Customer Reviews

Real Sugar

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(2)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Out of this world! This is nothing like I've ever heard before. He's certainly given new life to Baul, Fakira and other spiritual and folk songs for modern listeners. I am hooked forever!

beautiful, soothing songs.. who would have though baul music fused with western guitar could be so delicious.. i am characteristically not a fan of fusion music, this is the one exception, due to the lyrics, voice of paban das baul, and the somber-sweet ambience it creates.

Intoxicating. Truly intoxicating. From the first note of the album to the very last note is deep tranquility. You just get carried away to a different dimension beyond imagination along with every piece of composition. Sitting here trying to write a review but so much comes into the mind that I hardly can expess myself to the extent that would be even near to what I feel. Bangla being my first language - the first thing i would appriciate would be the lyrical richness. If you dig world fusion - this is a must buy album. A great album with two equally great musicians. All my respect and regards to Paban Das Baul and Sam Mills. Read about them and the about the album ...

Traditional songs and percussion, blended with Western-style guitar and structure -- very appealing to the open-minded listener. An exciting, worthwhile and rewarding collaboration.

I hust love this CD. Awesome. The Music is great. The words are brilliant. The style of singing is just fabulous. Whatever you do don't miss the album. I'm glad that I bought it.

Interesting venture, but really does not sum up to all the hype. I expected much more from Pobon Das.

The first 3 songs are good, but the rest of the songs in the CD are moderate. Some sounded like quickly arranged marriage of Western music with Baul lyrics, the background music didn't add any life to the lyrics in these cases. I would recommend this CD to serious Baul music fans like me, but if you are looking for an introductory Baul album then you will be much better off buying a Lalon Fokir, kirton or "Marefoti" music. I don't know when Amazon will start selling them.

Here is a clip of the real Paban Das Baul classic "parojanome" from late 70s when he was a teenager!
[...]
or search "Baul Musicians from India" on youtube.

The difference between this beautiful original and the ones on this CD that's packaged and marketed for this globalization era is obvious. But I guess those of us who had the opportunity to enjoy his songs first hand in rural West Bengal in those days, shouldn't criticize either since our taste couldn't quite offer the artist an alternative and viable market for the original art form to prosper.

I knew Paban from my early days in Kolkata, India. I listned to his early cassettes and in private performances. Let me tell you .... I like his songs pretty much. But he has lots of much nicer songs compared to the ones which are available here. I was looking for those nostalgic songs ... but didn't see much here. I like what we have in these two CDs ... but the older ones are even better.
Anyways, if you want to listen nice recording and somewhat authentic Baul songs ... these are the ones. But for real songs, they are not yet available in world market.

A successful collaboration of Baul and jazz , maintaining the identity and flavor of both .

I must say that this album did not excite me so much. I have been listening Paban Das since my childhood days in various fairs in West Bengal. He sounds best when he is singing and playing his Dubki himself. The track "Parojanome" should be played with
Ektara and dugi along with the other instruments. The track "Basundharar Buke" by Paban Das is best recorded in an album called "Pagla Ghora". Fusion with Baul does make sense to me but this could have been done better (except may be the second track in this album).