Sultans of String: Subcontinental Drift

Here is another band previously unbeknownst to me. Sultans of String is a Canadian outfit having formed around eight years ago and have recently released their fifth album of new material Subcontinental Drift. According to their website they have been highly lauded, even earning two Juno award nominations. They have also seen a fair amount of radio play which is never a bad thing. So, just who are these guys? It's a fairly large ensemble including Chris McKhool (violin, viola, chin-cello, vocals), Kevin Laliberté (nylon string, steel string, electric guitars, vocals), Eddie Paton (nylon string, steel string guitars, vocals), Drew Birston (acoustic and electric bass, vocals) and Rosendo León (drums, percussion, palmas, jaleo, vocals). Guest musician Anwar Khurshid adds sitar and vocals as Indian music is a major component of the disc. Choir and tabla are also used adding to the world theme. The marriage of raga Indian music and Western elements can be heard on the first track "Enter the Gate" where Khurshid's sitar dominates the soundscape along with acoustic guitar and violin in some effective call and response moments. More East/West elements converge in "Rakes of Mallow/Rouge River Valley" as Irish and East Indian melodies are fleshed out among guitar, sitar and strings. The gentle guitar arpeggios at the beginning is particularly lovely. "Ho Jamalo" is more in line with pure Indian music as is the exotic sounding "Snake Charmer" where wicked acoustic workouts of sitar and guitar weave in and out in an entanglement of sound. One of the more curious choices is a rendition of Dylan's "Blowin' In the Wind" an upbeat offering that lends itself well to the Indian elements of sitar and tabla. Subcontinental Drift combines Western folk music and East Indian stylings in a unique way. Suffice to say the melodies and musicianship is excellent and if you dig ethnic music you should give this one a listen. Here is another band previously unbeknownst to me. Sultans of String is a Canadian outfit having formed around eight years ago and have recently released their fifth album of new material Subcontinental Drift. According to their website they have been highly lauded, even earning two Juno award nominations. They have also seen a fair amount of radio play which is never a bad thing.

So, just who are these guys? It's a fairly large ensemble including Chris McKhool (violin, viola, chin-cello, vocals), Kevin Laliberté (nylon string, steel string, electric guitars, vocals), Eddie Paton (nylon string, steel string guitars, vocals), Drew Birston (acoustic and electric bass, vocals) and Rosendo León (drums, percussion, palmas, jaleo, vocals). Guest musician Anwar Khurshid adds sitar and vocals as Indian music is a major component of the disc. Choir and tabla are also used adding to the world theme.

The marriage of raga Indian music and Western elements can be heard on the first track "Enter the Gate" where Khurshid's sitar dominates the soundscape along with acoustic guitar and violin in some effective call and response moments. More East/West elements converge in "Rakes of Mallow/Rouge River Valley" as Irish and East Indian melodies are fleshed out among guitar, sitar and strings. The gentle guitar arpeggios at the beginning is particularly lovely. "Ho Jamalo" is more in line with pure Indian music as is the exotic sounding "Snake Charmer" where wicked acoustic workouts of sitar and guitar weave in and out in an entanglement of sound. One of the more curious choices is a rendition of Dylan's "Blowin' In the Wind" an upbeat offering that lends itself well to the Indian elements of sitar and tabla.

Subcontinental Drift combines Western folk music and East Indian stylings in a unique way. Suffice to say the melodies and musicianship are excellent and if you dig ethnic music you should give this one a listen.

Track Listing:
1. Enter the Gate (3:30)
2. Rakes of Mallow/Rouge River Valley (2:32)
3. Ho Jamalo (6:40)
4. A Place to Call Home (4:19)
5. Blowin' In the Wind (3:42)
6. Snake Charmer (5:37)
7. Parchan Shaal Panhwar (7:02)
8. Journey to Freedom (3:57)
9. Subcontinetal Drift (3:58)
10. A Heart Does What It Does (4:23)
5. Blowin' In the Wind (3:42)
6. Snake Charmer (5:37)
7. Parchan Shaal Panhwar (7:02)
8. Journey to Freedom (3:57)
9. Subcontinetal Drift (3:58)
10. A Heart Does What It Does (4:23)

Added: March 8th 2016
Reviewer: Jon Neudorf
Score:
Related Link: Band's Official Site
Hits: 1730
Language: english

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