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The
Production
"786"
is the mature continuation of this group's work since the world-acclaimed
CD "Dhola Maru," presented under a different group name.
These artists accomplished about 150 performances, several world
tours and various experiments before preparing an appropriate
repertoire and entering the studio again. " 786 " provides
an edgy response to millennial bigotry through an instintively
blend of musical traditions and hard-partying attitude. It is
a modern folk masterpiece, not musty ethnomusicology
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The
Tracks
1-
Duun
Raagni Tilang (Danashri)
A high-pitched instrumental which evokes desert spirits awakening,
riding horses to a carnival of fantasies. I wish my bird was a
horse… A virtuoso tornado from its beginning to its end on
the edge of eternity.
2-
Torania
Raagni Kamaïti (Kamaich)
Troubadours challenge each other in a breakbeat vocal-duel duet
- not unlike the back and forth freetstyles battles in hip hop
- based in a typical Rajastani wedding song.
3-
Maro Jailo
Raag Parbati (Malkosh)
An opium-induced erotic tale of cobras making love in the desert,
in Rupag (seven beats). Blunted downtempo, Rajasthani dub and
incredible layers of instrumentation blend into a unique sound
texture.
4-
Kanouro
Raagni Ghoon Melhar (Kedar)
The story of Khrishna's flute thief in seven chapters of progressive
music (composed by Muslims !), building to an intense, eerily
spiraling, headbanging frenzy.
5-
Lova Barnawa
Raagni Bermi (Bhairavi)
An instrumental on double flute, a voluptuary fall between two
sounds. Feel the silence, touch the desert vibration, buy Ustad
Murad Khan Langa's first full-length solo double flute CD, released
for his 50th birthday!
6-
Kimero
Raagni Sorat (Pat Manjari)
Jhangra, the primitive North Indian classical music style, is
displayed in this Langa classic, recorded live at Berlin world-music
conference Womex.
7-
Niboula
Raagni Bermi (Bhairavi)
"The Lemon," a refreshing, energetic desert pop track,
showcasing the lighthearted side of MAharaja.
8-
La vie continue
An impromptu recording of a young Langa child starting his journey
into the traditions of his caste. In one tiny voice, we hear the
past become the future.
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The
Packaging
"Team de choc" Don Carlito Dalceggio (visionary painter,
party trendsetter, poet, filmmaker and life dealer) and Tomate
G4 graphic designer, both from Montréal, have created these
12 fabulous paintings and collages while touring and living with
Maharaja in Europe and North America during the summer of 2001.
"786" has been nominated for best CD artwork last February
2002 in Canada.
The photos were shot in NYC by Manhattan-based Taiwanese glamour
maven Dah Len.
Click here to showcase more artworks by Carlito Dalceggio
Click here to read about Carlito Dalceggio
Click
here to view Tomate's work
Click
here to view Dah Len's work
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Glossary
Aloogoza, or Pava Jodi
A pair of wooden tubes, separate but played simultaneously. This
particular technique involves rhythmic blowing through the melody
pipe, while a sustained breath passes through the drone pipe.
This rudimentary instrument invites the most effusive virtuosity.
Dholak
A horizontal, medium-sized drum on which the two skins are attached
by thongs and tightened by sliding knots which modify the pitch.
The two skins generate opposite sounds-one dry and clear, the
other deep and resonant. They are struck by the fingertips and
the palm of the hand, and played sitting down.
Dua
A poetic, modal vocal intro.
Kartals
A pair of doubled wooden tablets, held one in each hand and snapped
together by the alternating opening and closing of the fingers.
This is accentuated by strange and fascinating body movements,
with sweeping gestures of the arms the body mimicing the emotional
flow of the music.
Pungi
A type of shenaï (flute) for snake charmers, suitable for
rhythmic and melodic improvisation, played with one continuous
breath. It is composed of three distinct sections-an intake pipe,
leading to a large and ornate reservoir, which itself leads to
two pipes containing fine bamboo reeds and pierced by seven holes
for melody and three tonal holes. The three sections are attached
together with wax.
Raag
Literally "the story"-the modal scales of Indian music.
There are six principal raags, from which spring 30 "raagnis."
Raagni is the feminine form of raag-just as words can have, in
some languages, masculine and feminine character, so can Indian
music be divided.
Sindh
The desert region covering the south-east of Pakistan and the
north-west of Rajasthan.
Saarangi
The principal stringed instrument, played with a bow, of North
India. Its gorgeous sound is remarkably expressive, approximating
the human voice. Played sitting down and held vertically, it rests
between the thing and ear of the musician, and is often richly
decorated, with a delicately sculpted upper pegboard to which
four melodic gut strings are attached. Below is a resonating box
carved out of wood in the form of a figure 8. Numerous secondary
strings, of metal, are strung under the melodic strings and attached
by pegs to the sides of the neck. A wide variety of craftsmen
manufacture saarangis in India, giving them different sounds and
playing techniques. Maharaja's Barkat and Noore Khan Langa play
the Sindhi saarangi.
Text
by Arnaud Azzouz
Proof reading : Rupert Bottenberg
Management
:
Sayari
Entertainment Pvt. Ltd.
+
91 94 133 18 447 < in India - Rajasthan - Udaipur
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Distributors
Benelux : Bang! Music
16,
rue du Vallon box 25
B-1210
Bruxelles Belgium
Tel
: + 32 2 223 21 89
Fax
: + 32 2 223 54 51
promo
: christophe@bangdistribution.com
sales
: damien@bangdistribution.com
street
date : May 7th, 02
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Licenses
Canada :
Coeur
de Lion, division INCA PRODUCTION CANADA
6255, rue Hutchison, bureau 107
Montréal, Québec
H2V 4C7
Téléphone : (514) 274-5026
Télécopieur : (514) 274-5255
Mr Richard Paquet - Mr Carol Roy
inca6668@qc.aira.com
coeurdelion@qc.aira.com
Street
date : October 2002
Japan
:
CREPUSCULE
AU JAPON ,CO LTD
Mr
Makoto Miyanogawa makoto@conversation.co.jp
Ms
Catherine Ounsamone catherine@conversation.co.jp
1-4,
Kanda-Jimbo-Cho, Chiyoda-Ku, 101-0051 Tokyo
Tel
: + 81 3 323 319 33
Fax
: + 81 3 329 373 67
www.conversation.co.jp
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Musafir
Dhola Maru
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Un
chef d'oeuvre ! Pure passion and devotion is felt throughout
this album recorded in Brussels in May & June 1999 by
Jean Pierre Sluys and produced by Azzouz, CD cover illustrated
by Ghalia Ben Ali.
Dhola
Maru will soon be re released under the group name of MAharaja.
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Article about Dhola Maru
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