Ananda Shankar - Ananda Shankar And His Music

インドのシタール奏者Ananda Shankarによる伝説的アルバム『Ananda Shankar And His Music』が、Mr Bongoから正規リイシュー！1976年にHis Master's Voiceからリリースされた本作は、シタール・ファンク、インド古典音楽、サイケデリック・グルーヴが交錯する傑作だ。Ravi Shankarの甥として音楽的素養を深めた彼は、’60年代後半に渡米し、サイケデリック・ロックの波に触れる。この東西の融合が生んだサウンドは唯一無二。UKのジャズ/レア・グルーヴ・シーンで再評価された‘Streets Of Calcutta’や‘Dancing Drums’はダンスフロア・アンセムとして名高い。さらに、バレアリックな‘The River’、インド古典音楽の瞑想的世界を描く‘Dawn’、トリップ感満載の‘Back Home’など、多彩な魅力を秘める。東洋と西洋が交差したこの時代の音楽的探求が、今なお鮮やかに響き渡る。

A1. Streets Of Calcutta
A2. Cyrus
A3. The Lonely Rider
A4. The River
A5. Vidai (Parting)
A6. Back Home
B1. Dawn
B2. Renunciation
B3. Dancing Drums

Mr Bongo proudly presents an official reissue of an iconic, exploratory album by Indian maestro of the sitar, Ananda Shankar, aptly titled 'Ananda Shankar And His Music'. 

Released on His Master's Voice in 1976, the album is a sublime collage of sitar-funk, traditional Indian classical music and psychedelic grooves, from the Indian sitarist, composer and musician. Nephew to India’s legendary sitar virtuoso Ravi Shankar, Ananda’s musical family and upbringing led to a deep respect and love of the wealth of music that emanated from his birthplace. His travels to the west coast of America in the late ‘60s though, saw Shankar immersed in the full swing of psychedelic rock. The collision of these two musical worlds with a whole range of other Eastern and Western influences on 'Ananda Shankar And His Music', is a truly entrancing combination.

First big in the UK in the mid-‘90s jazz/rare groove club scene, when it was unearthed by adventurous DJs and crate diggers, the sensational Indian-funk tracks 'Streets Of Calcutta' and 'Dancing Drums' became firm dancefloor favourites. The mixture of drum-heavy funk with Indian music and psychedelia is the perfect melting pot. Flavourful and balanced, it still feels fresh and exciting nearly 50 years on.

Like a fine wine, this album keeps getting better with age and once-overlooked tracks are now seen in a new light. Aside from the main 'club' cuts that many have praised and loved, 'The River' is a part blissed-out, Balearic gem, part cosmic wild west soundtrack, that would provide the perfect complement to any sunset session. Elsewhere, 'Dawn' is a spiritual and meditative journey into Indian classical music, with ‘Cyrus’ floating you away to heavenly heights. On a different tip, 'Back Home' fuses styles and themes via an organ and Moog-infused, tripped-out excursion, whilst 'Renunciation' hits with a psych-rock sentiment to its sitar-soaked grooves.

A beautiful time capsule of Eastern culture meets Western influence, where experimentation and intrigue produced a fusion of sounds that still sound as vibrant and alluring as they have ever been.

Vinyl LP features a tip-on sleeve.