CD Review: Therianthrope's Self-Titled Release

Therianthrope
Therianthrope
Avaaz Records

They call it Indian surf music, which is an appropriate term after a few short listens to the new album, Therianthrope. The music is produced by a talented world music fusion quintet based in the San Diego area. The group plays guitars, tabla, and assorted percussion. The music flows effortlessly through sound and ocean waves with such ease and melancholy that every song is unforgettable. The instrumental tunes are soft and supple and frenzied in other parts. However, the result is the same: every song is amazing. The songs are even imaginatively-titled, including "Eight-Dollar Watermelon," "Wolfman Vs. You," "Canary In A Bitcoin Mine," "Am I A Merman," and "Unicorn Tranquilizer." The songs are not psychedelic with electronic embellishments and endless dance beats. Instead, the instrumentation is rather clear, dreamy, rhythmic, and fusion-inspired with a good degree of improvisational qualities. Everyone should like this one. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Bombay Rickey's 'Cinefonia'

Bombay Rickey
Cinefonia
Cowboys & Indian

The seven-piece ensemble, Bombay Rickey, includes Kamala Sankaram on vocals and accordion; Drew Fleming on guitars and vocals; Jeff Hudgins on reeds, vocals, and keyboards; Gil Smuskowitz on contrabass; Timothy Quigley and Brian Adler on percussion; and Sam Merrick on drums. Cinefonia boasts a world fusion of sorts that incorporates a bit of gypsy, psych, funk, Hindi, and folk melodies with modern keyboards and guitars. The surfadelic, Pondicherry Surf Goddess, is a psychedelic, surf gem with reverberating guitars, pulsating keys, and flowing vocals amidst a punchy bass-line and melody. The instrumental sections blend Latin, Indian, and North American percussion styles into one, indelible concoction of music. If you are interested in contemporary fusion, South Asian-inspired music, and music with great beats and vocals; you will absolutely love Bombay Rickey. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: The Bombay Royale's 'The Island Of Dr. Electrico'

The Bombay Royale
The Island Of Dr. Electrico
HopeStreet Recordings

Bollywood surf, spy, funk, disco, and dance music from a Melbourne, Australia group? The unlikely combination is nothing to get upset about, since everything works well here. The entire album is around forty-five minutes in length, but the sounds seem to live on forever. The orchestrations are reminiscent of a spy-thriller film soundtrack that could be heard in almost any country, but the Bollywood and spaghetti-Western sounds are most pervasive. The psychedelic sounds and surfadelic connotations are timeless and catchy. Every song on the album is worth repeating over and over. The infusions of punchy horns, suspenseful orchestrations, gritty funk, and South Asian vocalizations are simply too much to take in, because they are so appropriate and memorable. The Island Of Dr. Electrico is one of the best world music albums of the year. Discover it today. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Jaro Milko & The Cubalkanics' Cigarros Explosives!'

Jaro Milko & The Cubalkanics
Cigarros Explosives!
Asphalt-Tango Records

The Switzerland-based band, Jaro Milko & The Cubalkanics, combine edgy, Latin percussion from Cuba and punchy, horn-driven, gypsy music from the Balkans. The seemingly unlikely combination of instruments and styles comes together to form a unique and fluid blend of world fusion at its finest. The musical syncopation adds a little psychedelic moments, while other sounds take on a neo-ska origin. At any rate, The thirteen tracks are diverse, catchy, and very danceable. The surf-like guitar accompaniments and fluid bass-lines bring out the best in Cuban, Balkan, and gypsy music. Fans of heart-pounding dance riffs, punchy percussion and horns, and Latin rhythms inspired by the 1960's and 70's will especially love its resilient and memorable sound. Cigarros Explosives! is what results when you travel through Hungary, Switzerland, and Cuba--all at the same time! ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: The Bombay Royale's 'You Me Bullets Love'

The Bombay Royale
You Me Bullets Love
Hopestreet Recordings

If James Bond starred in an Indian film, this would be his soundtrack. The surfadelic stylings of Bollywood psych-funk with loads of brass, rhythms, and gritty guitars is reinvented for today's generation. Building upon the classic Indian sounds of the 1960s and 70s, The Bombay Royale create amusing and reverberating rhythms that mimic the US/Cambodian group, Dengue Fever, and how they modernized surf-rock for today using songs and styles from the Khmer Rouge-era. In fact, Dengue Fever's music is quite similar to The Bombay Royale. The spacey electronics, blazing horns, and funky Hindi beats are very lively and memorable. Fans of psychedelic Indian funk will love You Me Bullets Love, especially for its release on gatefold LP, but also CD and download formats will be released. All ten tracks are monumental from this Melbourne, Australia-based band. India's Golden Age is back and The Bombay Royale are to blame. Thank you for creating this musical project. ~ Matthew Forss