No Stranger Here

Shubha Mudgal - 1008997

This is an unusual album that combines traditional Indian classical music with modern electronica elements around the works of 15thc Indian poet Kabir. Shuba Mudgal is a well-known Hindustani classical musician & Ursula Rucker is a spoken word artist/poet from Philly.

Recommended tracks: 1,3,4,9.
1. Slow to medium where Mudgal’s powerful voice soars above a mix of old/new electronic music bed.
2. Slow and it has that slow rhythm of a bhajan, which are religious hymns sung in slow & deliberate way & sometimes pick up pace towards the end.
3. Rucker’s spoken words open this track that has an interesting beat.
4. Bright opening like a new day being born with Mudgal’s vocals. Mellow.
5. Slow track that is typically played in the late evenings, around dusk when the sun goes down.
6. Spoken words & a social commentary mixed with Mudgal’s vocals. Unusual & interest mix of traditional Indian classical with American spoken words.
7. Spoken words by Rucker, who has an interesting delivery technique.
8. Has a Middle Eastern element to it. Slow, it is almost like traveling on a really, slow train ride.
9. Interesting track, where Mudgal excels. The track also highlights the fusion of old & new musical elements.

Kamla Sept 26, 2012