1.
Voices Of The Past (Conway) 0.29
This 12 beat rhythm cycle (divided as 7 + 5) of vocal
percussion ("spoken bols") sets a mysterious
atmosphere to be taken up later.
Baluji Shrivastav, Chris Conway, Linda Shanovitch, Gerry
Hunt, Clive Bell - voices
2. Rendezvous With Rama (Conway) 4.12
This Chris Conway composition is based on Punjabi folk
rhythms, with hints of jazz and maybe a touch of reggae.
It has one of those melodies you find yourself humming
from the first time you hear it. Sitar, voice, tin whistle,
soprano sax and tabla, all get windows to shine.
Baluji Shrivastav - sitar, pakhavaj
Chris Conway - keyboards, tin whistle, sampled bass, percussion
Linda Shanovitch - voice
Ustad Faiyaz Khan - tabla
Gerry Hunt - soprano saxophone
3. Nartaki (Girl Dancer) (Shrivastav)
3.49
This is based on Raag Misratalang though it is also very
close to Raag Misrajog. It is a pentatonic scale the notes
of which are SA GA GAflat MA PA NI Niflat SA. The time
cycle is tintaal (16 beats) and the combinations are composed
keeping in mind North and South Indian dance patterns.
Baluji Shrivastav - sitar, tabla, voice, pakhavaj
Chris Conway - synthesizer
Linda Shanovitch - voice
Clive Bell - bamboo flute, voice
4. Little Blue Bird (Shanovitch) 4.08
This was originally a song depicting a bird of peace struggling
against the forces of destruction.
Baluji Shrivastav - darbuka, pakhavaj
Chris Conway - keyboards, sampled bass
Linda Shanovitch - voice
Ustad Faiyaz Khan - tabla
Gerry Hunt - soprano saxophone, classical guitar
Clive Bell - bamboo flute
5. Seven Steps To The Sun (Conway)
3.42
Another beautiful Chris Conway melody, full of twists
and turns around a hypnotic 7/8 rhythm. The wonderful
singing of Indian classical vocalist Kishori Amonkar inspired
this composition.
Baluji Shrivastav - pakhavaj, dilruba
Chris Conway - keyboards, acoustic 9 string guitar, piano,
sampled bass, mandozither, percussion
Linda Shanovitch - voice
Ustad Faiyaz Khan - tabla
Gerry Hunt - tenor saxophone
Clive Bell - bamboo flute
6.
Bulbulblues (Shrivastav) 4.12
Based on Taal Kaherva (8 beats) and Raag Bairag-kauns
pentatonic scale - SA, GA-flat, MA, Ma-sharp, PA, NI-flat,
SA. Everyone gathered around Baluji as he started playing
his bulbul-tarang. Chris then brought out his mandozither.
Baluji came up with the melody on the spot and this wonderful
free-blowing improvisation around it followed, played
on unique combination of instruments!
Baluji Shrivastav - bulbultarang
Chris Conway - mandozither
Ustad Faiyaz Khan - tabla
Gerry Hunt - tenor saxophone
Clive Bell - bamboo flute
7. Saraswati (Shanovitch)
2.33
This is an invocation to the Goddess of creative thought.
The words translated into Sanskrit by Baluji are
Pale as the moon
Graceful as a swan
All the Arts conspire to please Saraswati
Goddess of the Sweet Word
Goddess of the Song
Goddess of Science and Learning
Pale as the moon
Graceful as a swan
Upon a Lotus she does rest
Goddess Saraswati
Baluji
Shrivastav - voices, dilruba
Chris Conway - keyboards, piano, mandozither, natavungam,
chordal arrangement
Linda Shanovitch - voices
Gerry Hunt - classical guitar, chordal arrangement
8.
Ila's Dance (Conway) 4.07
This sunny, irresistible melody by Chris is played out
over a frenetic rhythm. Typically Re-Orient and Chris
Conway, this piece seamlessly displays so many influences
- the Indian Folk rhythm, with a touch of Brazilian samba,
jazz, a wonderfully intense rock-influenced electric guitar
solo, and the theme ending on a classical Indian tihai.
(A phrase that repeats three times to end on the first
beat of the bar) Chris is a big fan of Indian folk/pop
diva Ila Arun. Ila's Dance is dedicated to her.
Baluji Shrivastav - dilruba, naal, ghatam
Chris Conway - keyboards, electric 9 string guitar, piano,
sampled bass, percussion
Linda Shanovitch - voice
Ustad Faiyaz Khan - tabla
Gerry Hunt - soprano saxophone, percussion
9.
Forest River (Shrivastav) 6.40
This melody draws on Baluji's extensive knowledge of Indian
folk styles as it follows the path of the river Ganges
from the Himalayas, through the western region of Uttar
Pradesh till it reaches Benares in the east.
Baluji Shrivastav - sitar, ghupi, swarmandal, percussion
Chris Conway - electric 9 string guitar, bells, water
Linda Shanovitch - voice
Clive Bell - bamboo flute
10. Leela (Shanovitch)
6.01
The name Leela in Sanskrit means "the drama of the
cosmos". It is the name Baluji and Linda have chosen
for their daughter. This piece is based upon a Kathak
dance tihai (repeating rhythmic pattern) which is in taal
tintaal (16 beats).
Baluji Shrivastav - sitar, darbuka, pakhavaj
Chris Conway - electric piano, tin whistle, sampled bass
Linda Shanovitch - voice
Gerry Hunt - oud, classical guitar
Clive Bell - bamboo flute
11. Pushpanjali (Offering of Flowers) (Shrivastav) 5.33
This is based on two Raags Kirvani and Hemavati and two
taals - one of 18 beats (sounding deceptively like Dadra
of 6 beats as it is 6x3 ), and Ashtamangal in 11 beats.
Baluji Shrivastav - sitar, voice, swarmandal
Chris Conway - keyboards
Linda Shanovitch - vocal
Ustad Faiyaz Khan - tabla
Gerry Hunt - violin, tanpura
Clive Bell - bamboo flute
12. Shifting Sands (Conway/Shrivastav/Hunt/Bell) 5.20
On the final day of recording the group gathered to do
improvisations. It was noted that there was an oud, a
darbuka, and a ney in the room so an Arabic-feel improvisation
was suggested. Shifting Sands was the result, played out
over a 9/8 rhythm with Baluji's wonderfully spirited darbuka,
and Chris's evocative piano.
Baluji Shrivastav - darbuka
Chris Conway - piano, sampled bass
Gerry Hunt - oud
Clive Bell - ney
13. Gathering Spirits (Conway/Shrivastav/Shanovitch/Hunt/Bell/Khan)
4.00
Late at night the group realised that Ustad Faiyaz Khan
would be leaving them to resume his tour with Hariprasad
Chaurasia in the morning, and that they had one last chance
to play with him for a while. So everyone made themselves
comfortable in the studio and created this gem on the
spot. The lateness of the hour gave a peaceful atmosphere
to the improvisation. Chris added some of his more delicate
exotic instruments later.
Baluji Shrivastav - sitar
Chris Conway - acoustic 9 string guitar, voice, kalimba,
hammer dulcimer, mandozither, percussion
Linda Shanovitch - voice
Ustad Faiyaz Khan - tabla
Gerry Hunt - tenor saxophone
Clive Bell - bamboo flute
14. Life Is For Living (Conway) 4.21
A fast and furious Turkish/Balkan inspired piece from
Chris Conway in 5/4 time, with also quite a medieval feel
to it. There are delightful solos on violin, voice, low
D whistle and ghupi, then a wonderful percussion finale
from Ustad Faiyaz Khan and Baluji Shrivastav, before the
rousing, life-affirming melody returns. Chris occasionally
plays two tin whistles in harmony at once, a trick that
always goes down a storm at Re-Orient concerts.
Baluji Shrivastav - ghatam, ghupi
Chris Conway - tin whistles, low D whistle, electric piano,
sampled bass, voice
Linda Shanovitch - voice
Ustad Faiyaz Khan - tabla
Gerry Hunt - violin
Clive Bell - bamboo flute
15. Voices Of The Future (Conway/Shrivastav/Shanovitch/Hunt/Bell)
3.17
The mysterious chanting voices from the start of the album
return. Over the initial germ of Chris's suggested vocal
rhythm, the five improvising voices and synthesizer were
added all together in one go. The suggestion of medieval
feel co-exists with the feeling of outer space. Baluji's
Indian vocal gymnastics, Linda's "sorceress"
and Chris's soulful tones all can be heard in the weave,
bringing the album to a cosmic conclusion.
Chris Conway - voices, synthesizer
Baluji Shrivastav, Linda Shanovitch, Gerry Hunt, Clive
Bell - voices
