ANANDA SHANKAR — Ananda Shankar and His Music (review)

ANANDA SHANKAR — Ananda Shankar and His Music album cover

Album · 1975 · Exotica

4/5 · 2011-04-13
Kazuhiro

The blood of music is splendid talents and ability as the result. And, it is likely to have been succeeded as an expression. Ananda Shankar gave Shankar clan's important position as pursuit and establishment of the music character. He has been born in India in 1942 between Uday and Amala. Ananda Shankar that gives the degree of freedom of music as excellent lineage hits the nephew of Ravi Shankar that plays the role of the preacher of the Hindustani music.

There might be some respects if the flow that he had them often establish music in the route besides pure Raga Rock is considered. Classics musical instruments spread to India as a result will be nuclei in important musical instruments for his music character. It is thought that man who was on the register in the Benares Hindu university for five years had them absorb the method of establishing and expressing the music character enough.

And, his having often had a special part for the content of the album might be in the point for him to visit America to Los Angeles and to have absorbed the part in the West at that time. It was necessary to have absorbed Led Zeppelin and Janis Joplin that rose the name as a musician from whom Ananda Shankar had been influenced to his music character surely. The culture of those West and the melody of the Orient will have been nuclei of the music character of the album and him whom he had actually announced.

Man who had returned from Los Angeles to India had them announce the debut album as a name in 1970. His music character had been expressed enough as an original interpretation in the album though other musicians' Cover was given. And, the leap and degree of freedom might increase in this album for the music that he expresses further.

This album might have been caught because it had been put on the market only of the home country at that time beyond price as the album. Or, it doesn't stay in the expression and the recurrence of simple classics music for his music character. It is said that uniting with other genres is often kept at a distance for the musician who performs the classics music. It is said that the music that Ananda Shankar did is often criticized if it considers it from the respect. However, music that Ananda Shankar expressed it is not a translation at all that softens the classics music.

It is said that Ravi Shankar had various musicians, Rock Musician, and the exchange to hand down Hindustani and the classics music. However, music that Ananda Shankar has already established it might have given an original route by uniting of the music character and the classics music of Rock that had been absorbed when visiting America and introducing various musical instruments. Shade of meaning of name of this album. And, it means it by dedicating this album to his father. Ananda Shankar that developed an original music character might have completely established the expression by this album.

"Streets Of Calcutta" is a tune that fuses Funk overall with Raga Rock. The performance combines while giving a complete dash feeling. Sitar and the Moog synthesizer decide the impression of the tune. Cutting of the guitar supports the part of Funk enough. Or, an original melody and the arrangement are given including the percussion instrument in close relation to the rhythm. The part of the wind instrument and the sound of Tabla are also good each other. Sitar and Moog might pull the impression of this album as a result. Anyway, ensemble is complete.

Sitar and Flute give "Cyrus" the melody of pastoral Raga Rock. The melody of the scat also puts out atmosphere a little. The obbligati of the guitar and Moog also helps the element of the Orient of Raga Rock. It might be a tune from which the melody is emphasized.

A little part of Raga Rock and the flavor of the western exist together in "The Lonely Rider". The performance of Tabla that does to Riff of the decided guitar at high speed twines. The obbligati of Flute is suitable for the tune, too. A gay sound of Moog doesn't appear so much.

"The River" produces a sound the sound of Moog space. The flute pulls the melody of Raga Rock that flows gently. Part of unison of Sitar and guitar. The part of a little Bollywood music and the monde music might be included. The tune gives a graceful melody as much as possible.

Raga Rock that "Vidai" is graceful is offered. Melody that Sitar and Flute are bright. Or, the sound of Violin and Harp effectively used might be also good. The atmosphere of Raga Rock done overall has a good flow. The Moog synthesizer hardly appears.

"Back Home" has the flavor of the monde music overall. The rhythm that gives the device to the original melody that Moog does twines. Or, the stringed instrument and the wind instrument emphasize the atmosphere of the tune further. And, Solo of Sitar and Flute joins, too and the width of the tune is expanded. The composition is very calculated.

"Dawn" is offering the listener a completely abstruse flavor and an enchantment melody. Introduction of melody of native flute and experimental sound effect. The melody of Violin and the song might completely make the culture and the expression of India an embodiment by music. The part where the name of a song was expressed by music has succeeded. Expression of melody by complete Sitar. Following the classics music is completely expressed. The flow with good rhythm of the percussion instrument that twines when 30 seconds of six minutes pass is constructed.

Riff of a heavy guitar twines round "Renunciation" with the flute. Sitar twines with Tabla and the atmosphere of Raga Rock is given at once. The tune explodes attended with the part of Rock because of the part. There are a few elements of psychedelic and parts of Rock, too and it is true that Raga Rock is a nucleus. Melody of guitar and flute in close relation to rhythm of complete percussion instrument. And, the melody that Moog does is effective. The melody of Riff and Moog of the guitar is features.

"Dancing Drums" is a tune that it fuses Raga Rock with Funk. The melody of Moog that pulls the tune overall is often aggressive. The atmosphere of the tune is decided to Sitar and Flute to get on the rhythm that gives the dash feeling. The tune emphasizes the monde and Groove. It is an original tune that is including the part of the negotiation on the percussion instrument.

The music character that Ananda Shankar had already established it might have originality very much. Following a variety of music characters and the acquired free expression appear remarkably in this album. And, the popularity of this album might always be high in his work group.