The Scientific Power of Music

It's been a long, long time since I've posted. Not for lack of inspiration or ideas; just plain laziness. Here's a video that got me a bit motivated again. I realised that I have been on a 'hunt' for new music and by chance, stumbled on this video that explains why in a rather enjoyable and fun way.

Tubular bells

Mike Oldfield - Tubular Bells

Now here's an album that's new to me. It is explorative, imaginative and contemplative all together. I had a listen and I couldn't get away from it from the time it started. Perhaps it's because what I listen to usually is quite different from this. Though it was recorded in 1973, I find this still relevant today.

summer jams

Not a very creative title, but I just really wanted to get this post out. The past few days have warmed up significantly. There's been generally more sunshine, and it's really almost shorts and t-shirt weather here. And with good weather and fashion, there's also good music to complete the scene. Here are some tunes that will keep you grooving under the sun all day! These are some of my favourite reggae/dancehall tracks from the nineties. Hope you're inspired to head out!


Maxi Priest - That Girl ft. Shaggy

Inner Circle - Sweat

Sugar Ray - Fly ft. Super Cat

Mr. Vegas - Tamale

Apache Indian - Boom Shack-a-lack

LateNightTales - The Cover Versions

LateNightTales - The Cover Versions

If you like covers, and some downtempo music quite suited for after-hours listening, Late Night Tales' the Cover Versions will be perfect for you. The songs are the same covers featured in the cover artiste's Late Night compilations (I think). Correct me if I'm wrong. They are samples, and not full tracks though. Still makes a good listen. Buy the album, support the musicians!

Bollywood Bloodbath

I was at Red Cat Records along Main Street a couple of weeks ago, browsing through CDs when I came across this little beauty. Now, many people tend to rave and rant over bollywood movies, and simply adore the songs from those films. And it's not surprising, as the music composers for those movies are quite gifted at making songs that appeal to the masses. They are quite adept at blending classical indian melodies with western beats. They are able to keep abreast with contemporary pop music and today, make use of synthesisers and other technology to create heart-melting, foot-tapping, chart-topping classics.

However, I've always felt that in the indian movie industry, the best music genius was showcased in the 70s and 80s. That was a time of funk, disco and the birth of bollywood funk as we know it today. There are several bollywood films in that era that adopted bolly-funk themes as scores and soundtracks. Due to the strong similarities those films had with the 'blacksploitation' films in western cinema with regard to storyline and music, they soon became known as 'brownsploitation' movies.

Some very kind music lovers have taken songs from a number of these films and put them together in a compilation, that is Bollywood Bloodbath. I'd like to thank the wonderful people at Finders Keepers Records for this amazing album. I probably wouldn't recommend it to real bollywood fans. However, if you love to check out different types of music, then this could be something for you. At it's worst, this album can feature as background at a kitsch desi party. Listen to one of the tracks below.

Hemant Bhole - Sansani Khez Koi Baat

Recent Cover Lover Favourites

I was checking out the Cover Lovers after a long time and came across many amazing tracks! So I decided to feature a few of my favourites from their recent posts.


 Maps >> East 17, 2007
Tanz Ohne Muzik >> The Stooges, 2012
Beautiful Small Machines >> M.I.A., 2012
Xiu Xiu >> Erasure, 2012

Shiva Soundsystem - Shiva Theme

Shiva Soundsystem - Shiva Theme

Almost a decade ago, I heard this song in one of Shiva Soundsystem's mixes that I had downloaded from their website. This was a time before podcasts and such. I loved the track so much! I had to have it! But it seemed impossible to find. Eventually, I forgot about it, being distracted by other interesting sounds. I am so thrilled to have found it again.

One amazing asian underground track. A sloka (if i'm not wrong) invoking the lord Shiva, makes up the vocals for this song. Set against a tune that starts of slowly, taking you gently from a hypnotic lull to a hard stepping breakbeat seamlessly. Amazing creativity and productions make this tune one of my all time favourites in this genre.