Under the Lilac Sky

STANFORD ALUM! Based in New York and New Delhi, Arushi Jain is a composer whose work brings together Hindustani classical music and modular synthesis. The record label describes this album as a collection of "ambient synth ragas intended to be heard during the sunset hours." Jain weaves her voice beautifully, sometimes very subtly, throughout these massive-sounding pieces. Where a lot of modular synth records sound academic or blankly new-agey, Jain develops these pieces with care and takes them to rapturously beautiful places. RIYL Suzanne Ciani, Ana Roxanne, Ustad Zia Mohiuddin Dagar, Mabe Fratti, Ian William Craig, Kara-Lis Coverdale, Dania. All tracks are great, but 1, 2, 4 are excellent places to start. No FCCs detected.

1. *(3:35)—Immense. Prominent multitracked voice. Certain drone textures sound distorted almost like metal or shoegaze.
2. *(9:08)—Lots of echoing voice, deep synth bass. A fluttering lead melody splits into several skyward strands. Ends with a feeling of heroic serenity.
3. (9:54)—Roaring drone to begin, sparkling high tones. Gradual denouement.
4. *(4:00)—Volcanically deep drone, with vocals beginning right away. Rolling, soaring.
5. (9:42)—Laser pulses at start and end, a more overt rhythm. Lots of high tones, crystalline and organ-like melodies. Hyperactive middle with occasional cicada blasts.
6. (12:43)—Quick fade-in, bleeping sounds. High, pinging, swirling melodies set a fast rhythm for the middle third. In the final third, glitchy vocals pair with jetlike synth lines thundering past.