Reviews
Artist:Harpreet Bansal Album: Parvat
Label: Self Released
Tracks: 3
Website: https://www.bansalmusic.com
Harpreet is a violinist and composer, born in Norway to Indian parents, who has been playing ragas since she was two years old. She is held in high esteem in the worlds of Indian and Western classical music, yet also draws for her compositions upon the worlds of jazz and folk. 'Parvat' is a truly epic piece of work that keeps at its core Harpreet's trio featuring herself, Vojt?ch Procházka (a Czech pianist who on this recording plays Indian harmonium) and tabla player Sanskriti Shrestha (who hails from Nepal but now lives in Norway). Harpreet is a regular player with the Norwegian Radio Orchestra that joins her on this recording to tremendous effect. The orchestra is world-renowned for its eclectic repertoire (they play each year at the Nobel Prize ceremony, among other gigs).
'Parvat' is a deep dive into the sound and feel of Indian music with a further huge palette of musical colour added by the orchestra. The music is structured very much like a composition from the western classical tradition. There are three long movements (I find it hard to refer to them as 'tracks') totalling almost forty minutes and, for me, this length is one of the strengths of 'Parvat'. Whether or not you are familiar with Indian music a long piece of work such as this gives the listener time to 'tune in' to the rhythms and feel of the music and allow time to break free from the habit of trying shake off a sense of 'otherness' and relate the music to something which feels more familiar. It is indeed a deep dive and well worth it.
The first 'movement' is Puria Dunasri, almost twenty minutes of intense, sometimes dark, music that at times has the feel of what my old music professor would have called a 'tone poem'. The core trio seem to bathe in the soundscapes provided by the orchestra. I apologise for the flowery metaphor but the music does make me feel that way. There are recurring themes that made me think, at times, of Vaughan Williams. The second 'movement, entitled '9 1/2',is a little shorter at around eleven minutes and has a much more traditional Indian feel featuring, as it does, mostly the core trio with little input from the orchestra. The final 'movement', is called Bhimpalasi and is a glorious finale to the work. There is some astounding tabla being played here and the harmonium sometimes ventures into the world of jazz without it sounding at all out of place. The trio and orchestra combine towards the end for a crescendo of which Aaron Copeland would have been proud. Absolutely glorious!
It has been an absolute joy and privilege to listen to this music. The musicianship is wonderful on all levels and I believe that a little patience will bring huge rewards to anyone that hears this music, whether or not they are familiar with the music of India. It is only March but I suspect that this will feature in my 'Best Album of the year' list.
Philip Thomas
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Parvat
Fatea Showcase Sessions
The Fatea Showcase Sessions are a series of downloads featuring acts that we've really enjoyed and think that more people should get the chance to hear.
Pirate is the current session and features 16 fantastic artists check out the website to find out more about them and download your copy
www.fatea-showcase-sessions.co.uk for all the artist information.