It is his best to date
Abhilash.R | 11/17/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Anokha : Sounds from the Underground was my first introduction to the world of fusion music. There are a number of great artists like James Asher who have infused rock and Indian classical to tremendous commercial success. But none can come up to the critical acclaim of Talvin Singh as the maestro of fusion. And if a man follows up with something so original as Ha, then you know he is something special.
And special he is. I'll rate the songs individually so that you will get a good idea of Talvin's versatility.
One (10/10) : This first song is almost 12 mins long with the vocals provided by Ustad Sultan Khan. What a rendition !. Starts of slow, soulfully and then reaches a tremendous long crescendo of drums,violin, tabla and percussion. It is the perfect blend of east and west. Perfect. This is by far the best opening I've heard in any fusion album to date. On any other album I would have placed it as No 1. But read on.....
Mustard Fields (8.5/10) : If the first song starts slow and ends up fast then the second one blows on your face the minute it starts and ends the same way. Heavy percussion, tabla and bass is evident in this ripper of a song. Vocals by Sultan Khan himself. However it could get a bit repetitive owing to the same beats all through the song. But is still a trrific bhangra blast, mind you.
The Beat Goes On (9.5/10) : The strangest of the lot. And probably the most likeable. It starts so weirdly and then blends seamlessly with the main music. This is definitely a perfect set up for some retro dancing. Cool song really.
Uphold (9.5/10) : Wow. The beat is simply tremendous. In the background you hear chants and some weird percussion effect, but all that is immersed in some amazing drumming. It has a mystical eastern aura : dark , broody but full of rage and anger.
Sway of the verses (10/10) : One of the best an already superb album has to offer. The first real slow song. It starts of with, I believe bhangra lyrics, and then slowly falls into rhythmic natyam chorus. It is an uplifting piece. Tune progression is one of Talvin's fortes and this rendition is an ample proof of it. The way the song builds to its conclusion is superb.
Dubia (10/10) : The best of the lot. This HAS to be heard with surround sound. Starts of slow with rhythmic percussion and then blasts you of your feet with some truly amazing beat pattern. Along the way, the Bharatanatyam type dance vocals begins and that takes the song to a whole new level. It ends up with all the percussion and music fading off into a single beat with the vocals carrying on to the end. This is THE best fusion song to date. It is fast, it is catchy and is downright addictive. Mind you, if you don't like fast fusion, probably you might not like this.
It's not over (8/10) : A slightly melancholic, melodramatic song that probably suits a rainy day. It connects more when you listen, cast on favourite couch it in a dimly lit room. It probably forces you to reflect on your thoughts. Good song, but not one for all occasions.
Abalonia (8/10) : Not a really great song, but very amusing to listen to. It is more offbeat than all others in the album. Probably Talvin wanted to add a track that you couldn't place in his already weird set pieces. But nevertheless it is a welcome change.
See Breeze (10/10) : The comes real close to Dubia except that it has rhythmic vocals backed up by some powerful flute and drum rendition. It is one of the best in the whole lot and probably tries to uplift you to some newfound optimism for life. It is an expansive, soulful, gorgeous song.
Silver Flowers (6/10) : The weakest of the lot. I seriously couldn't connect to it or place it in any form whatsoever. Yet, behind its virtual lack of any music, at certain points of the day, you might want to check it out because of the beautifully haunting vocals in the background. But it can be skipped most of the time. It is the only real flaw in an otherwise, superb musical orchestra.
Overall, Ha is a masterpiece. Fusion music has always had trouble with the public, owing to its cross cultural mix of unplacable tunes. Yet it is probably the most exciting genre since you can just about mix anything to bring out some truly flabbergasting renditions. Certain songs transcend both spiritual and physical barriers to become truly uplifting classics. Take Deep Forest , Enigma or even Sting....all have dappled in it and have come out with critical and commercial success. And Talvin is no different. Try it out and you will probably be hooked to his other albums like I did. Even to this day, I don't get bored of what he has to offer because they are sound so pure and unique. Enjoy"
Even Better than OK
Antonio Cunha Silva | Stb, Portugal | 02/06/2004
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Okay! This cd is one of my favorites of asian underground music. When I first saw Talvin Singh at a festival in Portugal in 1998 I was astonished! By that time I bought a great cd called "Annokha, Soundz from the Asian Underground"... what a lovely song with Amar!!
This is his best cd. Although I don't like very much the track Mustard Fields, the rest is very gooood! And it's good not for those specially interested in Asian Underground music! This yellow edition comes with a new great track!"
Track Listings (11) - Disc #1
