Bhangra Beatz

by BHANGRA BEATZ / VARIOUS

Overview

A hot collection of contemporary bhangra culled from the Kiss Records archives in the U.K., Bhangra Beatz is an outstanding blend of the vaguely traditional Punjabi sounds with a clear representation by the electronica and hip-hop movements. There is the ever-present dhol throughout the album, the standard instrument for all bhangra, keeping a bouncing beat underneath any other components. There are synth and string arrangements reminiscent of the rai movement as well as holding telltale signs of Bollywood influences here and there. Perhaps most notable, though, is the turntablism, general mixing, and beat juggling that shows up, showing off the newer aspects of the genre. This is rave music with old farming call-and-response vocals, or farming music with a stray electronic kit in the front. The spectrum is covered from native Indian performers to the leading British groups to the stray Canadian, Jazzy B. While the vocalists sound surprisingly similar from song to song, the backing music changes drastically from moment to moment, with the various artists focusing more clearly on different aspects of the music. For a nice look at the underground British/Punjabi musical movement that's become rather less underground in recent years, this makes for a nice album whether serving as an introduction or a retrospective. ~ Adam Greenberg

Product Details

Release Date:	09/26/2000
Label:	Naxos
UPC:	0636943701225
Rank:	235149

Tracks

1. Lok Boliyan  -  Anakhi  - Surjit Singh  - Pete Ware
2. Ludiane Nachdi Nu
3. Soundz from the Des  - Balbir Bittu
4. Lak De Hulareh  - Sukshinder Shinda
5. Meri Maa Boli Punjabi  - Balbir Bittu
6. Aaja Billo  - Baldev Mastana  - Balwinder Safri
7. Dhamiwala Da Dhol  - Sukshinder Shinda
8. Nach de Punjabi  - Sukshinder Shinda
9. Doli  - Soni Atwal  - Sukshinder Shinda
10. Sahotas Boliyan  -  Sahotas
11. Putt Sardaran Da

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Balbir Bittu   Primary Artist
Anakhi   Primary Artist
Balwinder Safri   Primary Artist
Sahotas   Primary Artist
Sukshinder Shinda   Primary Artist

Technical Credits

Baldev Mastana   Composer
Andrew Sun   Executive
Soni Atwal   Composer
Surjit Singh   Composer
Sahotas   Performer
Balwinder Safri   Performer
Sukshinder Shinda   Composer
Pete Ware   Composer