Syrian Disco @ Glastonbury Festival

The BBC’s coverage of Glastonbury Festival 2011 seemed to include only one “World Music” artist, Omar Souleyman from Syria.  His set was a fantastic opportunity to embrace something of the spirit of the modern Syrian music format which was one guy on synths (playing both traditional melodic riffs  and percussive fills) and a Setar player doubling up on the riffs, and Omar himself who was not so much the lead singer, but the charismatic front man who was the face of the music, occasionally giving shououts to himself or singing a little riff on the main melody line.  Most of all he was looking cool in his shades and middle eastern attire .

The sonic spectrum of electronica that they were using are characterised by the basic and rawness that is typical of modern middle eastern popular music. Keyboards must be able to use Quarter tones in order to play the traditional melodic riffs and bigger synthesiser manufacturers like Korg, Roland & Yamaha do not market synths with quarter tone capability, so its down to smaller manufacturers like GEM to cater for the Specialist Middle Eastern / Arabic music markets. Our Moroccan musician friends have a special additional pad plugged into their GEM keyboard, that was used to shift tunings on the main keyboard, allowing them to reach all the notes they needed for each composition.

Of course, in many ways I would have preferred to hear these tunes played by a 15 piece Arabic Ensemble with Oud, Setar, Tar, Daf and Doumbak. But part of the raw charm of the music comes form being part of the typical sound of Arabic Pop.

Photos by Valerio Berdini

Buy the album from Omar Souleyman on the awesome label, Sublime Frequencies.

Omar Souleyman: Jazeera Nights

Download the Album

It is our pleasure to announce the release of the eponymously titled debut album from ASHIRVAD (meaning “Blessings”), on Sangita Sounds.  Featuring 8 tracks of Ambient Raga, Indian Fusion, Ethnodelic dubs and Meditation trance that have been specially designed for a superior chillout experience.  The album is the fruit of their 6 month recording tour and a years production work back in Sangita Studio HQ in London.  With pre-release copies having been tested by Yogis, Masseurs, Psychedelic Dreamers, Wizards, World Class Audiophiles and Cosmic Dudes across the globe. we can say with certainty that this has well and truly passed the Acid Test.

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Buy the CD

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Ashirvad – Magic Carpet (Excerpt)

“Ashirvad” is manifest

After a six-month recording tour in India followed by a year production in London and a move to Glastonbury (Avalon), the production Duo of Mathura Das and Darren Sangita, aka Ashirvad have delivered a stunning album that exhibits an extra-ordinary sense of aesthetics both in their art and music.

Featuring a host of talented classical, devotional and folk musicians from India and around the Globe, Ashirvad is a new paradigm in the future of spiritual sounds.

Ashirvad have created an exotic fusion soundscape blending ambient Indian Ragas, subtle electronica and spiritual moods to guide you on a mystical journey to the transcendental realms. Ashirvad is a kaleidoscopic musical pilgrimage across the sacred heartlands of India.  Ashirvad give thanks to all their family, friends and fans for all their support.

Click through to read some of the reviews of Ashirvad :-

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Here is is an excellent light hearted yet skillful video and music production from Sarod player Praashekh Borkar, a young talented musician from Pune who along with his younger brother Abhishek features amongst the finest Sarodists of the younger generation in India.  The effortless blend of contemporary drum and bass with his youthful playing style compliment each other perfectly.  Expect to hear a lot more from this talented young player.

www.shekharborkar.com

www.myspace.com/praashekhborkar

Buy an album – UTKARSH

Enjoy the magic of the expandable musical collection derived from the immanent harmonic soundscapes of our beloved friend and Baul Guru, Haradhan Das Baul.  Aural Bengali Bliss in resonant waves lap at the shore of the Baul tradition, mesmeric and hypnotic healing into the deeper levels of sentient being.  Ancient echoes rub against electronic, scientific dreamscapes….

Greg Hunter and Darren Sangita retrieved from the centre of the acoustomatic universe, a notion of exference of the enharmonic traditions of flux and flow. In this sonic melting pot of Anglo-Bengali ornamentation we share the nourishing heart chakra emanence.

Please enjoy these offerings and share your reflections with us.

CHARO CHARO

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CHERE DEBONAH

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Tune into the Original mixes featured on his album “Charo Charo”

http://sangitasounds.com/musicians/haradhandasbaul/