A true do-it-yourself project, Sangita — the second all-acoustic instrumental album from Todd Montgomery and Djam Karet's Gayle Ellett — boasts 50 extraordinary minutes of music played on wood instruments carved by hand. The innovative duo incorporates Irish and Greek bouzouki, sitar, dilruba, ruan, oud, gobijen, bulbul tarang, dotara, tenor banjo, harmonium and, of course, good ol' acoustic guitar and upright bass into these dozen songs. Fans of prog, folk, roots, world and jazz music should discover plenty to enjoy here, as each song provides its own distinct sound.
The sparse "Cimarron" trots, while the twangy "Mistral" chirps. "White Oak" flickers, and "Rings Waltz" frolics. And "Helen Island" invokes Santana as "North Wind" continues blowing in a spiritual direction. Such pastoral titles also add to the laid-back sonic atmosphere, making Sangita the perfect summertime-chill companion.
Track Listing:
1) Kalyn
2) White Oak
3) Hobbs Bay
4) Helen Island
5) North Wind
6) Rings Waltz
7) Mistral
8) Cimarron
9) Sargoza
10) Kestrel
11) Dor County
12) August