Tracks

1. Ganapti

2. Maya

3. Mamavatu

4. Woman

5. Mahima

6. Trust In Me

7. Bolo Bolo

8. Salt Rain

9. Kamakshi

10. Nagumomo

11. O Rama

12. Song To The Siren

Performer Notes

Personnel includes: Susheela Raman (vocals, tanpura); Ayub Ogada (vocals); Sam Mills (guitar); Vincent Segal (cello); Julia Thornton (harp); Manos Achalinotpopulos (clarinet); Don Dieu Le Divin (Fender Rhodes piano); Hilaire Penda (acoustic & electric basses, background vocals); Marque Gilmore (drums); Michel Fernandez (cajon); Djanuno Dabo (bongos, congas, shaker, surdo, background vocals); Aref Durvesh (dholak, tabla); Hossam Ramzi (percussion); Sandhya Sanjana (background vocals).
Engineers include: Stuart Bruce, Arabella Rodriguez, Rob Keyloch.
Principally recorded at The Studio, London, England between October and December 2000.
Personnel: Susheela Raman (vocals, tanpura); Ayub Ogada (vocals); Sam Mills (guitar); Vincent Segal (cello); Manos Achalinotopoulos (clarinet); Hilaire Penda (acoustic bass, background vocals); Marque Gilmore (drums).
Liner Note Author: Susheela Raman.
Recording information: Bellaphonix (02/2000); Real World Studios (02/2000); The Sound Studio, London, England (02/2000).
Arrangers: Hilaire Penda; Mathew Jones; Sam Mills; Susheela Raman; Ayub Ogada.
Opening Salt Rain is an invocation to the Hindu deity Lord Ganesh, remover of obstacles. In the Indian tradition, it's always a good idea to get Ganesh's blessings at the beginning of any new venture. Susheela Raman may toss in bass, drums, and other Western flourishes, but she also knows when to stick with the tried and true practices of her native culture. Raman also affords praise to other deities, namely the devis or goddesses Saraswati and Kamakshi, and lords Shiva and Rama. No doubt about it, Salt Rain is truly a mix of East and West, as Raman sought out producer Sam Mills after hearing his work with Bengali singer Paban Das Baul. Mills gathered musicians from around the world to create the backdrop for Raman, who sings in English and various Indian languages -- Sanskrit, Hindi, Tamil, Telugu -- as well as East African Luo. Most of the songs are traditional prayers or chants that Raman and Mills arranged in such ways as to fit their vision without losing the essence of the original. Overall, they did a pretty good job, as Raman shines more on those pieces than any others. ~ Kelly McCartney

Professional Reviews

CMJ (8/01, p.88) - "...Not so much a balance of Eastern devotional raga music and Western pop as an organic and rhythmic constancy that inspires thoughts of waves lapping on a beach..."

NAPRA Review (09-10/01, p.94) - "...[Brings] the devotion and passion of South India's profoundly spiritual Carnatic music to the wider perspectives of today's world..."

Mojo (Publisher) (9/01, p.104) - "...Here's a bluesy voice that's more than a little special..."