KTRU's pick of the week
The compilation Bollywood Steel Guitar, on the Sublime Frequencies label, is an engaging collection of some of the best Indian steel guitar pop music from 1962-'86. The album contains 21 tracks collected by Stuart Ellis and features such greats as Van Shipley, Kazi Aniruddha and Charanjit Singh in their finest moments performing for Bollywood film soundtracks.The music featured on Bollywood Steel Guitar is highly evocative. Each artist's individual style brings to mind the setting of their respective movies without the need for a visual aid, a feat that few modern movie soundtracks can accomplish on their own.
Most current soundtracks just don't cut it the way the plethora of musical styles presented on this album do. Though the steel guitar takes center stage, the album's lush sound is enriched by numerous other instruments. Tabla, sitar, santoor, harmonium and even the accordion join in to augment the skillful melodies of the album's namesake instrument.
The tracks call to mind genres ranging from action-packed thrillers to romances to Western gunslingers' tales. There is an obvious Western influence here, but it has been seamlessly integrated into the Indian musical style to create an irresistible fusion.
With this accessible yet authentic blend of East and West, Bollywood Steel Guitar gives listeners a window into an underexposed genre. The expertise displayed by some of the great steel guitar players of their time is definitely worth a listen and certainly has earned its place on the airwaves.
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