Here’s a guy who put a ton of thought into his latest instrumental project. India-born and Maryland-based multi-instrumentalist Rahul Mukerji took a cross-cultural approach to Mridhangit -- recruiting such established musicians as Sweden's Pain of Salvation drummer Léo Margarit, Spanish bassist Ruben Rubio and South African pianist Chaplin, plus others from South India, Turkey, France and Sri Lanka. What’s more, he named the 11-track instrumental album Mridhangit to suggest a linguistic fusion of “mridangham” (a double-sided drum vital to South Indian Carnatic music), “handpan” (a melodic steel drum) and “guitar” (Mukerji’s main instrument). The title further reinforces the idea of collaboration and makes this a truly global project.
The result is a moody yet diverse world fusion album full of intricate arrangements and world-class musicianship. On the brooding opener, “Mr. Sinister,” Mukerji shreds as if that solo is the most important thing in the world. (And, given the nature of the world, it just might be.) Elsewhere, "Dushtan" approaches metal-with-violin territory and “Enjoymaddi” begins with a lovely, lounge-y piano solo that morphs into a rich-sounding jazz excursion. The uplifting “Kalli Penn” and Funky Pakora” showcase Margarit’s precision percussion and Mukerji’s playful guitar, while the title track starts with some incredible Carnatic spoken rhythms before talking flight with flute, tablas, bass and mridangham. Nearly each of the 11 songs here is an album highlight.
Indeed, the collaborative spirit is alive and well and soaring on Mridhangit.
Track Listing:
1. Mr. Sinister
2. Bheja Fry
3. Twelve Ganeshas
4. Enjoymaddi
5. Mridhangit
6. Kalli Penn
7. Funky Pakora
8. Dushtan
9. Rahu Ketu
10. Four Seas
11. Mutabor
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