Fringe Music
Simon Thacker’s Svara Kanti
Summerhall
Miranda Heggie
Four stars
A real asset to the 2015 Made in Scotland Showcase, this marvellous mix of cultures is a fresh and fascinating approach to global folk music. A remarkable fusion of East and West, Simon Thacker’s Svara Kanti exposed the mesmerising beauty of Bengal’s traditional music, fragranced with jazz, flamenco, blues and Celtic hues. Having long been exploring the musical heritage of the South Indian subcontinent, Thacker has brought together a sterling trio who reimagine this centuries old music in a modern, multicultural context. Showcasing the ancient Baul tradition of expressing spirituality through song, vocalist Raju das Baul conveyed the mysticism of these haunting and captivating songs with a stirring and soulful tone. A melting pot of musical styles, the trio produced a moving and magnetic sound. Traditional Baul song Menokaa Maathaay Dilo Ghomtaa which describes a conflict between the God Shiva and Goddess Uma began with intricate rhythmic relationships, with tabla player Sarvar Sabr bringing an astonishing palette of colour to this piece. Raju das Baul’s intricate improvisation makes the vocal line sound almost like free jazz, with the multicultural strands of the music made evident by bluesy harmonies coming through from Thacker’s virtuosic guitar playing.
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