African Fantasy is an album by the Indian musician Trilok Gurtu, released in 2000.[2][3] The album was an attempt to meld Indian musical backing to African styles of vocalizing.[4][5] Gurtu was also inspired, in part, to create a "danceable" album.[6] Gurtu supported the album with a North American tour.[7]

African Fantasy
Studio album by
Released2000
Length55:12
LabelESC
Blue Thumb[1]
ProducerMatt Howe, Trilok Gurtu
Trilok Gurtu chronology
Kathak
(1998)
African Fantasy
(2000)
The Beat of Love
(2001)

Production

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Oumou Sangare and Angelique Kidjo sang on the album, as did Zap Mama's Sabine Kabongo and Gurtu's mother.[8][9][10][11] Gurtu wrote nine of the album's 11 songs.[12]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [13]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music     [10]
The Guardian     [14]

The Washington City Paper called the album "a seamless but mostly not-too-slick meld of African and Indian traditional and pop styles, with a bit of jazz and a splash of circa-1978 Steve Reich."[15] The Birmingham Post stated that "traditional instruments like the sitar, harmonium and tablas are blended with synthesizer and the bouncy bass of Kai Eckhardt de Camargo—ancient and modern as one."[16]

The Guardian concluded that "the stronger tracks have a rhythmic propulsion and melodic flair reminiscent of the Zawinul Syndicate, while the worst sound like a bid for crossover radio-play appeal."[14] The New York Times determined that the songs "easily juggle multiple systems of rhythm, melody, structure and timbre... Those systems don't melt down to find some innocuous common denominator; instead, various approaches move in and out of the music's foreground, overlapping when it's possible and taking turns when it's not."[17]

AllMusic wrote that there are "striking juxtapositions, and there is some wonderful playing... But the concept of an Indian/African fusion remains a fantasy, at least in this execution of it."[13]

Track listing

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No.TitleLength
1."Rajasthan" 
2."DJ Didgeridoo" 
3."African Fantasy" 
4."You Remember This" 
5."Big Brother" 
6."Folded Hands" 
7."Old African" 
8."Lisa" 
9."Dinki Puriya" 
10."Africa con India" 
11."Big Brother Reprise" 

References

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  1. ^ "Music: New Releases". Montgomery Advertiser. 27 July 2000. p. F13.
  2. ^ "Trilok Gurtu Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  3. ^ "Trilok Gurtu". NPR.
  4. ^ Lavezzoli, Peter (April 24, 2006). The Dawn of Indian Music in the West. A&C Black.
  5. ^ Gregory, Andy (May 1, 2002). The International Who's Who in Popular Music 2002. Psychology Press.
  6. ^ Dedolph, Meg (Apr 2000). "Dance calls". DownBeat. Vol. 67, no. 4. pp. 44–47.
  7. ^ Johnson, Martin (9 Nov 2000). "Also Around Town". Newsday. p. C5.
  8. ^ "An Indian in Africa". MTV News. Archived from the original on May 1, 2022.
  9. ^ Williamson, Nigel (Apr 8, 2000). "The virtuoso". Billboard. Vol. 112, no. 15. p. 53.
  10. ^ a b Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 4. MUZE. p. 42.
  11. ^ Derdeyn, Stuart (2 Nov 2000). "Gurtu plays to his own beat". The Province. p. B19.
  12. ^ Chapman, Geoff (19 Aug 2000). "Percussionist beats his biggest challenge". Toronto Star. p. AR13.
  13. ^ a b "African Fantasy". AllMusic.
  14. ^ a b Walters, John L. (10 Nov 2000). "On the edge". Friday. The Guardian. p. 25.
  15. ^ Jenkins, Mark (November 10, 2000). "Trilok Gurtu". Washington City Paper.
  16. ^ Bacon, Peter (22 Apr 2000). "Jazz CDs". News. Birmingham Post. p. 7.
  17. ^ Pareles, Jon (15 Nov 2000). "Rhythmic Cycles of India Spiced with a Dab of Africa". The New York Times. p. E8.