Rare Elements [Abridged, Audiobook, CD] [Audio CD]

Ustad Sultan Khan (Author)

Book Description

Publication Date: August 2006

The yearning bow of Ustad Sultan Khan's sarangi and his timeless voice merge into one seamless instrument, borne here on the inspiring grooves of six leading remix artists. In late 2003, world-renowned sarangi master Ustad Sultan Khan recorded ten pieces in a New York studio with producer David Nichtern and an elite group of contemporary musicians. The result is Rare Elements: a pulsing spectrum that blends India's traditional sounds with a broad range of electronica and world beat. Joe Clausell opens the album with "Aja Maji," followed by Thievery Corporation's hypnotizing rendition of "Tarana" and Radar One's Sad Bachelor Remix of "Jana." Also featuring Ralph Rosario and Nickodemus & Osiris, Rare Elements offers a spellbinding fusion of Ustad Sultan Khan's instrumental force and vocal nuance, downtempo pulse lines, and moving rhythms for a unique listening experience that will rejuvenate mind, body, and soul.

Product Details

• Audio CD
• Publisher: Sounds True, Incorporated; Unabridged edition (August 2006)
• Language: English
• ISBN-10: 1591794706
• ISBN-13: 978-1591794707
• Product Dimensions: 5.5 x 5 x 0.3 inches
• Shipping Weight: 2.1 ounces
• Average Customer Review: 3.7 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #1,395,553 in Books (See Top 100 in Books)

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Exotic Elecronica Soundscapes for Sarangi, October 21, 2006

By 

Rebecca Johnson "The Rebecca Review" (Washington State) - See all my reviews
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This review is from: Rare Elements (Audio CD)

"The sarangi remains not only the authentic and original Indian bowed stringed instrument but the one which... expresses the very soul of Indian feeling and thought." ~Yehudi Menuhin

Ra Re Elements is a collection of exotic remixes to encourage an escape from the ordinary existence. Ustad Sultan Khan creates magic with his singing and the playing of an exotic instrument called a Sarangi (looks like an ancient relative to the violin but is more exotic and often made with Indian Cedar) that is extremely difficult to play but seems to retune the soul when played by a master.

In "Aja Maji" The sacred and the sensuous dance together in an uplifting and at times ecstatic musical experience. You feel as if you are falling into the song over and over again as truly stunning music weaves around the polarity between two beautiful voices. Udu Drum and Balinese Bells are featured on this track. You are drawn in all directions, but completely centered. The song builds and builds and then slowly fades and then without ending awakens into Tarana. This creates a mellifluous experience you can relax into as it takes you on a musical journey.

Jana is a deeply sensuous track with a late night mood and elements of apprehension and liberation that make it entertaining and relaxing.

Jaadu encourages an increase in volume and infuses your entire body with the need for movement and expression. This is a river rushing to an ocean of possibility. Without silence, the song melts into Majhi Re and before you know it you are on another journey that seeks to blend emotional depth. By the time you awaken into Maula you are on a superior musical journey into rhythm that turns into a trance from which you may not awaken until Meher Ali. Caravan is more soothing and brings you back down from a musical high. Don't Run Away smoothes out the night and has sweet, sexy and soul nurturing qualities.

AKG headphones almost seem essential when listening to the subtleties in this CD. I listened to this on two stereos and then with headphones and the headphones allow for a fully present experience. At first the sounds were so unique and overwhelming I could not initially capture all the elements, but by the sixth time I played this CD, I could then start to appreciate the distinctive musical pathways and how ancient and modern moments mingle together to produce an ecstatic experience.

~The Rebecca Review

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazing Soulful Music, October 2, 2008

By 

Desert Rat "DR Nomad" (Black Rock) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Rare Elements (Audio CD)

The incredible playing of the sarangi and voice of Ustad Sultan Khan can, by itself, touch your souland take you places in your mind. This album was an intentional recording of remixes. What I mean is that the original tracks were created to be remixed by a group of modern musicians to create something unique.

After listening to this few times, I realized how relaxed it made me. One of my favorite tracks is the Tarana mix by Thievery Corporation. Whenever I listen to it, I think about how amazing it would be if Portishead had done something like this.

This is a great album and should be a requirement for any "Chillout" collection.

Pass the grappa, take a hit on the hooka... and enjoy.

0 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

1.0 out of 5 stars Lame Elements!, January 7, 2009

By 

vivek savant (Chicago, IL) - See all my reviews
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Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Rare Elements (Audio CD)

Sheer Blasphemy. The achingly beautiful sounds that the Ustad has mastered over the sarangi is nowhere to be found. Its lost in the pedestrian "remixes" but more so the lame vocals that do unjustice to this project. Joe Claussel and Thievery Corp are masters at their crafts when it comes to programming, sampling and all things electro...and they do justice. Listen to "taraana" to see how this project could have been a success have not been for the after-thought, heavily processed mindless bhangra or trance beats. Even with Bill Laswell (atleast credited) on board, this project could not be saved.

If you want to hear real, improvised music that actually feeds off of each other - the hindustani and its western counterpart, chk out Good People in Times of Evil - Hellborg's bass just laps up against the Ustad's sarangi atop the funky carnatic beats of Selva Ganesh. Daymn!!!