Spiders Tango

Kuljit Bhamra's quicksilver innovative, virtuosic talent is well known, well respected and very much enjoyed by tabla afficionados, percussionists and fans of Indian music. His work in film and theatre as a musician and composer has brought him an even wider following.

His recent collaboration with Beatrice Dillon on her electronic masterpiece Workaround was profound and mesmeric and explored textures, modes and rhythms that made listeners hear a whole new soundscape from such a familiar and well-loved instrument. This album has a great deal of potential and it has taken him in a new direction. Percussionist Davide Giovannini and The Villiers string quartet add strong elements to the collaboration: the passion of the strings, the tautness of the kit drum and gamelan feel of Kuljit's unique set of harmonically tuned tabla, are the stuff of musical dreams. In some parts it feels very cinematic, a soundtrack to a story that has yet to be told. In other places it feels like a suite for a dance piece… I wouldn't be surprised if choreographers and directors get totally seduced by the music. Let's hope that communal art forms return to our lives so that such visions can spring to life.