2 May 2022
Album Review- Re/Semblance: Saath Saath
The album was featured in Sonograma, who said the album "opens up new and exciting possibilities for intercultural conversations." Here's a link to the full review: https://sonograma.org/suplement-de-discos/re-semblance-saath-saath/
The review is in Spanish, and Google Translate was used to produce this English version.
In times where world diplomacy often falls short of ideas and resources, this exquisite Re / Semblance work sits us at a cordial table of modal dialogue woven into a rather intimate, respectful Transcultural timbral and one that listens to each other. Two thousand-year-old giants who embrace each other from temperance and respect, and then the dialogue hatches with meaning and beauty, giving us a bath of joy and sensory delight.
Two discs with tuned timbral perspectives and ethnomusicologically coherent. The editing of this project is carried out by Tejaswini Niranjana, who weaves together delicately and wisely. The organological display manages to create a harmonious and natural common organic space that at times convinces you that this experience comes from afar and that each instrument is as akin to the other as if they were blood brothers. The rhythm of talas and hybrid measures accompanies the voices that they draw, phrases and modal melodies, from motifs that play between ragas and eclectic improvisations. The voices lead this dialogue with eclectic nuances that dance between material, lyrical Cantonese poetry, Hindustani and language of modal improvisation, we could say delocalized and open minded. Transcending the confines of borders and intelligently taking advantage of many common places. This double album is the result of multiple intersecting journeys that took Chinese musicians to Bangalore and Mumbai, and Indian musicians to Hong Kong, Shanghai, Beijing, Hangzhou, Suzhou, and Wuhan. Music exemplifies the notion of "likeness" by hinting at and combining a number of cultural traditions; listeners hear a melody hinting at an Hindustani raga, Indian singers sing a Cantonese poem, and more. Through the shared language of music, Re / Semblance: Saath-Saath opens up exciting new possibilities for cross-cultural conversations.
Another great example for the diplomacy and politics of our planet: Real and effective dialogues are urgently needed.
Ernesto Briceño