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Artist: Kumba Mela Experiment
Title: East Of The River Ganges
Label: Liquid Sound Design
Date: 2001
Track listing:
01. 12'35" East Of The River Ganges (Mango In My Flute Mix)
02. 10'15" Elephant Trax (Hammer To The Nail Dub)
03. 10'58" Cleaning Fluid (Druids, Dreads And Sadhus Mix)
04. 03'53" Spiritual Journey (Mothers Milk Edit)
05. 07'54" The Kumba Mela (Himalayan Dub)
06. 05'20" Life After Death (Glass Key Dub)
07. 04'22" That Which I Could Only Sense (Phoenix Dub)
08. 07'04" Interstellar Hiss (Sky Is On Fire Dub)
09. 04'04" Be Conscious (Om Namai And Shiveye Mix)
10. 00'29" Outro (Don't WantTo Loose Your Love Dub Edit)
Review:
It's been a really good year for those of us who like quality chill - we've
had the new Shpongle, Ooze, Mana Medicine, Nada Masala 2, Makyo's Yakshini
and all sorts of other gems. This latest L.S.D release is no exception. In
fact I think it is in contention for the top spot. Admittedly, Tales of the
Inexpressible is music in another dimension, but for those who don't share
the popular favourite then this might be what you've been waiting for. I
personally love Shpongle's sound, so this is where comparisons stop and I'll
get on with the review.
This is a hugely creative album. There are a lot of people involved, but
Youth is the common thread to all tracks. He's brought along friends from
the Orb, Tangerine Dream, Suns of Arqa, Dreadzone and others. Lots of live
instruments throughout plus a couple of appropriate vocals. This album keeps
an experimental edge without disappearing into the land of the totally
obscure. Uri Geller even makes an appearance. The album was conceived during
the Kumba Mela - the worlds largest religious gathering which took place in
India ... on the Ganges of course. Apparently internet connection was made,
as well as a psychic one from Uri in order to experience the festival from
afar. Essentially this sounds as if it was one of the craziest jam sessions
one could imagine ... and after six months of tweaking in the Butterfly
Studios this is the result.
Every moment of this production is intricate and beautifully produced -
there's never a 'filler moment' let alone a filler track. I caution anyone
who doesn't like 1) Indian influenced music 2) Roots/dub 3) Trippy trippy
samples ... that you won't like this either ! However if you like to take
the journey - you like the dub trees/celtic cross albums or you just want to
try something new then this is the one to get. I don't want to go into too
much detail about the tracks - this review will get ridiculously long - but
I really want to get across the splendour of this release as a whole.
Briefly, track by track : 1) deep, mystical, eastern influenced, 2) funky,
energetic & building, 3) dub & roots, blissed & tasting of Orb,4) check the
Henry of Rawlinson sample probably the most amusing tune I've ever heard! 5)
deep dub, full power dub trees style... oooooh!, 6) bit darker & slightly
spooky - breaks & electro beats ..., 7) Indian & dub ...warm & psychedelic
at the same time... total bliss !,8) crazy sample, big tough beats & trippy
high frequency bits, 9) dub & roots style - sit back and sway ...,10)
goodbye from Terence.
I really love this album, and it's revealing more to me on each return. So
many influences, so many artistic talents and yet one consistent vision.
And not bent spoon in sight !
9/10
