Human
NitinSawhney.com > Music > Albums > Philtre
Overview
Drawing on influences ranging from urban R&B to Indian classical music and the Velvet Underground, this record is Nitin Sawhney's most autobiographical.
Daring and emotionally direct, each track encapsulates a certain space in time Ð from the joy and pain of birth in 'Eastern Eyes', to being the only Asian kid in a school dominated by the National Front ('Say Hello'), to the headlong teenage rush of the single, 'Falling', to the sense of integrating two cultures on the ecstatic song 'Fragile Wind'.
For this album he has collaborated with powerful young British vocalists such as Tina Grace, Reena Bhardwaj, Natacha Atlas, Matt Hayles from Aqualung, and Kevin Mark Trail from The Streets.
On each sumptuous, lyrically-driven track, Nitin Sawhney has conveyed a certain mood, using everything from the Urban Soul Orchestra (four string players recorded in his living room) to the 150-piece South Indian Full Harmonic Orchestra. Also featured on the album is the virtuoso flautist Ronu Majumdar, percussionist and long-term collaborator Steve Shehan, and bass player Eric Appapoulay.
Underpinned by hip hop loops, funky R&B and latin house, this album cites influences ranging from Turin Brakes and Massive Attack, to The Streets, drum n' bass act London Elektricity, and flamenco artist Paco de Lucia.
While past projects have been inspiring, the album Human focuses on emotions closest to Nitin Sawhney's heart.
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Reviews
"Throbs with a rare sense of
urgency and passion throughout"
- Time Out
"Moments of genuine beauty"
- Music Week
"Human... his best yet"
- The Independent
"Impressive leap forward"
- Q Magazine