FabricationsHQ - Putting the Words to the Music
  • Muirsical Thoughts, Muirsical News Last update: March 2nd
  • Latest Articles (links)
  • Todd Rundgren - Clearly Human Virtual Tour, "Pittsburgh"
  • Mason Hill - Against The Wall
  • Lyle Workman - Uncommon Measures
  • Robert Berry - 3.2 : Third Impression
  • Jason Bieler (February 2021)
  • Dan Reed (February 2021)
  • Writing the Wrongs... 2020 in Review
  • Featured Album Reviews
    • Lifesigns - Altitude
    • Jason Bieler and The Baron Von Bielski Orchestra - Songs For The Apocalypse
    • 2020 Featured Album Reviews >
      • McCartney III
      • Gary Barlow - Music Played By Humans
      • Storm Warning - Different Horizons
      • Reb Beach - A View From The Inside
      • Lykantropi - Tales To Be Told
      • King King - Maverick
      • Jakko M Jakszyk - Secrets & Lies
      • Blue Öyster Cult - The Symbol Remains
      • Fish - Weltschmerz
      • Dyble Longdon - Between A Breath And A Breath
      • Jim Kirkpatrick - Ballad of a Prodigal Son
      • Abel Ganz - The Life of the Honey Bee & Other Moments of Clarity
      • Toby and the Whole Truth - Ignorance is Bliss (25th Anniversary Edition)
      • Everyday Heroes - A Tale of Sin & Sorrow
      • Skintrade - The Show Must Go On
      • Robert Jon & The Wreck - Last Light on the Highway
      • Pat Metheny - From This Place
      • Anchor Lane - Casino
    • 2019 Featured Album Reviews >
      • Fat-Suit - Waifs & Strays
      • Wayward Sons - The Truth Ain't What it Used to Be
      • Flying Colors - Third Degree
      • Steve Hackett - Genesis Revisited Band & Orchestra: Live
      • Burnt Out Wreck - This is Hell
      • Runrig - The Last Dance
      • Scarlet Rebels - Show Your Colours
      • The Blind Lemon Gators - Gatorville
      • Bruce Springsteen - Western Stars
      • Sweet Oblivion Feat. Geoff Tate
      • Rebecca Downes - More Sinner Than Saint
      • Stray - Mudanzas
      • Snarky Puppy - Immigrance
      • Aaron Buchanan And The Cult Classics - The Man With Stars On His Knees
    • 2018 Featured Album Reviews >
      • Simon Thacker's Svara-Kanti - Trikala
      • Jason Becker - Triumphant Hearts
      • Duncan Chisholm - Sandwood
      • Jawbone - Jawbone
      • Steve Perry - Traces
      • Sari Schorr - Never Say Never
      • Joe Bonamassa - Redemption
      • Ben Poole - Anytime You Need Me
      • Hawkwind - Road To Utopia
      • Rainbreakers - Face To Face
      • Frequency Drift - Letters to Maro
      • JCM - Heroes
      • Dana Fuchs - Love Lives On
      • Joe Bonamassa - British Blues Explosion Live
      • W.E.T. - Earthrage
      • The King Lot - A World Without Evil
  • Monthly Album Reviews...
    • 2021 Reviews
    • 2020 Reviews
    • 2019 Reviews
    • 2018 Reviews
  • Selected 2020 Gig Reviews...
    • Jared James Nichols - Garage G2, Glasgow
    • Oscar Cordoba Band - Blue Arrow, Glasgow
    • Rebecca Downes Band - The Ice Box, Glasgow
    • Ben Poole Trio - Room 2, Glasgow
    • Sensational Alex Harvey Experience - DreadnoughtRock, Bathgate
    • The Aristocrats - Liquid Rooms, Edinburgh
    • Fat Suit - Drygate, Glasgow
    • Francis Dunnery's It Bites - St Lukes, Glasgow
  • Selected 2019 Gig Reviews...
    • WinterStorm Rock Weekender IV - Troon
    • Hawkwind - 02 Academy, Glasgow
    • Opeth - SWG3 Galvanizers, Glasgow
    • Félix Rabin - Nice 'N' Sleazy Glasgow
    • Anchor Lane - G2, Glasgow
    • Stray - Backstage at the Green, Kinross
    • Danny Bryant - Backstage at the Green, Kinross
    • Talon - Pavilion Theatre, Glasgow
    • Lifesigns - Smiles of Musical Travel
    • A Whole Lotta Rock 3 - featuring Rattlesnake Tattoo, Prestwick
    • Chantel McGregor - Hard Rock Cafe Glasgow
    • Pete Way Band - Customs House Hotel, Greenock
    • Raintown and Katee Kross - Village Theatre, East Kilbride
    • Danny Vaughn - DreadnoughtRock, Bathgate
    • NR Rocks 2019 - DreadnoughtRock, Bathgate
    • Arran Rock 'N' Blues Fest 2019
    • Cheap Trick - 02 Academy, Glasgow
    • The Blind Lemon Gators - Tolboth, Stirling
    • Midnight Oil - 02 Brixton Academy, London
    • Ana Popovic - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • Joe Bonamassa - SEC Armadillo, Glasgow
    • Eden's Curse - The Garage G2, Glasgow
    • Félix Rabin - Nice N Sleazy, Glasgow
    • Her Way to Hell - DreadnoughtRock, Bathgate
    • The Quireboys and FM - The Garage, Glasgow
    • Erja Lyytinen - Backstage at the Green, Kinross
    • Wille & The Bandits - Hug & Pint, Glasgow
    • Sari Schorr - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • Frankie Miller's Full House - Oran Mor, Glasgow
    • A Whole Lotta Rock 2 featuring Brian Downey's Alive and Dangerous, Prestwick
    • John Verity Band - Borders Blues Club, Innerleithen
    • King King (with Sari Schorr) - 02 Academy, Glasgow
    • Burnt Out Wreck (with Scarlet Rebels) - Hard Rock Cafe, Glasgow
    • Buckcherry / Hoobastank / Adelita's Way - SWG3 Glasgow
  • Muirsical Conversations...
    • Steve Hackett (January 2021)
    • John Verity (September 2020)
    • Steve Hackett (July 2020)
    • Gary Moat (March 2020)
    • Steve Hackett (October 2019)
    • Rebecca Downes (May 2019)
    • Ben Poole & Wayne Proctor (January 2019)
    • Dan Reed (November 2018)
    • Del Bromham (October 2018)
    • Brian Downey (September 2018)
    • Raintown - Paul Bain & Claire McArthur Bain (May 2018)
    • Hamilton Loomis (December 2017)
    • Alan Nimmo (October 2017)
    • Erja Lyytinen (September 2017)
    • Suzi Quatro (September 2017)
    • Biff Byford (August 2017)
    • Dan Patlansky (June 2017)
    • Graham Bonnet (May 2017)
    • Simon Thacker (April 2017)
    • Sari Schorr (March 2017)
    • Stevie Nimmo (February 2017)
    • Dan Reed (February 2017)
    • Adam Norsworthy (January 2017)
    • Colin James (December 2016)
    • John Lees (October 2016)
    • Sari Schorr (August 2016)
    • Mike Vernon (August 2016)
    • Wayne Proctor (July 2016)
    • Laurence Jones (April 2016)
    • Chantel McGregor (March 2016)
    • John Young (January 2016)
    • Michael Schenker (November 2015)
    • Martin Barre (October 2015)
    • Chris Norman (September 2015)
    • Joanne Shaw Taylor (August 2015)
    • Fee Waybill (July 2015)
    • Ian Anderson (June 2015)
    • John Lodge (June 2015)
    • John Lawton (May 2015)
    • Steve Hackett (May 2015)
    • Manny Charlton (April 2015)
    • Ben Poole (April 2015)
    • Alan Nimmo (February 2015)
    • Popa Chubby (December 2014)
    • Paul Young (July 2014)
    • Bernie Shaw (June 2014)
    • Lee Kerslake (December 2013)
    • Pat Travers (September 2013)
    • Steve Hunter (August 2013)
    • Joy Dunlop (March 2013)
    • Gwyn Ashton (Dec. 2012)
    • Greg Lake (October 2012)
    • Ned Evett (August 2012)
    • Steven Lindsay (July 2012)
    • Dave Cureton (June 2012)
    • Jon Anderson (May 2012)
    • Jeremey Frederick Hunsicker (March 2012)
    • Amy Schugar (Feb. 2012)
    • Robert Fleischman (November 2011)
    • Ivan Drever (Sep. 2011)
    • Michael Sadler (June 2011)
    • James Evans (April 2011)
    • Alyn Cosker (Nov. 2010)
    • Scott Higham (Nov. 2010)
    • Kevin Chalfant (Oct. 2010)
    • Francis Dunnery (Sep. 2010)
    • Duncan Chisholm (Aug 2010)
    • Barbara Rubin (July 2010)
    • Alan Reed (June 2010)
  • Muirsical Q&A with...
    • Félix Rabin (February 2020)
    • Chantel McGregor (August 2019)
    • Greig Taylor (July 2019)
    • Adam Norsworthy (June 2019)
    • Erja Lyytinen (March 2019)
  • Muirsical Articles...
    • 2019AB?
    • The Fool Guitar - The Fool Story
    • Alex Harvey - Framed in Words. And pictures
    • Home of a Ramblin' Band (Allman Brothers Band Big House Museum)
    • Journey - That Time Forgot
    • KISS - Elder Statesmen, Elder Statement?
    • Phil Lynott - Remembering Pt. 3
    • Freddie Mercury - The Days of His Life
    • Gary Moore - Last Exit
    • Mott - Without any of the Hoople-la
    • Muirsical Six of the Best
    • Music Town: A Decade of the Darvel Music Festival
    • Pat Travers - The Forgotten Power Trio
    • Playing Tribute
    • Gerry Rafferty - Humblebum to Multi-Million Seller
    • Cliff Richard - The Rock and Roll Juvenile
    • Slade - Thanks For the Memories
    • The Sweet - A Cut Above the Rest
    • Talon - On Eagles Wings
    • Wild Horses - Thoroughbreds or also-rans?
  • A Personal Journey: Definitive Edition (eBook)
  • Steve Perry (vocalist): One in a Million (eBook)
  • A Writer's Muirsings...
    • A Writer's Muirsings: Introduction
    • Superbowl XLVII MVP: Beyoncé (February 2013)
    • Michael Jackson: The Alternative Verdict (Nov 2011)
    • True Colours (November 2010)
    • It's a New Language, Old Bean (October 2010)
    • Finger Pointing (July 2010)
    • Suffer the Little Children (April 2010)
    • Hey 'Banker', can you spare a dime? (February 2010)
    • Earlier Muirsings... >
      • Muirsical Christmas #1's (December 09)
      • 3-D, or not 3-D, Avatar? (December 09)
      • Pains, Planes and Automobiles (November 09)
  • A Man of Letters...
    • A Man of Letters (Introduction)
    • Letter to Danbury Mint #1
    • Letter to Danbury Mint #2
    • Letter to The Catholic League
    • Letter to SKY #1
    • Letter to SKY #2
    • Letter to SKY #3
    • Letter to Leeds City Council Parking Services
  • Author Bio & Site Info
  • Contact FabricationsHQ
Embracing the musical culture
Simon Thacker's Svara-Kanti - Rakshasa
Picture
A fusion of styles; the integration of different instrumentation or musical forms; incorporating rhythmic and harmonic elements from the music of different cultures...

None of the above is new, whether a relatively simple medley of mash-ups or the complexity of diverse musical combinations, but Rakshasa, the latest project from noted Scottish musician Simon Thacker, has taken the latter to a whole new creative and artistic level.

Simon Thacker’s Svara-Kanti – Thacker (classical guitar), Jacqueline Shave (violin), Sarvar Sabri (tabla) and Japjit Kaur (voice) – have fused Indian and Western music, embraced both cultures and delivered a 73 minute meeting of western harmonics and the Hindustani, Carnatic and Dhrupad (the oldest surviving form of Indian classical music) forms. 

Simon Thacker’s previous Indian themed project, the Nava Rasa Ensemble, was an acclaimed adventure featuring two guitar concerti for nine performers; Svara-Kanti have a more intimate yet no less dramatic musicality.
The quartet are seemingly able to explore even more tonal expressions, delivered by solo or collaborative instrumentation and accompanied on a number of the tracks by the captivating voice of Japjit Kaur.

Thacker introduces both himself and the opening number ‘Dhumaketu’ by way of some Flamenco styled, improvised guitar work before the heavily rhythmic yet melodic interplay of violin, guitar and tabla take centre stage.

The beautiful and haunting voice of Japjit Kaur then takes the spotlight on Ether-Akasha, the first movement of ‘The Five Elements’ (written by British composer Nigel Osborne), backed by the subtleties of the three instruments and some ethereal (as befits the song and its title) violin lines from Jacqueline Shave.

Japjit Kaur also features on the other four movements, all of which are based on specific ragas (a melodic and rhythmic mode of Indian classical music). Each captures the feel or characteristic of the elements in question – Air-Vayu, Water-Jal, Fire-Agni and Earth-Prithvi.
With no pun intended, each performer is very much in his or her element on the five movements, especially Kaur and Simon Thacker. The latter’s brilliant, expressive abilities on guitar bring both delicate touches and angrier, intentional dissonance to proceedings – right on the raga edge, if you will.

American composer Terry Riley’s long-form piece ‘SwarAmant’ is the perfect showcase for guitar, violin, tabla and their interaction; the musical influences borrow from Spanish, Latin-esque and Gyspy-folk motifs, amongst others.

The second half of the album is no less impressive, best described perhaps as showcasing the more traditional sounds of Indian music within a fusion of other influences or contemporary re-imagining.

’Anusvara – 6th Prism,’ by Indian composer Shirish Korde, is performed by the entire quartet and is based on the North Indian system of ragas (specifically a six note raga) while Simon Thacker’s ‘Svaranjali’ and ‘Multani’ carry, respectively, an almost contemporary fast blues musicality and a rhythmic intensity that could easily be transcribed or rearranged for rock-fusion instrumentation.    

Three Punjabi folk songs feature on Rakshasa – ‘Kahnu Marda Chandariya Chamka,’ ‘Main Tenu Yaad Aavanga’ and ‘Shava Ghund Chuk Ke.’ 
Each has been musically re-imagined by Thacker but the original vocal melodies have been retained; a perfect fit for native Punjabi Japjit Kaur.

The title track closes out the album and is unlike anything else that has come before.
A Rakshasa is a shape-shifting magician and warrior goblin (or demon) found in Hindu and Buddhist mythology; the title track captures the essence of the usually malevolent little bugger perfectly.
Opening with, and backed by, multi-tracked forwards and backwards instrumentation, waterphones and Tibetan singing bowls, the eeriness of the demonic track is punctuated by jagged guitar, sparse notes and frantic bursts of tabla from Sarvar Sabri.      

Rakshasa is perhaps not the sort of album you would expect to see reviewed on a rock-orientated site, but FabricationsHQ champions many other musical genres including Scottish/ Celtic folk and jazz fusion.
And, in its own way, Rakshasa is very rock and roll
 – with good reason...

Simon Thacker’s formal training may have been in classical and jazz but his earliest loves and influences were heavy metal, rock guitar and pre-war blues, confirmed when the gifted guitarist spoke to FabricationsHQ around the time of Rakshasa’s release:
“When I'm composing with ragas and complicated time cycles there are still those influences.
"Some ragas contain the pentatonic and (parts of the) blues scale within them, but then it’s almost like the rug gets pulled from under you when they resolve! 
"My ‘Multani’ raga contains a lot of those sorts of gestures and rhythmically you could see it as extending some of the more intricate rhythmic interaction you get in metal 
– but if you're coming at it from an Indian perspective you'll hear it as a supercharged time cycle.”

In summary? 
Classical Gas meets Bollywood this most certainly is not; anyone looking for that sort of clichéd commerciality can jog on.

Rakshasa creates musical sound-scapes that range from the accessible and comfortable to the complex and challenging; it is an album rich in musical vibrancy and colour yet contains some quite stark black and white textures. 


It’s also an exceptional piece of work – in any culture.

Ross Muir
September 2013



The following audio track is presented to accompany the above review and promote the work of the artist. No infringement of copyright is intended.  

Website and text contents © FabricationsHQ and Ross Muir
All Rights Reserved