ANOUSHKA SHANKAR — Anoushka (2005) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

While the sitar is usually taught master to student in a male to male tradition, this beautiful daughter to renowned sitar master Ravi Shankar has been given access to the art. Debuting in 1994 and touring with Ravi since, this album of five compositions, four of which are Ravi Shankar's, is a fitting recording debut. The pieces begin with a slow introduction of fluid rhythm (alap or aochar) and build in crescendo to a spirited display of virtuosity with tabla accompaniment. It appears Anoushka, who appears on the J card in stunning traditional garb but in the booklet in more Western clothes, including white, feathery boas, has chosen compositions that build to multi-note runs. These "sitar leads" are less like the traditional, serene raga collection usually heard from traditional Indian masters and more like the effect gotten by rock guitarists employing sitar for timbre difference. Perhaps it is that she is just choosing a faster tempo on this material, as speed is up to the player in this music tradition. Of course, whatever Anoushka's stylistic direction, she is overtly masterful on the 20-string instrument. Poetic texts, in English, are provided for the instrumental tracks. A detailed glossary and track-by-track notes further elucidate the musical science behind these fascinating, exotic sounds. Tom Schulte
Tracklist :
1.    Bairagi    20:15
2.    Tilak Shyam    10:35
3.    Kirwani    8:46
4.    Charukeshi    7:30
5.    First Love (Pratham Prem)    12:43
Credits : 
Producer, Composed By – Ravi Shankar
Sitar – Anoushka Shankar
Tabla – Arup Chattopadhyay, Bikram Ghosh
Tambura [Tanpura] – Anoushka, Sukanya

ANOUSHKA SHANKAR — Rise (2005) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless

The daughter of Ravi Shankar moves far from the tradition on her fourth solo album, using her considerable sitar skills (understandably, she'll never be her father's equal, but who ever will?) as just part of her arsenal on an album that strives hard to blend the past and cutting edge. It succeeds in part, as on "Solea," where Indian and flamenco meet, the two opposite ends of the gypsy road, and discover they have much in common, or on "Red Sun 4," where the Indian tradition of vocal percussion called konnokol seems as modern as anything to emerge from drum programming. At other times, the album seems to float too weightlessly on a cloud of miasma. "Sinister Grains" is a case in point: it's pretty, and certainly well executed. But when it's over, it's hard to remember, as ephemeral as a pleasant summer breeze. "Voice of the Moon" fares somewhat better, more grounded in its Indian-ness, with an arching melody. But even that's countered by the album's opener, "Prayer in Passing," which seems too much like an alaap without a theme, a prelude that leads to nothing, form without substance. Shankar uses plenty of programming on this, adding voices (including her own), palmas, piano, guitar, and other unusual textures, which certainly bring variety to what she does. And with "Ancient Lore," the epic (11-minute) closer, she actually pulls it all together (thankfully without the didgeridoo that's there on one earlier cut), the judicious use of reverb giving a certain ambience, and a reminder that she's a sitar player whose roots lie on both East and West and she improvises. Rise isn't perfect, by any means, but it's the first step on a new path. Chris Nickson
Tracklist :
1.    Prayer In Passing    6:21
2.    Red Sun    4:50
3.    Mahadeva    5:41
4.    Naked    4:17
5.    Solea    7:26
6.    Beloved    7:05
7.    Sinister Grains    6:11
8.    Voice Of The Moon    8:55
9.    Ancient Love    11:07
10.    Beloved (Thievery Corporation Remix) 4:29
Remix – Thievery Corporation
11.    Naked (Karsh Kale 'Mirrors' Remix) 6:16
Remix – Karsh Kale
Credits :
Bansuri – Pedro Eustache (tracks: 1)
Bass – Kevin Cooper (tracks: 2, 6, 7)
Drums – Jesse Charnow (tracks: 2, 3, 6)
Keyboards – Anoushka Shankar, Pulak Sarcar (tracks: 1, 5, 8, 9)
Piano – Pedro Ricardo Miño (tracks: 1, 5, 9)
Tabla – Bikram Ghosh (tracks: 3, 6, 8), Tanmoy Bose (tracks: 1)
Vocals – Bikram Ghosh (tracks: 1), Rajesh Mishra (tracks: 3), Ritesh Mishra (tracks: 3)
Sitar, Arranged, Written-By – Anoushka Shankar

MANUEL BARRUECO – Sometime Ago (1994) FLAC (tracks+.cue), lossless