worldsapart

Are East & West Really Worlds Apart? continued

World Music has been growing in popularity for years. Many have said that Peter Gabriel invoked the revolution of World Music with his CD: “Passion”, the soundtrack to The Last Temptation of Christ, which released way before the film in 1990 (Geffen Records). It is undoubtedly a deep spiritual journey; profound, mesmerizing and inspiring. “Passion” elegantly fuses sounds of Africa, Asia, ancient Europe and the Far East. The collection is simply a work of art; from Shankar on violin to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan with his vocals, to other musicians who aren’t so well known but brimming with talent nonetheless

Fortunately, one does not always need to travel to experience the vibe and sensations of the world’s different corners. Just close your eyes and you will roam far and wide over Mediterranean soundscapes from places like Morocco, Andalucian Spain, Algeria and then into the spirited and exotic world of Asia. The cool vibes effortlessly sooth the restless soul whilst the fast paced club beats tantalize the senses, especially when a vibrant tabla beat is stirred into the mix. Whatever the environment, mellow or electrifying, world music has something for everyone. The delicious eastern vibes you will often hear conjure up melodies of days gone by whilst the contemporary sounds send a subliminal message of the future as the rhythms yields to sentiments of the west.

One distinguished South Asian Pioneer is Nitin Sawhney. Nitin recently won an accolade at this year's BBC Radio 3 World Music Awards. It is clear that Nitin draws from his own experience of cultural diversity, being a second generation British South Asian. Nitin encompasses traditional Indian and contemporary sounds, flamenco guitar & Latin rhythms, drum n bass, tabla juxtaposed with techno bass and an eclectic mix of original voices. In his music, Nitin continually diminishes the barriers between club music, tranquil ambient groove (lounge) and world music.

Nitin’s first CD was entitled “Spirit Dance” which seamlessly fused together the intricate music of Northern India with complex music of the West. Nitin’s later CD “Migration” draws on the themes of voyage, evolution and adjustment. His “Displacing the Priest” was a reflection upon spirituality and organized religion and the abyss that can sometimes exist between the two. A sequence of compositions illuminated the British South Asian search for self; a journey I am all too familiar with. I immensely connected with this album as it seemed to me like Nitin was searching for the identity common to generations which are the product of an immigrant race.

There is no doubt that when one starts on the journey of World Music they will encounter the more “chilled/lounge” World Music albums such as the numerous Buddha Bar collections which offers a cornucopia of captivating music. Buddha Bar and Café Del Mar are revolutions within themselves and never fail to create the perfect ambience. Another older yet unshakable album is Prem Joshua’s “Earth Kisses The Sky”. This is a perfect lounge album and can accompany you on those cold winter evenings indoors, or equally, a glamorous dinner party out on the terrace.

Deepak Chopra’s Gift of Love II is a personal favorite and you can hear the sultry sound of Mira Veda with the captivating words from Lisa Bonet (the Cosby show!). Although Mira Veda is known for R&B, look out for her new album releasing at the end of the year which from our sneak preview focuses very much on the World Music genre. Personally, as a second generation South Asian I immerse myself in the sounds of World Music. I have found a home in this genre as it uniquely represents my experiences of cultural fusion and focuses on unity. World Music has been about following my innate sense of truth and finding a deeper spirituality within me; it appears I am not alone. As Mira Veda told Nirvana “I am really working hard to capture the essential nature of the ‘sound of truth’ for me and what it means is that I live in a hybrid culture. I like the idea of being challenged to create something from my identity. What I see now is a merging of everything from music, culture, religion...every day there is a deeper mix and I am a reflection of that”.

Step into the magical world of Karsh Kale and experience the sounds of the world through his lyrical landscapes as I did, I’m sure you won’t regret it! And a new treat is Karsh Kale’s recent release “Broken English” which effortlessly orchestrates the different genres of music as he draws from his personal roots to reflect our future. It goes without saying that one should also experience the mesmeric and eclectic sounds of Cheb i Sabbah who like Karsh Kale will draw you in to a nomadic experience.

Last, but by no means least, is the recent release “Himalaya Dawn” by Kuljit Bhamra & Shan Chana which is possibly too “chic” for regular World Music but certainly doesn’t fit into the club scene either. However, it’s definitely easy listening and has some catchy tunes and flavorsome grooves. Bhamra has been creating World fusion music for many years and a personal favorite is “Haunted Ships of Kashmir” which is sensational and elegant in every way. For World Music lovers definitely look out the new show on www.desihitsradio.com “All mixed up” and check out www.dhamaalsf.com for amazing World Music concerts and events.