Desert Rain by Indian Ocean

This is my first live album review and it feels great that I am reviewing an album by a band from India.

Honestly the cover of the album sucks but I was in for a treat when I listened to the music. As of this writing one of the original band mates Asheem Chakravarty who used to play the Tabla, percussion and offer his vocals is no longer alive.

This is the  debut album of one of India’s premier rock bands. They were fortunate to have their DAT recorder switched on while playing live on New Year’s Day 1997 at The SAHMAT concert at Mandi House, Delhi. The recording has become a record of sorts as there was no company to promote or sell the album. A company had to be formed to do so.

One gripe is the not-so-perfect quality of the recording. Another gripe is the singing which is more of the chant and bhajan type. However the singing has improved considerably over the subsequent albums. However the originality and the beauty fo the music is undeniable.

At the time of this recording the band comprised Rahul Ram on bass and vocals, Susmet Sen on guitar, Aseem Chakravarty on Tabla, percussion and vocals and Amit Kilam on drums and percussion.

Now a review of the songs -

Boll Weevil – 5.20 – Bass starts the song with tabla and guitar joining in soon. Drums join in and the song moves on beautifully.  Susmet takes over and smoothly guides the guitar beautifully. At 2min.08sec vocals are heard and we are back with the music at 3.59 till its completion.

Desert rain – 5.36 – I wonder if it is the jew’s harp at the beginning or some other traditional Indian. Little singing and lyrics resembling more of chanting.  Susmet does his bit on the guitar. Could have been a better song if only the singing was better with more lyrics than chants.

Euphoria – 6.02 – Till 2.35 till the vocals interrupt this is a beautiful song; some drums and percussion join in with the vocals and they go on for a while till u get sick of it; at 4.13 vocals disappear and we are back to the music. Again Susmet shines on his guitar.

From the ruins – 7.59 – Begins with a sad and dark music being played by guitar joined by bass. Susmet’s guitar playing is beautiful. At 3.49 the irritating vocals commence, this time chanting Hari Om and Sanskrit slokas; more drums heard during this time and beyond. At 6;10 vocals stops and we are back to the music with some more sloka shouting towards the end.

Going to Ito – 3.33 – Smallest of the songs but beautiful with lovely bass and guitar play and very little vocal.

Melancholic Ecstacy (7.58) - True to its name the song is a gem. The longest of the album at almost 8  minutes and Susmet lets the guitar sing and it is joy to listen to such a beautiful composition. You’ll be amazed at just what the guitar, tabla and bass can do. At 4 min the pace changes and quickens. Drums joins only sporadically but from 6 min onwards it can be heard more prominently. 

Village Damsel 6.49 – Begins as a cheerful number.  At 2.00 min singing starts. I think the language is Bengali (correct me if I am wrong). At 3.25 it is back to the music and vocals and then vocals gradually giving away to the music with Rahul’s bass taking the limelight. Music reminded me of Ananda Shankar’s instrumentals too.

My only complaint with the engineering behind the album is the quality of the recording which could have been made better.  A little re-mastering would have bettered the recording in a long way.

You can listen to the album for free here at hummaa.

Osibisa

After they first came to Chennai 25 years ago, for a second time , Osibisa rocked Chennai, on Sunday, November 22′nd and it is only fitting I write a review of their self-titled debut album, the album and the band that gave the world, World Music. Unlike their previous concert where so much advertising took place months before their concert, this time ads were confined to just the leading newspaper from South India, The Hindu. The concert also took place in a much smaller venue as compared to the Jawaharlal Nehru stadium as in the previous case. My reviews of the concert are on my personal blog are can be found by clicking this link.

It would be a very poor understatement if I or we were to label Osibisa as an Afro-pop band. With a steady dose of elements of rock, jazz and traditional African sounds and voices Osibisa were a creed apart from the material we are normally used to listening from the band.

Listening to their older albums and in particular their debut you even wonder why music as this wasn’t categorized under the Progressive rock genre. Filled with guitar, keyboard and percussion solos this is a music that must have taken listeners by surprise when they first heard it way back in 1971. But unlike the typical doom, gloom, frustration, depression, rebellion or bizzare feeling as in the music of many of the progressive rock and rock bands Osibisa’s music is nothing but happy vibes. This is the case with many other African bands and artistes I have heard. Get the most stubborn audience and Osibisa will get them on their feet and they will be clapping, swaying and dancing to the music in no time. 

Osibisa, the debut album may be new to many listeners but on the Billboard Hot 200 they rank at #55.

Now for a song by song review.

1.  The Dawn – There can never be a more fitting opener to Osibisa’s music than this song from their debut album. This is the song that gave the world the infamous bass-drum sound so typical of Osibisa and their African music. Osibisa has always opened their concerts with this number mentioning the meaning of “Osibisa” as “Criss cross rythms that explode with happiness”. Keyboard, guitar and flute solo’s fill the song.

2.  Music for Gong Gong – Imagine a trumpet-saxophone instrumental from an African band in the Top of the Pops. That is what this instrumental is all about.  There are very few who don’t want to be up and dancing for this number. Lovely saxophone solo by Teddi and the keyboardist and the percussionists and bassist support the song brilliantly. The percussionists perform their trademark solo that is so much a part of Osibisa’s live concerts in style. Check out how the bassisst joins in after the combined solo from the percussionists. Simply beautiful.

3.  AiKo Biya – Another huge concert favorite. This one’s bass-drum pattern and the ones of the first two songs have been heavily imported into several movie songs in Indian movies by Indian composers. Lovely guitar solo from Dell Richardson followed by a trumpet solo. A lovely percussion solo from the percussionists ensue and conclude the song.

4.  Akwaaba – Song may sound to start in the vein of the earlier songs but somewhere in the middle check out how the song breaks from its original tune to let Dell Richardson play a beautiful guitar solo.

5.  Oranges – If you liked trumpet and horn sections in bands that play them then this is your song. Teddy plays a a lovely saxophone solo.  Has a nice guitar solo too from Dell Richardson. Mostly an instrumental with occassional chanting of “Oranges”

6.  Phallus C – More jazzier, first comes the sax solo, then the lovely guitar solo with the beautiful drum beat in the foreground and keyboardist providing the required support. Seriously I wonder how people could label Osibisa as just Afro-pop. One listen to this number and they are going to correct themselves. When the guitar solo ends the percussionists go for it one more time. Simply brilliant.

7.   Think About the people – Not the best concluding song but reveals Osibisa’s versatility in making different types of songs, this one on social issues. Slow bass starts the song and keyboardist shows of his skills along the way but this song has more singing and lyrics this time. I would consider this song only as a filler.

Since their objective were happy vibes, the focus was not on soloing though the members could get pretty serious when it came to solos.

I also read on Wikipedia that though their music has been used and sampled by other artistes Osibisa has received little or no royalties. For years we have been wathching programmes on Indian Television channels heavily use their music. I wonder if these shows even know whose music they have been using let alone pay royalties.

And lastly not to forget the incredible artwork of Roger Dean that has further added to the artistic beauty of the band. Roger has been the official artist for most of Osibisa’s albums.

If you appreciate world music or listen to a lot of progressive rock, Osibisa will be a breath of fresh air. Never miss them.

For 40 years Osibisa has been rocking and are currently on tour. Thanks to a a tenacious Teddy Osei who got a new lineup along with old members to tour again.

The artistes on the album – Teddy Osei (Tenor Sax, Flute, Africal Drums, Vocals), Sol Aarfio (Drums), Mac Tontoh (Trumpet, Flugehorn, Kabasa), Wendell Richardson (Lead Guitar, Vocals), Spartacus (bass guitar, assorted percussion), Robert Bailey (Organ, Piano, Timbales), Loughty Asisi Amao (Congas, Tenor Sax, Baritone Sax).