Prasanna, Peaceful

There are lessons in life worth remembering and mine for this year has been not to have expectations. Expectations for when my new daughter should be in bed letting me and my wife get on with a life we had before she arrived; expectations that what is important to me is not necessarily in the hearts of others; expectations that a CD boasting Prasanna, an innovator of Carnatic music on electric guitar, should sound entirely Indian or indeed entirely electric. Indeed the first cut reworks the classical form to such a degree that it is more recognisable as Congolese Soukous. Shockingly hypno(calypso)tic. The next is a contemplative acoustic solo that makes an attack via Indian scales and folksy rhythm, rather than peeling back the asiatic veils one-by-one as in the raga form, and is therefore more in the vein of Roy Harper or Rickhy Ray. Id est, a Western interpretation. The incongruous recital of a Bach Minuet that follows, whilst accomplished enough, does little more than present another face for our musician. Being slightly stilted, it falls short of concert standard, and such things should be left to the appropriate professionals. Pastorius' classical foolings didn't impress me much either, although Robby Krieger and Steve Howe seem to be able to hold their own.

The title peace is in two parts, starting again in solo introspection, conjuring thoughts of flower petals floating on the silky waters of the Mother Ganges, broken only by our boatman's skulling and an infrequent dolphin's dorsal. Then 80's Santana rock (at it's worst) shatters the calm. I suspect therefore that Varanasi was not the imagery intended but at least we're saved Alex Ligertwood's vocals. Jazz guitar saves the day but it is only fleeting sanctuary before the only vocal track accosts the senses la James Taylor. Dedicated to Mr. Mozart, I can hear him turning in his pauper's grave.

More hints of Africa with the highlight of the CD, a solo electric guitar working of Tyagaraja's Jagadanandakaraka. Although some are stronger compositions than others, this track plus the remaining 4 solo guitar pieces are superb saving graces that alone justify the purchase, whilst the synth string arrangement and patched guitar effect on the one other orchestrated track are so clich that they work perfectly. Pure genius!

In parts an album that is too diverse for it's own good, but one that does contain a sufficiency of Indian music all featuring Prasanna's excellent guitar playing.