Live at Dakini Nights (1999-2004)
Feeling adventurous? How does a 1st class ticket to Dakini Records' long-standing event sound? It all started back in the summer of 99': Asian Underground was reaching the masses via Talvin Singh. Incredibly strong experimental psychedelics were available on the Internet for $1 a trip. George W. Bush was only screwing up Texas. A lot of amazing things were in the works, and unless you were blessed by almighty Allah with more money than I, you've never been to Japan for one of Dakini Records now legendary nights.
With Makyo's first release Rasa Bhava a new sub-genre of Asian Underground (now Asian Massive) was gaining momentum. I'm sure at the time Makyo was just putting out his music to the world and didn't really have a genre in mind, and while of a different vein than Bhangra or Asian Underground it still had its contemporaries. Artist's like Woob, Adham Shaikh, Loop Guru, Kingsuk Biswas and others were releasing more ambient textured "chilled out" music much like Makyo. The first labels to focus specifically on this formula was Instinct Records and Nation Records. However, the most prolific label has been Dakini Records couples with the longest running party in Tokyo Dakini Nights. Over the years they've hosted reputable guests and with the Live at Dakini Nights (1999-2004) compilation they showcase exclusive tracks by those who have performed there over the past 5 years.
None of this would have come to pass without Makyo (and I'm sure his better half Keiku's) vision, and so we begin the music review with Makyo's remix of "Nothing is Real (Headspin Mix)" off of his tentatively titled and soon to be released album "Yakshini Reloaded." For those who are familiar with Makyo know his signature "acid" sound. Ripping delayed synth stabs, progressive synth lines most commonly found in psy-trance, and a great rhythm section. And in this case the tabla's sound exceptionally well. The whirling female vocalist adds this epic quality to it while the break beat rhythm keeps this accessible to the dance floor. My personal favourite is Greg Hunter's "Siliconectar V3 (Dakini Dub)" which is just so damn sweet. Delivering a superb conglomeration of elements that produce a stasis between the over-excited and too-spaced-to-think. Greg Hunter's more recognized projects would be Juno Reactor and The Orb. Dakini has also decided to release another rare track from Karsh Kale's archives, "Bright Like This," a nice abstract piece with Ustad Sultan Khan on Sarangi. Unless you somehow scored the original from KK himself, this is the ONLY place you will find this beautiful track. If you're a Karsh fan it's worth the import price. [Nada Masala 3, Dakini's final instalment of that successful series of compilations housed another rare Karsh Kale track "Ashes," so pick that one up as well and be the envy to all in your neighbourhood!]
This compilation is a look into Dakinis Record's musical legacy. All the tracks are exclusive to the album, so you won't find them on any other compilation. On their web site there are snippets of some of the tracks so you can see if they are up your alley.
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