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LP
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YNFND 026LP
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Kundan Lal is a highly understated artist. Little is known about his background, though some refer to him as Kunsaf Halil, his personal life remains largely a mystery. Gathering a cult following amongst people like Den Sorte Skole or DJ Marcelle with his previous releases, he is now set to sail new shores. There is a sense of wanderlust as he opens his box of field recordings, collected on his many travels. From the buzzing streets of Alexandria, early Sunday markets in Tafraoute or a crackling bonfire down by the banks of the river Ganges. Each track takes you places. Kundan's second album is a captivating blend of dubby beats, collages, and exotic instrumentation. Drawing from classic tools like the Roland 808, SC7 and the famous Space Echo, Kundan has created a unique and minimalistic sound that is sure to captivate listeners. At once nostalgic and experimental, Power of Ra is a must-listen for both electronic music purists and fans of adventurous soundscapes. Compelled to work from home on his computer during lockdown, Kundan dusted his pawnshop e-piano, downloaded some orchestral soundkits and started to digitize almost forgotten field recordings. The Power of Ra came to him. "Illgrimage" is a good example of his approach. Combining atmospheric soundscapes with swirling strings, trombones and pianos. Echoes of birds and children playing in the streets. A small town filled with life and a theremin leading the way while you hear the faint yet powerful words of Greta Thunberg saying: "Imagine..." "Raqaqa," a powerful orchestral journey with a hip-hop edge. Tinkling chimes add a groovy vibe, while lush layers of wind instruments weave a masterful soundscape. It's the slow-burning intensity of this track that pulls you in. "Nasi Chip" is a signature song that exemplifies Kundan Lal's musical prowess. An engaging beat coupled with chopped up vocals, 8-bit synth melodies and an arpeggiated piano provide an energetic atmosphere that is both cunning and unique. "Cen" lures you into the Egyptian realm. A harmonium slithers serpent like around a pounding beat. Horns gently swaying to the rhythm of the desert. It is hard to put your finger on his style or genre. You can feel Kundan Lal's DIY spirit in his production, carving his own ethnic genre. For enthusiasts of Roberto Musci or Muslimgauze, this avant-garde album is one for your collection. Keep your senses open and let the Power of Ra pass you to another world.
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10"
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YNFND 017EP
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Kundan Lal returns with new outernational downbeats. Three of the tracks on مجلس | Majlis are based on Pakistani dance classics by Muhammad Ashraf ("Paky Life"), Khalil Ahmed ("Ovo Rhaps"), Sohail Rana & the Five Caps ("Vulgar Dragons"), and one on Turkish psychedelia by Moğollar ("Tudamus"). Selected micro-sequences of these old recordings are tangled up in a dubby soup of Dr. John-esque swamp percussion, off-beat bass lines, drone-y organs, a creaking synthesizer assembly, and the trademark oriental field recordings by Kunsaf Halil, which are spread all over the record. مجلس | Majlis can perhaps be seen as the missing link between Débruit and the Contact Field Orchestra.
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