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OK
Underground music scene generally the world over has its own set of followers. Everyone right from rebellious teens to aspiring musicians wanting to create a niche for themselves have embraced underground music with open arms. Recently the British Asian underground music scene is promising in the age of mere techno beats and some inane trance grooves. It has been largely due to the influx of British Asians who are in search of their identity. This has however not hampered their music styles, which has blended elements from their deep-rooted cultural background with the brilliant harmonic and groovy elements of the west. Talvin Singh slips into this genre comfortably and his debut album �ok� is a testimony to this fact. The album was recorded in different places and that feel is evident throughout the album The album starts with one of the most brilliant compositions (titled �traveller�) to depict the virtuosity of a composer who moves between worlds, making connections, building bridges, and moving forward to the 21st century. Technically, it is a masterfully crafted piece that experiments with a veena overlapping an intense drum programming. The same can be said about the next track aptly titled �butterfly�, which has a pacy multi-colored tinge with a Tracks like �moombastic� with a heavy jazz orientation (a muted trumpet on the background), tabla and drum programming. The title track �ok� is another wonderful composition that bases traditional Japanese song structure accompanied by an electric guitar riff s surrounded by tranquil chanting. It later progresses into a mind blowing second change incorporating Indian classical sounds. Eminent flautists like Rakesh Churasia, vocalists like Shankar Mahadevan (featuring in �Eclipse�) and others lend him ample support. The album ends with �vikram the vampire�, which starts slowly and innocently then build to crashing percussions over droning vocals. The hallmark of the album is supreme blending of chaos and serenity. Tracks like butterfly, vikram (the vampire), and �eclipse� are ample proof of the above combination. It could be termed as a crossover between Indian classical, folk music and cutting-edge dance grooves.
