Music / jazz

One thought away


Reviews (2)


Jazzwise

2023

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By

Selwyn Harris

2023

"On the plus side, Gurtu demonstrates a deft multi-instrumentalism with some pulsating work on electric bass and drums at times. But for the most part, the recording's murky blend of percussion, electronica, dance-beat orientation, and Indian pop song/chant sounds quite unappealing".


Songlines

2023 May

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By

Nigel Williamson

2023 May

"This time [Gurtu] has done it pretty much solo, playing tablas, drums, keyboards, electric bass and the Basic 1, a revolutionary string-percussion hybrid, with assistance only from co-producer Carlo Cantini on keyboards and vocals from former Zap Mama [and Zawinul Syndicate] member Sabine Kabongo on two tracks and Hindustani classical singer Devaki Pandit on another. The four-movement 'No Fear Suite' and three-part 'Chalo Chalo Chalo' are avant-garde percussion jams with frenetic grooves augmented by extemporised chants. The seemingly infinite possibilities of the Basic 1 are explored intriguingly on the avant-garde drones of 'Behind the Screen' over which Pandit's voice soars hauntingly, while 'Gluten Free Song' and 'So Happy' are more conventional jazz-rock songs with Kabongo singing English lyrics".