Hello to the regular followers of my posts, and to any new comers. It would be fair to say that the majority of my posts are Sub-Continental in flavour…with all the diversity that that entails. Whether it is classical, chill, new age- whatever it will grab my attention.
This newest post of mine is by a number of musicians who go by the name of ‘All India Radio’- the genre that they have been slotted in to by many people in the music industry is ‘trip hop’ or ‘trance’.
This is a double cd pack- the first one ‘ The Inevitable’ (the original front cover)
- was released on debut in 1999.
The second one simply titled‘All India Radio 002’ (released in 2001). When I purchased ‘002’ it became apparent that the 1st cd in the pack was a bonus cd. It was made this way with the early copies of the release. Therefore, I will post the 2 cd’s as a package to maintain the integrity of the artists intentions.
It has to be stated, that if you are looking for classical music or Indian instruments often used in any of the afore mentioned genres...or even if you were to think it might be some recordings from the 'All India Radio station', you could be disappointed.
Some of the track titles could lead you astray eg. ‘Hotel Madras’, ‘Bollywood Nights’, or ‘Bombay Mafia’- there is very little that you would associate with Indian music, although there are, some sound bytes of Indian street noises overlaid on the music therein.
What you will get is some beautiful dreamy sound-scapes, very positively ambient, which will de-stress you...if lying down and relaxed, you will sleep blissfully!
As mentioned, these are the first two releases of All India Radio (AIR). There are 6 releases in total. Their latest release ‘Fall’ (2008) - whilst maintaining the un-mistakeable ‘sound’ of AIR, the musician’s; Mark Kennedy (guitars & electronics), Mark Wendt (bass), and Ben Sims (drums) have been joined by vocalist/songwriter Leona Pure.
I have not been able to find out too much about this lady’s previous lives, but she is Pure by name, her voice is Pure angelic- which comes with a full range of notes that she uses. I doubt if there is any vocal work she couldn’t do justice to.
Here is a video and sound track called ‘Persist’ it is the second track from the new release ‘Fall’… there is Leona’s voice, and an interesting story on what inspired the song.
It is my humble opinion, that AIR will achieve major acclaim in the next 12 months with this new release. The voice of Leona makes the sound more accessible to a wider audience. Please go out and purchase yourself a treat...you will not be disappointed.
What others have had to say about AIR
"All India Radio began life in 1999 after founding member Martin Kennedy heard a friends badly recorded tape of Indian street noises and decided it contained some of the most evocative sounds he had ever heard. Taking his inspiration from the KLFs classic 1988 album Chill Out, Martin fused the lo-fi cassette recordings together with KLF-inspired ambient soundscapes and All India Radio was born.
"A glorious treat for the ears, this debut from the ex-Pray TV partnership of Martin Kennedy and Aidan Halloran is constructed from samples, programs and wobbling guitar lines and based on a collection of street soundscapes recorded in India by Halloran.
It is when these street samplings are at their most interesting that the music is at it's mysterious, exotic best, for they infuse the tracks with a genuine air of adventure. In fact the rest of the components of the fourteen tracks of The Inevitable aren't particularly novel, but the fact that the airy keyboard chords and flowing beats evolve exactly as you expect them, to make them all the more irresistible.
And, there's plenty going on below the enchanting surface aesthetics for those after a bit more substance. It's the kind of music that comes to you in dreams and to hear it actualised is really quite spooky." - Martin Jones, Inpress Magazine 2000
"This is the type of atmospheric bliss that leaves you with impressions, nothing really definitive or concrete, but these faint memories, homesickness, reminiscent smells you can't place, some kind of whispering of a history like a ghost town revealed after the draining of a lake.
Like a pulsating blob, pricked by old west twangy guitar, shadowed by snippets of street sounds, peppered with attitude and pieced together in a seat-of-the-pants, almost random process where shards of sound are stuck together with glue, almost like a scrap metal sculpture on a foundation of billowing nostalgia.
You might describe it as Dj Shadow goes out west, haunted by the Twin Peaks soundtrack or country electronica or cowboy dreams, the old west on one helluva noir-ish chill pill- but whatever it inspires in you, All India Radio is a gem." - CDBaby.com Reviews
"Some albums come out of nowhere and escape all attempt at classification. The name and the cover suggest a new anglo-Pakistani bangra beat-style production, while in fact it is a rather arty project imported from Australia.
AIR is made of Aidan Halloran and Martin Kennedy, former members of indie band Pray TV and painter for the latter. The sound - definitely ambient- is lo-fi and low key: guitar, drum machine, sound sampled in India, plateaux and many space effects. Somewhere between languid opium moods and desolate landscapes, high art and Paris Texas." - - Open Mag, France 2000
“The acclaimed debut album from Australian down tempo instrumental band All India Radio. Spun by the late great John Peel who playlisted it on his show, the album also charted in the Belgium, Dutch and Polish Indie charts. The Inevitable was followed by 002 and their ARIA nominated self titled third album, the music from which featured in the US TV series One Tree Hill and many ABC TV & Foxtel TV programs. The band are currently working on their fourth studio album” . John Peel BBC playlist favourite 1999.
"While 'The Inevitable' was a terrific debut, '002' is a work of superior beauty. Ghostly voice and music samples, distorted, distant pianos and choirs are woven through palettes reminiscent of Brian Eno and the KLF ('Chill Out'). Turn out the lights, close your eyes and be transported to...somewhere not on this earth. Early copies come with the first album as a bonus disc". - The Age Newspaper.
"There is no doubt that the compositions of Martin Kennedy have a distinct flavour of their own. Though they travel and twist across many landscapes, the soul and root of the music maintains an alluring ambience. We are brought into the mood with an authentic trip hop mix which later returns in the latter part of the first two CDs. The attraction is brewed through very simple, long and deep basslines. These are coloured with wandering guitar strokes over the top. At times the melodies could be derived from the Ry Cooder school, set in a post 20th century context of electronic origin. This is a truly diverse piece of work with a lot to offer". - Ben Karsay, 3D World November 2001
Ok... to the music
‘The Inevitable’
The tracklist
01.Hotel Madras
02.Street Conversions
03. Losing Houston
04. Night Fevers
05. Bollywood Nights
06. Wake In Waco
07. Holy Cowboys
08. All India Radio
09. Radio Silence
10. The Final Frontier
11. Bombay Mafia
12. Departure Lounge Tea Break
13. All India Radio (Drivetime Remix)
14. Hotel Madras (Reprise)
‘002’
The tracklist
01.By The Time I Get To Narita
02.Permanent Revolutions
03.Pacific High
04.You'll Never Go To Bollywood
05.Conspiracy Theories
06.Havana Waits
07.Highland Lowlife
08.How Many, For How Long
09.All The Way Down The West Coast
10.Border Crossings
11.Gringo Perdito
12.Wetbacks And Greenbacks
13.Surf On The Malecon
EAC-320kbps mp3 l 195 mbs l Full Scans
Download part 1
Download part 2
Download part 3
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