeed was the long awaited holy grail of Indo-American jazz fusion. Here two streams of musical tradition dear to me come together; namely Jazz and Indian classical. The album at hand is essentially a recreation of […]

இளையராஜா – The Music Messiah / Agi Music 2006 After listening to and reviewing Ilaiyaraaja’s magnum opus Thiruvasagam, I made my way to Spencer Plaza in Chennai and bought myself this CD. I thought I would be in for another meeting point of western classical music and Tamil traditions, but not quite. What we have here […]

Avial – Debut Album / Phat Phish 2008 I’ve delayed far too long in writing about this folk-rock outfit. It is beginning to look like Kerala is a real breeding ground for original artists. Avial has already convinced audiences in the state since 2003 but now during the last year or two they have really […]

I must confess I don’t have a clear idea on how popular or widely read Ruskin Bond is outside of India. Here in India he’s without a doubt a much loved figure who has painstakingly documented the disappearing ethos of quiet towns and hill station romanticism for the past fifty years or so. Maybe that’s […]

Ilaiyaraaja – Thiruvasagam (c) 2005 English lyrics:    Stephen Schwartz Richard King :    Sound Engineer Lászlo Kovacs : Conductor Budapest Symphony Orchestra & Choir Singers: Ilaiyaraaja, Roy Harcourt, Madhu Balakrishnan, Vijay Yesudas Collection of classical hymns on Lord Shiva written by poet sage Manickavasagar. Recreated as the first Indian Oratorio by music maestro Ilaiyaraaja.

Midival Punditz – Hello Hello/Six Degrees 2009 Tapan Raj & Gaurav Raina / Karsh Kale – co-producer Last year saw the release of a milestone album in Indian electronica as Midival Punditz let loose on the world their third long play ‘Hello Hello’. Ever since hearing their eponymous debut back in 2002 I’ve been hooked […]

Jal – Boondh: a drop of jal / Fire Records 2008

Tucked away in the old French quarters of the South Indian town of Pondicherry on Rue de la Caserne is a charming place called Le Dupleix. Having just stayed there and finding it thoroughly charming I would like to write a little about the establishment. Advertised as a luxury designer/heritage hotel I would say that this […]

Motherjane – Maktub / Independent 2008

Mekaal Hassan Band – Saptak / EMI (India) 2009