•
Rating: All those who have attempted the path of new world music in recent years, with new sounds like trip-hop and drum'n'bass that blend with the traditional music of countries and cultures, can be divided, simply, into two large groups: the "alchemists" and the "chemists". The former proceed a bit by trial and error, hoping to bring forth from these spontaneous mixtures the "philosopher's stone", but, in truth, few new Paracelsus or Cagliostro are seen around. Others, like Nitin Sawhney, act more like scientists, having a clear understanding of the result they aspire to and the elements they will put together to achieve it. However, this does not necessarily make the latter better than the former: never trust science too much; in the case of this magnificent latest work by the Indo-British artist, "Philtre", the experiment, in my view, is fully successful.
The model of world music that emerges from the album may, for some, seem a bit too calculated, but it certainly has notable evocative power and, at the same time, is highly effective, engaging, with tracks like "Dead Man" that are a marvelous synthesis of tradition and innovation.
Nitin, "Indian from London", is not an "absolute beginner". Already with his previous works like "Beyond Skin" (1999), highly recommended, and "Prophesy", he had demonstrated his qualities as a modern DJ, a musical assembler, a refined musician, so much so that today he is a well-regarded and highly sought-after composer for theater and cinema, as well as an actor. This latest work confirms his excellent skills as an unparalleled synthesizer of sounds. The "filter" (magical?) he uses performs its function perfectly, allowing only those elements that enable the perfect fusion between the music of the north and the south of the globe: from the oriental of his origins to blues, from gypsy to more urban styles like electronic.
This "precipitate", this common primarily percussive matrix, represents the glue of the album in which one can traverse and travel without pause. Of the sixteen tracks, none are the same as another, each attempts a path, an "embrace": in the aforementioned "Dead Man", blues and Indian music combine wonderfully; in other instances, the ethnic seems to prevail as in "Mausam", again "mother India", or in "Koyal", but the subtle sound of the drum machine, acting as a background, seems arranged by Del Naja of Massive Attack; "Noches En Vela" pays homage to a great European culture, the gypsy, which merges with the urban style of drum'n'bass in an irresistibly compelling piece: if someone unfortunately remains impassive, it would be advisable to proceed with a check-up.
With "Thow" and "Flipside", it is black music that takes the forefront, already a cultural synthesis in itself, a bridge between two continents. "The Scratch" is the most adrenaline-pumping piece, where traditional drums and sitar fraternize with new electronic percussion.
The pinnacle of the album, however, is "Journey", a track sung by the famous Vikter Duplaix, in the first part almost a ballad reminiscent of early Gino Vannelli, which progressively shifts, accelerating and becoming a sublime club piece.
Sawhney's music is an excellent antidote to senseless barriers, to crass racisms, to narrow-minded closures; it is utopia realized, a call to common human roots, the only ones that truly matter.
Citizens of the world, make yourselves comfortable.
Tracklist Lyrics and Videos
01 Everything (03:59)
She whispers all her secrets
Untie probs in her dreams
The people walk in rhythm
To hear the traffic sings
She
In this love
She
Off this love
We
For this love
Is everything from you to me
Last night he tasted blood
With stars around his head
The people walk in rhythm
They paint the traffic red
She
In this love
She
For this love
We
Off this love
Is everything from you to me
The truth is glassy eye
‘N still shakes above the hair
Always shaking shaking
There there there there
She
Off this love
She
For this love
We
In this love
Is everything from you to me
Exit to the stage
Exact (it takes??) every word
Exact every word
Exact every girl
We stumble the lie
‘N you stumble the lie
We stumble the lie
He search for a long time
He search for a long time
He’s looking for an answer
Looking for an answer
??? for love instead
??? for love instead
Longing to the heal
Longing to the heal
Wish I can wish I can get in
Wish I can wish I can get in
I’m a little baby
I’m a little baby
I’m a little baby
She
Off this love
She
For this love
We
In this love
Is everything from you to me
She
Off this love
She
For this love
We
In this love
Is everything from you to me
Stumble the lie
She whispers all her secrets
Look for a long time
Untie probs in her dreams
Look for a long time
The people walk in rhythm
Looking for an answer
To hear the traffic sings
Looking for an answer
Last night he tasted blood
??? for love instead
With stars around his head
??? for love instead
And in a flash he saw her
The answer came in red
02 Spark (03:42)
All the colours are crackling, the leaves are alive
With a note from your heart I keep written inside
Frozen air surrounds your eyes
As you speak fountains collide
With a mouth full of stars I trip over my feet
You've blown me away, I can hardly speak
Stolen my silence, scattered my peace
I'm lost in the dark, mislaid my spark
Memories of you fading into the past
To keep you inside freeze your kiss so it lasts
In the shadow of your light
I live my days like they were nights
With a mouth full of stars I trip over my feet
You've blown me away, I can hardly speak
Stolen my silence, scattered my peace
I'm lost in the dark, mislaid my spark
All the space that you need and the silence you plead
I've thrown them away cause your signs I can't read
Forgotten thrills in the sudden chills
Frozen air surrounds your eyes
With a mouth full of stars I trip over my feet
You've blown me away, I can hardly speak
Stolen my silence, scattered my peace
I'm lost in the dark, mislaid my spark
05 Mausam (04:02)
Ek rung meh jeenah jeevan ko
Eh janne tamana
Theek na hein
Ek rung meh jeenah jeevan ko
Eh janne tamana
Theek na hein
(indian music language notes)
Ek rung meh jeenah jeevan ko
Eh janne tamana
Theek na hein
Ghum aur khoshee dho rhaste hain
Ek rahaa pay chalne theek nahee
Badal Jahai Mausum
Koshee aye
Jaye ghum
Badal Jahai Mausum
Koshee aye
Jaye ghum
Badal Jahai Mausum
Koshee aye
Jaye ghum
Badal Jahai Mausum
Koshee aye
Jaye ghum
Badal Jahai Mausum
Koshee aye
Jaye ghum
(Indian music language chords)
Ek rung meh jeenah jeevan ko
Eh janne tamana
Theek na hein
Ek rung meh jeenah jeevan ko
Eh janne tamana
Theek na hein
Ghum aur khoshee dho rhaste hain
Ek rahaa pay chalne theek nahee
Ghum aur khoshee dho rhaste hain
Ek rahaa pay chalne theek nahee
Badal Jahai Mausum
Koshee aye
Jaye ghum
Badal Jahai Mausum
Koshee aye
Jaye ghum
Badal Jahai Mausum
Koshee aye
Jaye ghum
Badal Jahai Mausum
Koshee aye
Jaye ghum
(Indian music language chords)
Koshee aye
Jaye ghum
Badal Jahai Mausum
Koshee aye
Jaye ghum
Badal Jahai Mausum
Koshee aye
Jaye ghum
Badal Jahai Mausum
Koshee aye
Jaye ghum
Badal Jahai Mausum
Koshee aye
Jaye ghum
Badal Jahai Mausum
Koshee aye
Jaye ghum
06 Journey (05:08)
Every now and then
I fall into deep thought and self-examination
Figuring out
If I really belong in this world
Who am I
What was I born to live
Will I succeed
Or will I fall short
Of my dreams
I know I’ve got to find a way to move on
Yeah, to a place where I can be stronger
On a journey
Deeper inside
On a journey
Deeper inside my mind
I know I’ve got to find a way to move on
Got to move on
To a place where I can be stronger
Stronger
Stornger
Stronger
Stronger
I’m on a journey
Deep inside my mind
To see if I can find
The answers to all the questions
I’ve been asking myself
For a long time
A long time
A long time
For a long time
I’m on a journey
Deep inside my mind
To see if I can find
The answers to all the questions
I’ve been asking myself
For a long time
A long time
A long time
For a long time
Loading comments slowly
