Album Review: Sultans of String with Anwar Khurshid

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Album Review: Sultans
of String with Anwar
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Subcontinental Drift
Subcontinental Drift is the 5th album from Sultans of String
who were formed 8 years ago through the unique musical
relationship between violinist Chris McKhool and guitarist Kevin
Laliberte. The band’s signature sound was cemented by the
joining of three additional members: bass player Drew Birston,
a veteran of Chantal Kreviazuk’s band, Cuban percussionist
Rosendo Chendy Leon, who’d previously played with
Parachute Club, and guitarist Eddie Paton, who’d worked with
flamenco star Robert Michaels.
In their illustrious career, the band have enjoyed success in the
Canadian national radio charts, received the Sirius XM
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Independent Music Award as well as other multiple awards and
accolades including two JUNO nominations and two Canadian
Folk Music Awards. They have mixed with renowned artists,
including Paddy Moloney and the Chieftains and for this new
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album are joined by special guest, sitar master, Anwar
Khurshid.
Anwar’s music has previously appeared in the Oscar winning
films Life of Pi, Kama Sutra, and Love Guru, and his
contribution to this album certainly adds colours and rhythms
that are both exotic and cinematic in scope.
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There is a genuinely uplifting feeling about the whole thing, and
at times it put me in mind of the spirit captured by Mark
Knopfler in his soundtrack to Local Hero. Sure the styles are
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worlds apart, but they both share an inexplicable ability to
transport you and release your imagination through mesmeric
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Chris McKhool is unsurprisingly excited about the collaboration
with Anwar Khurshid: “There is something magical about
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photo by Kevin Kelly; photo courtesy of LW Communications
joining the world music rhythms we play, with pop sensibilities
and blending that with the music of the East.”
He is not wrong, and I have to say how much I enjoyed the
album. It seemed to pull on so many of the musical influences
of my past but in a fresh, out of left field, kind of way.
Memories were stirred of early Rod Stewart, “Mandolin Wind”
and “Maggie May” on the opening track “Enter The Gate,” with
the folksy intertwining guitar and violin. This also led me to
remember the fiddle playing on “Don’t Pass Me By” on The
Beatles’ White Album. Of course when you start thinking
Beatles, there is the Harrison factor when listening to the
combination of sitar mixing and swirling with the rest of the
band. The whole talented, textured performance drips passion
and pleasure.
This is, no doubt, why the whole thing sparks a real joie de
vivre for the soul. The mix of traditional folk instruments and
photo by Kevin Kelly; photo courtesy of LW Communications
sitar work sublimely. Inspired really.
It’s this happiness to mix things up that makes the second
track “Rakes of Mallow/ Rouge River Valley” so upbeat and
uplifting. A foot tapping jig with a wonderful twist.
More links to my musical favourites were highlighted by the
bold cover of Dylan’s “Blowin’ In The Wind.” It’s one of those
songs that maybe you don’t do, too familiar, too cliche? But I
was blown away by this distinct and imaginative adaptation.
I’m pretty sure Dylan, who is no stranger to taking his tunes
and changing arrangements, would be really happy to hear
how this reggae/bhangra/folk fusion turned out.
The only slight disappointment on the album for me was “A
Place To Call Home”; with its country-style vocal, it seemed a
bit out of place. It is a lovely song but somehow less exotic
than the rest of the album.
It was a brief dip on what is otherwise an exceptional album,
and I was soon on my magical journey again. After being swept
along by the hypnotic “Snake Charmer,” I was delighted by the
beautiful voice of another guest performer, Shweta Subram on
“Parchan Shaal Panhwar.”
photo by Kevin Kelly; photo courtesy of LW Communications
So many great songs on this album make it hard not to try and
detail each one’s benefits. “Journey To Freedom” was the next
track, and it slipped like silk across a musical landscape so
simple that it’s gentle footsteps made all the more impact. The
song, jointly written by the band and Anwar Khurshid, traces
Anwar’s journey from Pakistan to his new home in Canada.
Before rounding things off, I want to also mention the lovely fat
bass lines on title track “Subcontinental Drift” and then the
delicate, almost Paul Simon like calmness of final track, “A
Heart Does What It Does.” A beautiful end to a classy album.
I’d not listened to Sultans of String before and the strength of
this new album made me go and check out their previous
releases. I was not disappointed and can easily see why they
enjoy the award-winning success they have had.
Inviting Anwar Khurshid to collaborate on this album was a
stroke of genius and has created an album of sunshine,
happiness and positivity like a meditative soundtrack for your
soul.
On the Road
According to the tour calendar page on the Sultans of String’s
website, the bandhas two remaining gigs in May – the
first, tomorrow night, May 22nd, at Cafe Nine in New Haven,
Connecticut; then April 26th at a conference at Humber
College in Toronto. Beyond that, upcoming concerts include a
June 3 Kerrville Folk Festival date, a June-July 2016 tour of the
UK and Ireland, and dozens of dates booked across Canada
and in the U.S. throughout 2016 and into 2017. Check to
band’s website to see when the group will be performing near
you.
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