Cinefonia

Brooklyn-based Bombay Rickey consisting of Kamala Sankaram, Drew Fleming & Jeff Hudginswith introduce their debut album Cinefonia. This is an interesting & unusual album that combines Bollywood,Indian & Western Classical, surf & jazz.

Each track is different & what stitches them together is the funky, versatile & operatic voice of Kamala Sankaram, a colatura soprano. Yma Sumac, a Peruvian soprano is the muse that inspired
this group of musicians & that explains the operatic influence you hear in almost all the tracks. Kamala Sankaram has worked with Philip Glass Ensemble & Anti-Social music.

Try 1, 2,6. 7, 8,9,10


1. Latin sounding track that makes you want to get up & dance.An interesting twist is the operatic voice that works in an unexpected sort of way.
2. Classical Hindustani classical tune sung in a funky, operatic fashion.
3. Slow & mesmerizing track.
4. A reimagined version of Dum Maro Dum, a classic Bollywood song from 1970s. A brave attempt.
5. A mellow surf tune with operatic overtones that works.
6. A bit of Afro-Caribbean influence & a big of surf guitar. Funky.
7. This ballad instantly reminds you of Western films & cowboys. Lovely.
8. Queen of the Rhumba - instead it should say Queen of the Opera - this track shines light on the extraordinary range of Kamala Sankaram’s voice.Reminds you of an aria from the operas.
9. Opening notes reminds you of Django Reinhardt’s music + western films.Nice.
10. The Ventures that is what you think in the first few seconded & then Kamala’s voice kicks in & suddenly the tune turns into something very different. Kind of interesting.


Kamla Aug, 2014