Mystic Groove
Various Artists
Quango/Palm Pictures
Yes, I feel they could’ve pepped up the title of this record a tad, but in circumstances such as this, I’m not sure what else you would call it. Combining classical elements of Eastern percussion (specifically India and its surrounding regions) with the timeless synth pads of modern electronics, Mystic Groove is pretty much all its cracked up to be. The Delerium-esque sound of Talvin Singh’s “Ghoom Charakahna” remix is not a ripoff, but an improvement on the previous artists’ work. Tablas flutter like birds, with keyboard swells accentuating the trip-hop of Thievery Corporation’s “Transcendence,” perhaps one of the brightest, Zen-inducing moments on the entire record.
It’s quite invigorating to hear Western artists interpret the incomparable sounds of Indian music, and pretty much all of them perform up to par. Suitable for home stereos and hipster bars/lounges alike, Mystic Groove is the perfect compliment for the soul-searching spiritualist in all of us. I think Ravi Shankar and Zakhir Hussain would be proud.
Quango/Palm Pictures, 4 Columbus Circle, 5th Floor, New York, NY 10019; http://www.palmpictures.com
