Kalyug – Digital Chamatkar [May-2007]

Title – Digital Chamatkar
Label – DadA Music, India
Format – CD
Genre – Progressive
Release Date – May 2007
Purchase At -
http://www.dada-music.co.in/closerproduct.asp?num=17
Artist Bio -
http://www.dada-music.co.in/ArtistDet.asp?h_ArtistID=8

Tracklist -

1. Virtual Matter (8:04) [120]
2. Electrical Signals (7:27) [124]
3. Altered States (7:05) [132]
4. Civil Rights Issue (7:26) [128]
5. Its Very Important (8:05) [138]
6. Mind Expansion (8:31) [139]
7. Cosmic Intervention (9:21) [142]
8. Happy Life (10:32) [144]
9. Open Eyes (7:27) [146]

India’s own Ambient & Progressive label ‘dadA Music’ is back with vengeance creating sonic manipulations in the form of ‘Kalyug – Digital Chamatkar’. “Kalyug” is the progressive alter ego of one of the labels co-founder ‘Sattyananda aka Nikhel Kumar Mahajan’ who released his ambient album ‘Internal Activities’ last year.

Nikhel draws inspiration from ancient Indian Hindu mythology and has deep rooted spiritual beliefs. Kalyug is the fourth and final era in the spiritual evolution of man. According to Hindu mythology the four ages of the world are: The Krita Yug – 4800 years : The Treta Yug – 3600 years : The Dwapara Yug – 2400 years and KALYUG – 1200 years.

Getting the intro out of our way allow me to guide you through the tracks.

Opening the album is ‘Virtual Matter’, a chilled breakbeat tune which after a eerie heavily distorted vocal sample and metallic flute sounds makes way for the beat to set in, the grooves laid back and chilled out with sharp and acid synthlines. The track has some great potential of finding its way into the chillout floors. A great start!

‘This is your last chance after this there is not turning back’, ‘Electrical Signals’ has a bass that gets one into the groove in an instant, teamed with a muffled heavy kick drum and running at just 124 BPM this ones pure psychedelic progressive music with a very very phat groove. A great tune with a lovely, easygoing vibe.

I love the way the kick drum sets in nearly after a minute followed by a slick groovy bassline on ‘Altered States’ along with sloshed pads, really dreamy melodies and electronic drones flying in all directions. Hypnotic trance inducing material for sure! Love the shotgun bassline that sets in after around 4.30 mins. Continuing with the tradition of using psychedelic samples to begin a track, we see drop in the rising tempo on ‘Civil Rights Issue’, the track has gentle melodies and clever arrangement of samples that justify the track name, ending in a twisted synth-flute frenzy which works like a charm.

‘It’s very Important’ begins with Albert Hoffman quote “It’s very important that’s one is prepared for the use of psychedelics, its not just fun it’s a very serious experiment”, which we even find printed on the cds inner sleeve. With a rolling bassline running relentlessly at 138BPM giving the track a very fullon sound or I could describe this as ‘progon’.

The laid back grooves back with ‘Mind Expansion’, we are greeted by tribal percussion, tabla bits and processed female vocal chats that keeps delving along the length of the track. This could work great for those progressive open air experiences.

‘Cosmic Intervention’ is difficult to describe, the track has a very old skool goa trance vibe running along the sythlines while the layering is pure progressive, overall this ones probably my favourite 135bpm plus track on the disc. ‘Happy Life’ as the name would suggest is sunrise music with very melodious and sharp synthlines, the melodies here like the previous track emit a very old skool goa trance vibe that’s refreshing to hear these days due to the overflow of mediocre fullon sounds.

‘Open Eyes’ takes its own time to build up and move from a broken beat to a full throttle frantic pace with a rolling bassline and some funky hi-hats that sets in only after 4 and half minutes. This is the perfect way to end the groovy and uplifting acid ridden journey.

The music on ‘Digital Chamatkar’ is varied, groovy and evolving with a lot of cleverly used ethnic instruments ranging from flutes, sarangi, and sitar to Indian classical music chats by talented vocalists that are omnipresent in a very subtle way which clearly define the roots of the producer. A special mention would be the extensive used of psychedelic samples which makes the album a conceptual idea that explores alternate realities and the effects of psychedelics, not trying to glamorize them but to highlight the limitless mind expansion possibilities they offer. I tend to like the slower tracks more that have a massive groove. Nikhel has come a very long way and ‘Digital Chamatkar’ is just the beginning for bigger things for a producer with immense talent. The packaging is great with some awesome psychedelic artwork and comes complete with the ‘Parental Advisory – Explicit Material’ warning on the back.

8/10

Favourite Tracks – 1,2,3,6,7,9

Elve – Infinite Garden [2006]

Title – Infinite Garden
Label – Virtual Reality Music
Format – CD
Genre – Ambient, Minimal
Release Date – 2006
Purchase At -
http://www.psyshop.com/shop/CDs/vwr/vwr1cd002.html
Links -
http://www.v-i-r-t-u-a-l-w-o-r-l-d.com/

Tracklist –

1 Vale (13:23)
2 Elvish Tea (2:26)
3 Utoia (10:04)
4 Luminessence (3:34)
5 Aeolian Woods (1:54)
6 Mozaic Rain (2:45)
7 Sunshine Windmill (3:21)
8 Mycelium Dawn (5:31)
9 Sycamore Breeze (1:11)
10 Cyantium Flower (9:58)
11 Summerset Hill (6:25)
12 Autumn Leaves (2:41)
13 Awaken (3:05)

Writing a review for Ishwara’s Infinite Garden has been tough job. I’ve had the disc for almost 2 months but I still haven’t been able to come up with a review that would do justice to the depths presented within the gentle maze of sounds.

“Elve” is one of the alter egos of “Matt Hillier”, who’s know for his rich percussive ambient compositions as “Ishq” or “Ishwara”. Launched as the second release on his own label “Virtual Reality Music”, “Infinite Garden” explores a warm organic and much more minimal sound that’s meant to accompany the listener’s lucid state rather then engaging them. As the title suggests the theme of the album is a tribute to nature and all things green, prepare your senses to leave all the hustle behind and focus only on the music.

To capture the true essence of the album it’s apt to ensure the surrounding one listens to the album complements the passive and relaxing mood. A track by track review is of no use here, ‘Infinite Garden’ is one cohesive unit ready to be explored.

The sounds are composed of heavenly choirs, ethereal synth pads, and peaceful soundscape showcasing a mesmerising union between nature and machine along with all sorts of natural sounds from chirping birds, rain forest murmurs to sounds from the microscopic living world all fused within indistinguishable yet ingenious electronic patters reflecting on our dynamic yet structured environment.

‘Matt’ is definitely in a league of his own. ‘Infinite Garden’ is for minimal and ambient music connoisseurs and it makes me sad to think that people with a fickle mind may never be able to recognise the genius behind this release.

9/10