Debashish Bhattacharya & Bob Brozman: Mahima
Label: Riverboat Records/World Music Network
This is a fantastic CD that fuses traditional Indian slide guitar with a Hawaiian slide guitar. The tracks are primarily Indian—themed, as there are several tracks featuring female vocals and Hindi lyrics (some are even based on traditional folk songs). The songs (and sounds) are diverse and varied – a couple of the songs even feature melodies inspired by Spanish & Portuguese music. Indian music shows, please give this CD a try and let me know what you think. All good, but try: 1,2,5,8,9,10,11.
1. Brisk tempo, funky pacing, female vocals, Bollywood meets Hawaiian surf exotica
2. This instrumental has a Spanish flamenco flavor
3. Starts very traditional Indian classical chant-like, then picks up energy
4. An unusual blend of lilting Hawaiian melodies & mesmerizing Indian melodies
5. Cheerful song, playful vocal interplay, lively rhythm – like an Indian street festival
6. Like the climax to a traditional Indian raga – string flourishes & tablas build intensely
7. More Hawaiian-surf-y melodies here – yet somehow it maintains a very Indian sound
8. A more sentimental song of love – female vocals & flowing ocean-themed melodies
9. Apparently influenced by Portuguese themes (Goa was a colony of Portugal)
10. A traditional camel decorating song – w/ nice female vocals, definitely a traditional folksy village flair
11. A slow, relaxed, and meandering lullabye – very Hawaiian