KARSH KALE - Touch 1 : Score Reviews
British composer of Indian origin , Karsh Kale has been described as a " visionary composer and producer ". His fans include some of the most influential people in the world . Speaking about Karsh Kale ’ s music , former American President Barack Obama said “ Karsh Kale mixes eclectic beats with the sounds of his heritage to make a sound that is distinctly his own .” Karsh Kale today is known as a pioneer in the world of global fusion . His career has gone through many avatars over the past 20 years as he jumps between the various roles of being a world renowned tabla player , drummer , DJ / remix artist , vocalist , multi instrumentalist , film composer , as well as a band leader and curator .
Karsh Kale has also developed a reputation as a genre bending collaborator which has led him to work with some of the most renowned artists from around the globe .
Be it with his live ensembles , or with his work as a world-renowned producer , Karsh Kale continues to push the boundaries of music to places it hasn ’ t been . He also continues to be one of the most sought after collaborators of his generation . The music maestro has released his latest EP “ Touch 1 ” and that ’ s what we are reviewing here .
Karsh Kale is a man of many talents , one of those talents is the ability to NEVER make anything boring . Anyone familiar with the term “ Asian Underground ” or anyone who has ever used a Windows Vista system has been touched by the musical genius of Karsh Kale .
“ Touch 1 ” sounds like a strange title on the surface . What exactly does it mean ? Only Karsh Kale can tell the exact reason behind this name but we can definitely see it as an apt title from our end . The music here is so exciting and invigorating that anyone who listens to it once , will be touched by it .
As is the case with most of Karsh Kale ’ s work , the songwriting and the arrangements are quite cinematic in scope and execution . Things seem big and personal at the same time . Like swimming in an ocean of sound by yourself , you can surround yourself with it and feel at home with it , yet there ’ s always something more coming your way .
Over the years , Karsh Kale has shown his mastery in weaving together multiple threads from the everexpanding tapestry of Indian and Western music . Even though “ Touch 1 ” is an EP , it doesn ’ t lack ambition , scope , or quality . All five tracks on the EP are brilliant . Starting right off the gate with the fantastic Daft Punk-meets-Indian beats vibes of the opener “ Touch ”. The magic continues with the ambient / synthwave / Indian melodies layered over groovy beats on “ Refugee ”. The EP slows its pace a little with the next track “ Lovers ” which features a magical flute section interspersed with some folky Indian vocals . It ’ s definitely a track that listeners will find easy to fall in love with . The EP picks the pace right back up with the furious “ Fist of Fury ”. With the right amount of dubstep thrown in , this track belongs on your workout playlist . Just press play and bang out some extra reps on that shoulder press . After setting your pulses racing with “ Fist of Fury ”, the EP descends into the lush and gorgeous soundscapes of the calming finale that is “ Sunset Sketch ”. Listening to this track gives the same feeling that one might get from gazing at one of Monet ’ s gorgeous sunset paintings .
In just over 26 minutes , Karsh Kale takes his listeners through a tour de force of distinct musical styles fused together to leave a long lasting impression on the listener , long after the sun has disappeared over the horizon .
Verdict : Fused to perfection .
The Score Magazine highonscore . com
11