Anourag

Anoushka Shankar | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (August 15, 2000)
• Original Release Date: August 15, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Angel Records
• ASIN: B00004W47N
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 3.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (20 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #43,241 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
  • #49 in Music > World Music > India & Pakistan > General
  • #90 in Music > World Music > India & Pakistan > India

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

In the two years since her debut, Anoushka, Anoushka Shankar's skills have increased greatly. She can take on these six pieces by her father, the great Ravi Shankar, which are based on traditional ragas, and make absolutely no concession to her youth. Her natural feel for the sitar and the depth of her ability are apparent from her introduction to the first tune, "Shuddha Sarang," where her runs and harmonics glide magically, leaving you wondering how one instrumentalist can produce such multilayered sounds. The spare, traditional accompaniment of tabla, tanpura (a stringed drone instrument), and mridangam (a two-headed wooden drum) leave the sitar very much in the spotlight, and Shankar's liquid, contemplative playing always shines. The highlight, however, has to be "Pancham Se Gara," on which Ravi and Anoushka duet. The master, without doubt, is still just that, but his pupil is coming along very quickly, and the joy of them making music together comes through clearly. A captivating experience. --Chris Nickson

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars She's Shining Now, August 25, 2000

By 

"lady1981" (New Delhi, India) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Anourag (Audio CD)

The difference between Anoushka's first and second cd's is incredible. I bought her first one, Anoushka, two years ago, and while it definitely showed she had a lot of potential, she was lacking a certain confidence that would have allowed her own musical voice to come through. She's really come into her own with this album. This cd really shines. Again, she's chosen to play short pieces which is quite unusual for Indian music, and is wonderful for new listeners but shouldn't put off connoiseurs. In each track Anoushka really catches the spirit of the raga, her tone is very moving, spiritual, playful, or loving, depending on the piece. Of course, the highlight has to be Pancham Se Gara, in which she takes the role of accompanist to her father's leading sitar. Still, all the other tracks are extremely colourful and wonderful to listen to. This album is definitely worth the money, and is one of my favourites.

8 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Anoushka releases another excerllant CD, September 3, 2000

By 

Lululu (Howell NJ) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Anourag (Audio CD)

Anoushka Shankar proves her talent again on Anourag. My particular favorites are Pancham Se Gara the duet with her father and legendary sitar master Ravi Shankar. This cd is a must for fans of world music. Anoushka Shankar is said to not have the talent of her father, however, I feel that she is excellant and plays with feeling and raw emotion, like her father. I look for Anoushka to carry on the groundbreaking advancements her father continues to do to this day.

10 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars No more "Beginner's Mind", May 30, 2001

By 

T.G. (Newcastle, WA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Anourag (Audio CD)

This review will probably differ from the majority, but I hear something really important lost... call it "Beginner's Mind," or a certain openness to experimentation and freeform musicianship... I don't know what it is, only that Anoushka's first release seems so much 'better'. Here she tries getting fancy, this music has "attitude" and seems to have lost the simple groundedness of the original, although likely it will appeal to a much broader audience. Indeed, it seems to be *trying* to "appeal" and thereby loses all its appeal (to me). Perhaps it was inevitable -- "followups" are never the same as the original (most evident in films, but it can be noticed in music as well).

I may be alone in this point of view, but this is an honest review from the heart, and after purchasing this CD I recommend it only if you consider 'fanciness', 'attitude' and 'mass appeal' to be 'improvements'. Otherwise, try the original!