Sattyananda – Internal Activities (DadA Music, 2011)
This is a rather interesting psychedelic downbeat album, though it doesn’t quite grab the listener they way it could – except in the last track, Space Fields, featuring Amaan and Ayaan Ali Khan.
The 14-page booklet has excellent photographs of Indian scenery, but the music needs to match it a bit better. There are no percussive beats, but a blend of Indian instruments such as sarangi, santoor, sitar and sarod. Other tracks worth checking out include “Bhairavi Mahadev.”
Though some listeners may not be swayed by this album (especially with its price tag), the artist Nikhel Kumar Mahajan certainly has potential and we await his future releases.
Author: Madanmohan Rao
Madanmohan Rao is an author and media consultant from Bangalore, and global correspondent for world music and jazz for World Music Central and Jazzuality. He has written over 15 books on media, management and culture, and is research director for YourStory Media. Madan was formerly World Music Editor at Rave magazine and RJ at WorldSpace, and can be followed on Twitter at @MadanRao.
