CD Review: Midival Punditz' 'Light'

Midival Punditz
Light
Six Degrees Records

The electronic and fusion-focused Midival Punditz release their latest album, Light. It is anything but light from a musical standpoint. In fact, the tunes are rather hard-hitting with diverse South Asian, new age, and world music stylings with contemporary beats, guitars, and traditional sounds emanating from keyboards and actual instruments. The rather organic and enticing sound from New the Delhi-based duo stem from eighteen-years of DJ culture exposure and world music experience, which culminate in a very rewarding and satisfying album. There are nine tracks, but most of them are pretty long. Everything is diverse and reaches deep into the soul of the Earth with fluttering melodies, heavy percussion, wild guitars, dance-friendly beats, and a mix of electronic sampling and engineering that is unparalleled. All of the songs are produced by Gaurav Raina and Tapan Raj--the progenitors of the group. The primary sounds resemble South Asian electronica mixed with a dose of The Trans-Siberian Orchestra! ~ Matthew Forss

2-CD Review: Da Cruz' 'Disco E Progresso'

Da Cruz   

Disco E Progresso [2 CD]

Boom Jah Records

Brazilian-born and Swiss-based, Da Cruz enlightens listeners with giddy, soul-stirring dance music with equal amounts of dancehall, funk, new wave, samba, electronic, and pop elements. The new album is a two-disc set that is labeled “light” and “dark.” These connotations describe what is going on from a musical perspective in Brazil. The uppity tunes are still enchanting and catchy, despite the title monikers. On the “light” album, the jazzy “Nascer Livre” showcases some great vocals and instrumentation that is very showy and upbeat. The swaying rhythm of a seaside melody on “Din Din” possesses a laidback atmosphere that is timeless and nostalgic. “Tuda Flui” is a funk-inflected tune with light vocals and a jazzy vein. There are eleven tracks on the "light" CD. The "dark" CD contains ten tracks and songs that are more experimental with more jazzy, funk, electronic, and rock elements. The breakbeat sounds of "Cala a Boca" and the dark tones of "Aonde vai" signify a varied mix of music. The music tends to be a little more urban overall. The dark guitars and Garbage-esque arrangements on "Menino mau" showcase a different side of Da Cruz. No matter what side of Da Cruz you experience; you will be pleasantly surprised. ~ Matthew Forss    

CD Review: Aradia's 'Possibilities: Light'

Aradia
Possibilities: Light
Self-Release

Seattle-based and New York-born, Aradia combines the best of dance, electronica, trip-hop, and pop with edgy rock arrangements and experimental sounds. The blurby and dance-driven, "Trouble," provides a nice vocal accompaniment with groovy sounds and keyboard arrangements. The music is akin to a trance-induced Madonna with a little Hooverphonic. The vocals are mostly without fault, but a little direct. "Today" contains a great symphonic keyboard base and a swishy percussion beat, as Aradia's sweet vocals evoke an engaging medley of sounds akin to Leona Naess or Beth Orton. "On Fire" is an edgy, dance tune akin to the earlier work of the band Garbage. The dance music is creative and different overall. One can think of various pop artists that dip into dance music, but few know how to master the genre and still keep an audience excited about long after the song ends. Luckily, Aradia inspires this type of dance music with longevity and emotion. The 'possibilities' are endless when Aradia is in charge. ~ Matthew Forss