Post Description

Canadian composer and artist Rani CHATOORGOON is at this point a fairly unknown quantity. She launched her solo career back in 2009 with her debut album “Illusions of Loneliness”, and have since issued a handful of singles and EPs. “Samsara” is her most recent full length production, and was self released in the early winter of 2016.

As one might suspect from the artist name as well as the title given to this production, Rani isn’t the kind of person that can trace her cultural origins back ten generations in the Canadian territories. Her background appears to be a bit more colorful than that, and the music she creates most certainly incorporate a liberal amount of cultural elements not originating from Western culture. Therein lies the strength of this album as well, the manner in which it blends aspects of different cultural traditions.

The base foundation of most compositions appears to be what I’d describe as a hard but smooth and elegant variety of radio friendly hard rock. Firm riff cascades backed by solid rhythms is a staple in the greater majority of the compositions, fairly often with orchestration details appearing in key moments to add a grandiose, majestic tinge to the proceedings. With Rani’s finely controlled, quality lead vocals this results in exemplary sequences of appealing music, albeit a bit too polished and anonymous if not a part of a greater totality.

It is when the compositions feature additional details that this album starts to soar to more compelling heights. First and foremost with violin, percussion and string instrument details based on Eastern and presumably Indian traditions are used more extensively throughout. A couple of cuts also comes across as including Celtic folk music details, at least as I experience them, which also fits these landscapes quite nicely.

While I do consider hard rock to be the main foundation here, the compositions does actually range from more purebred folk and world music creation to material hovering on the borderland of progressive metal. While perhaps not what I’d describe as eclectic in scope it is an exotic one at times, but also well produced and what I’d describe as generally appealing in nature and with a radio friendly sound. Quite a few cuts here appears to be ready made even for mainstream FM radio, and one can only hope that this artist somehow manage to find her way into a B-list on a substantial station at some point. The A-lists obviously unavailable for artists not already firmly established.

All in all I find “Samsara” to be a compelling album overall. Rani is a strong vocalist, her voice carrying many songs in a fine and intriguing manner, and the blend of Eastern and Western musical traditions are almost magical at best. Opening cut The Grey is the standout track here, among a dozen quality cuts this composition showcase the very best qualities of this artist and this album in an excellent manner. A perfect starting place to explore this artist in other words, and those intrigued by the notion of Eastern world music combined with sophisticated radio friendly hard rock should start right there.


TRACKLIST:
01. The Grey
02. Lonely Witness
03. Unbearable
04. Let Me Go
05. My Prison
06. Maybe
07. Heartbeat
08. Breathe
09. The Will
10. Keepers of Truth
11. Sweet Solace
12. Guardian of Souls



Therein - Pink Floyd Sessions (2016)   >>( FLAC )<<


It’s always a great thing seeing a young, or let’s call them contemporary, band paying tribute to a band that was directly involved in making history. In the case of Australian progsters Therein, this task was quite challenging, considering that their choice was to “cover” one of Rock’s all-time favourite gems — British institution called Pink Floyd. To have things even more spiced up, what Therein made on, simply titled, Pink Floyd Sessions was doing a single-track medley of different Pink Floyd tunes. That’s something that required a lot of planning, arranging and thinking, what I am sure the Australians did.

The pieces that comprise the almost 25-minute medley include “Shine On You Crazy Diamond,” “Time,” “Great Gig in the Sky,” “Money,” “Dogs,” and “Is There Anybody Out There?” Therein pays tribute to an era of Pink Floyd which is by many considered as the time when the band was absolutely on the top of their game. To answer that challenge, Therein’s core trio Cameron Wheelan (guitar, vocals, FX), Ryan Boyd (guitar), and Kned Gulliford (drums, vocals), is joined by singers Thalia Soultan (“Shine On You Crazy Diamond,” “Money”) and Donelle Brooks (“Shine On You Crazy Diamond”) who bring the element of diversity and surprise to the overall sound.

The band does a good job on these pieces, and what’s more important, in my opinion, is that they have a certain flow that enables them to sound cohesive as an entity. They do an impressive job of giving off the same atmosphere originally created by Pink Floyd during the ‘70s and ‘80s.

Pink Floyd Sessions by Therein certainly doesn’t reinvent the wheel, and it’s not the idea behind this project. It’s seen as a “Thank You” by an aspiring artist to the artist that gave a lot to many generations over the past few decades. It shouldn’t make you feel uncomfortable what a small band like Therein has to say here, as it’s simply a showcase that this music lives, no matter of age.

Tracklist:

Pink Floyd Sessions: Shine On You Crazy Diamond/Time/Great Gig in the Sky/Money/Dogs/Is There Anybody Out There?



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