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Simon Thacker: Simon Thacker's Svara Kanti: Rakshasa
ByThacker's guitar intro to "Dhumaketu" conjures flamenco and Indian spirits and is a continuation of a tradition whose roots lie with the arrival of the gitanos to Andalucia from India in the early fifteenth century. Violinist Jacqueline Shave states the melody before uniting with tablaist Sarvar Sabri and Thacker in intimate dialog where unison lines alternate with rapid call and response. These three-way dynamics are a recurring feature of the seventy plus minutes of Rakshasa, with the rhythmic fluctuations and tonal variations of composed and improvised lines proving constantly engaging.
Osborne's five-piece suite "The Five Elements" introduces vocalist Japjit Kaur. On the delightful "Ether-Akasha," Kaur's lulling voice seduces like the warmth of early morning sunlight, buoyed by gently singing violin, low-key tabla and Thacker's nuanced comping. "Air-Vayu"'s distant, other-worldly violin intro gives way to urgent guitar and violintrilling then riffing Kaur's fast-paced vocals and tabla. "Water-Jal" weds Kaur's soft vocal with Thacker's charged classical/flamenco voice. "Fire-Agni"'s greater rhythmic drive is matched by a pronounced sense of drama characterized by lightening unison lines and bursts of frenetic guitar and violin riffs. Kuar and Shave combine in lyrical harmony on the hypnotic "Earth-Prithvi."
Riley's sweeping fourteen-minute instrumental "SwarAmant" takes in European classical harmonies and Indian rhythms, pitching guitar and violin in striking contrapuntal orbits of shifting tempos where virtuosity and simple melody go hand in hand. Both a student and teacher of Indian classical music in his time, Riley's compositional breadth provides plenty of grist to Thacker improvisational mill. Riley's circular motifs and repeating patterns provide a framework for the dense, breathless unison lines between violin and guitar and Sabri's equally demandingand notatedtabla parts. The contrast between delicate finger cymbals and dashing flamenco rasgueos hints at the range and depth of this compelling work.
Shirish Korde's ""Anusvara6th Prism" begins from voice and drone and is described by its author as a sonic meditation. Yet the constant drone apart, this episodic piece is bursting with drama. Tense, insistent unison passages dissolve into slow, lyrical terrain with Shave's exquisite tone to the fore. Guitar, vocal and violin move between measured dialog and heady exclamation and on first listen this number's wholly unexpected conclusion sets the blood racing. Thacker and Sabri let rip on the scintillating duo piece "Svaranjali," while Shave expands the sonic playing field on the slightly manic "Multani"a riveting, raga-based trio excursion, which for sheer power alone, provides an album highlight.
A tryptich of folk songsthree odes to lovehighlights the romantic, lyrical nature of Punjabi song tradition. The catchy pop-like "Kahnu Marda Chandariya Chamka," the tender "Main Tenu Yaad Aavanga" and the rhythmically vital, dancing "Shava Ghund Chuk Ke" are vehicles for Kaur, and celebrate melody and story-telling. Thacker's "Rakshaka," with its psychadelic sound manipulation is singularly eerie. Singing Tibetan bowls, waterphones, and reverse recording techniques inspired by guitarist Jimi Hendrix' "Are You Experienced?" evoke the aura of Rakshasa, the shape-shifting demon of Hindu and Buddhist mythology. In the context of the music that goes before, "Rakshaka" may make for a surprising finale, yet its innovation and bold juxtapositions are in line with the spirit of the recording as a whole.
Pristinely mixed and produced by Calum Malcolm and boasting a lavish gatefold jacket beautifully illustrated by Sam Hayles, Rakshasa is a delight from start to finish. Thacker has crafted a workan obvious labor of lovethat would grace any classical concert hall or World Music festival. In short, a contemporary classic.
Track Listing
Dhumaketu; The Five Elements: Ether-Akasha, Air-Vayu, Water-Jal, Fire-Agni, Earth-Prithvi; SwarAmant; Anusvara – 6th Prism; Svaranjali; Multani; Kahnu Marda Chandariya Chamka; Main tenu yaad aavanga, Love Song; Shava Gund Chuk Ke; Rakshasa.
Personnel
Simon Thacker: classical guitar; Japjit Kaur: voice; Jacqueline Shave: violin; Savar Sabri: tabla.
Album information
Title: Simon Thacker's Svara Kanti: Rakshasa | Year Released: 2014 | Record Label: S;ap The Moon Records