Search - Alan Lomax :: World Library: India

Great overview of a wide variety of styles

Joe Sixpack -- Slipcue.com | ...in Middle America | 05/11/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Another impressive release in Rounder's fabulous Alan Lomax series... The very nature of this album's title, a hangover from the 1950s field recording era, indicates both the scope and the drawbacks of this disc. It is a sweeping overview of Indian classical and folkloric styles, and as such it is alternately delightful and disappointing. Gathered by French ethnomusicologist Alain Danielou, these well-produced recordings capture many vibrant performances in a variety of styles. Yet as any fan of Indian music will tell you, two-to-three minutes is simply not enough time for most songs to properly develop, and while these are excellent examples of the music, they are not complete performances. But seen as a guide post to steer you into deeper exploration of Indian music, this is a very, very nice record. Recommended."