New Nitin

The new Nitin Sawney album, Human, arrived this morning

I know a few of you have heard some of his previous stuff, and on first listen, the latest release offers more of his unique fusion of styles from around the world.

As ever, the production quality is first rate. Nitin does sadly seem to have taken yet another step away from his Asian roots, I'm sure there are country and west coast rock influences on Human, mixing it with his trademark classical guitar and ethnic rythmns

Still sounds good, pretty original and worth a look for those who enjoyed Prophesy and Beyond Skin.

 

When I heard him a couple of years ago, one of his numbers was a very blue-grass into Irish folk job with very little Asian influence apparent - so I guess he's been heading that way for some time.

Much preferred him in Asian mode though, so even I'll be sad if he is another victim of the 'world music => world pap (sp?)' tendency.

 

I've got "Human" on order from Amazon and it should arrive in the next day or two. Looking forward to it. I'm certainly a big fan of "Beyond Skin" and "Prophecy".

Michael.

 

Thanks Merlin

I really enjoyed the previous two albums - I trust Human isn't two "generic" and retains some of what made Nitin special?

Jay

 

I got this from FOPP yesterday - not had chance to play it yet as I was too busy playing Love's live album - quite impressive sound actually - but I digress...

I'll try to give Human a spin tonight - just a bummer they didn't have it in on vinyl so I could have another nice Nitin double LP in the collection

 

MMMMM

I would say it's certainly his most mature album so far as songwriting is concerned. There a are a few tracks that send shivers up the spine.

Altogether, it's downbeat and more jazz/western influence surprised me. It is still an excellent album IMO, although anyone expecting more of what came before, especially on Displace The Priest, might be disappointed.

 

Thanks. It sounds like my cup of tea.

Jay

 

On previous albums it has been a flamenco guitarist - a cousin of Pepe Habichuela if I remember correctly (Pepe recorded a mildly interesting fusion album with the "Bollywood Strings" a couple years ago BTW).
As for the ethnic rhythms.. that would be ethnic as in Maidenhead or Basildon I presume
Is mixing a few tablas overs a club beat really ethnic rhythm?
I quite like Nitin, and will be getting this one. But Kardes Turkuler or Mercan Dede are much more interesting IMHO, in part because they *do* use them thar ethnic rhythms (Turkish in this case).

 

Really Joel, fascinating!

I guess you have not seen Nitin playing guitar then, very accomplished he is to Try to get the DVD of Prophesy, there you will see some wonderful improvisation on an Australian beach with Nitin's guitar playing accompanied by just didgerydoo.

As for your take on Ethnic rythmns, well I guess "the Conversation" from Beyond Skin is kind of Club stylee

If your take on the matter is rythmns that cannot be easily assimilated into a western brain and therefore fail to communicate on an emotional level with most of us, then I'm very glad that you enjoy your particular intellectual niche

 

Well, Nitin is a fusion musician, as I'm sure he'd be the first to admit, so Joel's point is reasonable. There's nothing intellectual about the "real" non-fusion article, Merlin, if you like Nitin there's a ton of music from all over the world that you'll like. You don't need to analyse it to shake your booty to it, even if it uses unfamiliar instruments and isn't as well recorded as Nitin.

-- Ian

 

Hmm...mixed feelings about this one. Gave it a couple of spins this morning and I like it, but it's way more commercial than his previous stuff - he's in danger of losing what made him unique IMO and just fading into the melee of dance/chillout music with an ethnic twist.

Michael.

 

Thanks for that Ian

I agree totally that Nitin is a fusion musician, although some of the earlier stuff had a more ethnic feel to it, particularly some cuts from Displace The Priest.

I personally have listened to some so called world music from North Africa and Asia and I find it leaves me cold. I simply do not connect emotionally with it, and whilst I can apreciate it on an intellectual level, that is not what I personally look for in my music.

I agree with Michael that the new album is dangerously close to formula pap. Having said that, after prolonged listening, a couple of tracks somehow have the hairs on my neck standing up (Say Hello & Fragile Wind) so I guess he must be doing something right.

 

Bugger!

Nitin was playing here in Lisbon last Thursday and I bloody well didn't know about it so I missed it

Only today my wife tells me and she knew about it all along:

M: "Which concert?"

W: "You know, Nitini or something, that guy you've got loads of CDs of".

M: "Ah yes, that one. Of course that fact I have a load of his CDs means I hate his music and wouldn't have been in the slightest bit interested in seeing him live..." :inferno:

Oh well.....

Michael.

 

Displacing the Priest

Picked up Displacing the Priest at HMV today for £6.99 and listened to it this afternoon... This is an excellent album, on a par with "Beyond SKin" IMO and way better than "Human". On the strength of this will definitely have to pick up "Migration"

I still haven't understood why HMV insists on classifying Nitin under "Jazz"

Michaell

 

OK, so who wants my CD of Spirit Dance then..?

 

So I've been listening to old Nitin - beyond skin (which I picked up at the car boot for £1 last sunday - can't resist a bargain..). Has blown me away - been on the car stereo all week. Then last night I put it on the hifi foir the first time. WOW. What a superb album. I was gobsmacked & listened to it twice all through. Then another three times today.
I think bits of it must be recorded in Q sound or equivalent (though no mention on the label), because it gives that weird all around ambience (like soul cages or Immaculate collection or Pulse).
Just ordered Human..a new fan!

 

I got Human recently, as well as Prophesy, and already had Beyond Skin.

Human's standout track for me is "The River".

Overall I'd rate Beyond Skin as the best of the three I've got.

 

Yeah - I'd second that - the Human one is too formulaic compared to his other stuff (though still good for what it is, although I've only played it a couple of times).

I should give it a really decent listen though 'cos he was pretty good at Glasters... It's just those BBC news samples etc - it's a bit predictable...

 

Picked up Prophesy recently rate it very highly. Beyond Skin perhaps has MOre individual stand out tracks, but as a whole, Prophesy matches it as an album IMO!

The quality of the recording is first class as you'd expect, and this quality adds to the joy of the album. Some find it "geeky" to listen for things like stage and such, however, although this album will *work* without the need to really sink into it, it gains so much by allowing yourself to really get into it.

And what a closing track!!!

 

You should get "Migration" and "Displacing the Priest" aswell. Both excellent. I listened to "Human" again the other day (I had a massive Nitin sesh and listened to them all in order ) and for me it's bordering on being crap. It's just waaaaaayyyyyy to commercial. Seems to me like he didn't really have his heart in it for that one

Michael.