Kronos Caravan

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The Kronos Quartet--apparently tired of performing some of the most riveting Western classical works composed in the last century--decided to take a vacation with Caravan. Where did they go? As evidenced by this globetrotting disc, seemingly everywhere. Music from the Middle East, South America, India, Portugal, and California (to name just a few) find their way onto this genre-blurring disc, along with a few surprises. They do a dizzying take on Dick Dale's "Miserlou," which we learn was originally written by Nicholas Roubanis in the '30s; perform a tune from India's bustling "Bollywood" film music industry; and tackle Terry Riley's inventive "Corgeo Funebre en el Monte Diablo"--the second movement of his Requiem for Adam (written for the late son of Kronos leader David Harrington). These are disparate but enthralling works that run the gamut from frenetic to reflective. Even though Caravan sounds less cohesive than Kronos's other world music foray, Pieces of Africa, this is still an enthralling collection and a must for Kronos fans. --Jason Verlinde

Kronos Caravan, Music, Kronos Quartet, Aleksandra Vrebalov, Carlos Paredes, Rahul Dev Burman, Enrique Rangel, Sapo Perapaskero, Rezso Seress, Terry Riley, Anibal Troilo, Kayhan Halhor, Ali Jihad Racy, Nicholas (aka Dale, Dick) Roubanis, Zakir Hussain, Chamber, Chamber Music, Chamber Music & Recitals, Classical, Classical Artists, Classical Music, Miscellaneous, Miscellaneous Music, Music for Tape/Electronics and Live Performer(s), Vocal, Vocal Music

You've Stolen My Heart: Songs from R.D. Burman's Bollywood
Average customer rating:

Warning: this CD is addictive

Clever, but....

Bhosle, Pavrotti, Sinatra

Cheap music

I Think They Should Have Selected a More Contemporary Singer

You've Stolen My Heart: Songs from R.D. Burman's Bollywood
Kronos Quartet , and Asha Bhosle
Manufacturer: Nonesuch Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Best of Asha Bhosle: The Golden Voice of Bollywood

Rise

Dimanche a Bamako

Kiran Ahluwalia

ASIN: B0009X1PAM
Release Date: 2005-08-23

Tracks:

Dum Maro Dum - Take Another Toke
Rishte Bante Hain - Relationships Grow Slowly
Mehbooba Mehbooba - Beloved, O Beloved
Ekta Deshlai Kathi Jwalao - Light a Match
Nodir Pare Utthchhe Dhnoa - Smoke Rises across the River
Koi Aaya Aane Bhi De - If People Come
Mera Kuchh Saaman - Some of My Things
Saajan Kahan Jaoongi Main - Beloved, Where Would I Go?
Piya Tu Ab To Aaja - Lover, Come to Me Now
Dhanno Ki Aankhon - In Dhanno's Eyes
Chura Liya Hai Tum Ne - You've Stolen My Heart
Saiyan Re Saiyan - My Lover Came Silently

Amazon.com

The Kronos Quartet have been luminaries of modern Western classical music for more than thirty years. So despite their previous forays into world music, a headlong dive into the alternative universe of Bollywood (Bombay-plus-Hollywood) soundtracks may seem somewhat incongruous. But Kronos leader David Harrington is a longtime fan of composer R.D. Burman¹s florid pop extravaganzas, which propelled an already saturated palette into day-glo and beyond. To get the project off the ground, he had to convince one of India¹s prolific and versatile "playback" singers to come on board. The legendary Asha Bhosle is a renowned Burman interpreter so securing her services was a major coup. To replicate the reverb-laden "wall of sound" typical of Burman arrangements, Kronos and Ashaji, accompanied by Indian percussionist Zakir Hussain and Chinese pipa virtuoso Wu Man, overdubbed themselves into a teeming multitude. However, there is nothing soulless or "canned" about the results; indeed, composer and singer emerge refreshed and more vivid than ever before, shaking their stuff amid swirling Technicolor veils of tongue-in-cheek mystery and sensuality. --Christina Roden

Album Description

Sumptuous and surreal, the Kronos Quartet and Asha Bhosle's You've Stolen My Heart is not unlike the colorful, melodramatic Indian film musicals to which it pays tribute. Eight of its twelve tracks feature superstar Bollywood film playback singer Asha Bhosle, widely considered the world's most recorded vocalist. The songs were chosen from the repertoire of her husband, the late composer R.D. Burman, who revolutionized the sound of the movies produced at Mumbai's (formerly Bombay) fabled studios, a.k.a. Bollywood.

Customer Reviews:

Warning: this CD is addictive.......2007-01-12

Now in her early 60s, Asha Bhosle's voice has matured since the heyday of her Bollywood career in the 60s-70s and in these reworkings of some of her greatest hits (written by her late husband R.K.Burman) it's positively honey-like. The collaboration with Kronos Quartet is inspired: substitute electronically enhanced violins for Duane Eddy guitars and you have an inkling of the ideas flying around the disc. The liner notes are informative and there's plenty of information for the Bollywood novice. However, whether you understand Hindi or not, this is a collection of songs - humorous, romantic, tacky, and at times so hilariously naff in the way of Indian homages to western pop it's actually cool! I would be amazed if you don't want to keep going back to it, once heard.

Clever, but...........2006-04-07

Chronos has always emphasized being clever over being musical- although they are splendid musicians- and this album is perhaps the ultimate exegesis of that. The actual music is perhaps exotic, to western ears, but it is also uninteresting. Indian film music combines the sound of the East with the banality of pop, and the result isn't anything that bears more than one listening; personally, I was continually reminded of the incidental Indian-themed music that kept popping up in the Beatles' movie "Help", although that soundtrack was a bit more clever. Another volume for the library of the die-hard Chronos fan, perhaps, but not necessarily anyone alse.

Bhosle, Pavrotti, Sinatra.......2006-02-12

Some vocalists are one-of-a-kind, brilliant and beautiful, setting the standard for their particular music. Asha Bhosle is one of them. I heard her with the Kronos in performance in San Francisco, and they took my breath away. This album isn't quite the same as being there but it's very, very close. Asha, Kronos - please do it again!

Cheap music.......2006-01-02

I dont know how the kronos quartet to come down so low. The music is cheap. I couldn't hear any of the tracks completely. They were so insipid.Complete waste of money. I have heard much better from Asha.

I Think They Should Have Selected a More Contemporary Singer.......2005-11-05

I love Asha Bhosle and one only has to listen to her Live at the Albert Hall album. Problem is, she has aged, and her voice shows it. Regrettably, her vocals on this album constantly remind me of this and I can't listen to the album with pleasure. I would say the same of such wonderful singers as June Carter and Amalia Mendoza. This was a wonderful opportunity to introduce much of the world to the zaniness of Bollywood movie music, with its fabulous arrangements and wacky use of all imaginable instruments from all over the world. Instead it makes me sad to hear Asha not at her peak.

Average customer rating:

unpleasant sounds
Another great Kronos
Stunning
And they never stepped off the train...
Beautiful!

Kronos Caravan
Aleksandra Vrebalov , Carlos Paredes , Rahul Dev Burman , Enrique Rangel , Sapo Perapaskero , Rezso Seress , Terry Riley , Anibal Troilo , Kayhan Halhor , Ali Jihad Racy , Nicholas (aka Dale, Dick) Roubanis , and Zakir Hussain
Manufacturer: Nonesuch
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Nuevo
Pieces of Africa
Kronos Quartet
Kronos Quartet Performs Philip Glass
Kronos Quartet : Winter Was Hard

ASIN: B00004S92N
Release Date: 2000-04-18

Tracks:

Pannonia Boundless
Cancao Verdes Anos
Aaj Ki Raat
La Muerta Chiquita
Turceasca
Gloomy Sunday
Cortejo Funebre en el Monte Diablo
Reponso
Romance No. 1
Gallop of a Thousand Horses
Ecstasy
Misirlou Twist

Amazon.com

The Kronos Quartet--apparently tired of performing some of the most riveting Western classical works composed in the last century--decided to take a vacation with Caravan. Where did they go? As evidenced by this globetrotting disc, seemingly everywhere. Music from the Middle East, South America, India, Portugal, and California (to name just a few) find their way onto this genre-blurring disc, along with a few surprises. They do a dizzying take on Dick Dale's "Miserlou," which we learn was originally written by Nicholas Roubanis in the '30s; perform a tune from India's bustling "Bollywood" film music industry; and tackle Terry Riley's inventive "Corgeo Funebre en el Monte Diablo"--the second movement of his Requiem for Adam (written for the late son of Kronos leader David Harrington). These are disparate but enthralling works that run the gamut from frenetic to reflective. Even though Caravan sounds less cohesive than Kronos's other world music foray, Pieces of Africa, this is still an enthralling collection and a must for Kronos fans. --Jason Verlinde

Customer Reviews:

unpleasant sounds.......2006-11-10

Kronos Caravan was a dissapointment and a waste of money. I can only stand to listen to two of the tracks. Most of the tracks are an annoying blend of too many strings and what ever instrument the guest artist is playing.I never want to listen to any of the music from the cultures represented on this cd.

Another great Kronos.......2002-07-09

The positive part is that this is really good but I rank their last "Nuevo" higher because that one holds togheter better.

This is mostly middle eastern/central europe stuff and even if I THINK I know way some argentinian/portuguise tracks are in this (because of that argentininan tango has it roots in middle europe.. portugal cobining bandelon with portuguese fado) it feels misplaced here but artisticially it is very good performed anyway and... hows about "Miserlou Twist" then.. well composer of that old hit has his roots in Libanon so.. :-).

Anyway is this very good, fun, well played and sound, production is also something extra.

You be pleased with this if you like stringquartets with more of a folklore style but my advice is that you by this togheter with Nuevo then you have two great great discs.

People used to Kronos cooperation with Glass, Steve Riech should like this but it is def. NOT minimalism att all.

Stunning.......2000-11-19

I've never been a fan of classical music. Being forced to listen to Mozart and such growing up in school, ugh, school has made me gain a deep hatred of famous classical composers and the like. Never thought I would ever get into classical music because it was all killed to me.

Then I heard of Kronos Quartet. They were raved about on a movie review for "Requiem for a Dream," which they are mostly responsible for the entire score on. So, I decided to give them a bit of a chance. I bought three of their albums, "Early Music," and "Kronos Quartet performs Phillip Glass." The most important of all of these is "Caravan."

The last CD I listened to, I was a little afraid to, because I figured I'd enjoy Western pieces a little more, and probably wouldn't like the more 'world' sound this album seems to say it has.

I couldn't have been more wrong, from the opening track, "Pannoia Boundless," I was in love, raving about it to everyone I knew. Every track seems to have an energy that oozes from within it, these dynamics that manage to grab me and toss me around every time. Even the weakest track, being "Cortejo Funebre en el Monte Diablo," because of the horribly synth-sounding beats, horns, and bells, still has a certain power after you get past the horrible intro of the song.

Either way, Kronos Caravan is a great listen for anyone just dabbling in classical string quartets and wants something a little more high power and intrusive than your average "background music."

And they never stepped off the train..........2000-07-22

According to the press and liner notes, this album is intended to chart a sort of musical journey, obviously reflected by the title. Such a concept is highly suspect - eclecticism for its own sake (or more likely for the sake of capturing the widest consumer base) very rarely leads to meaningful, cohesive art, possibly because the best art comes "from within", that is, from within an individual's or a group's experience, not simply the surface reflection of ethnic stereotypes. Add to this the antequated notion that a caucasian string quartet can "capture" the world's sounds for YOUR discerning ears, and you have a piece of sheer mediocrity.

Osvaldo Golijov's arrangements excel at highlighting various effects of instrumental combinations. That's a plus. However, these performances are mostly shorn of whatever vitality is inherent in the compositions, by the quartet's lack of rhythmic unity and attack - some of these takes sound like tentative rehearsals. The worst in this respect has to be "Aaj Ki Raat". Anyone who knows Indian film music is aware of its energy and manic quality. This performance, however, has none of that, opting instead for a navel-gazing lack of dynamism that actually serves to bury the melodic theme, in lieu of which we are given the sound of tablas, which even Zakir Hussain can't make jive with the ennervated ensemble.

Not surprisingly, the only impassioned performance is "Turceasca", likely because most of the music is played by Taraf de Haidouks, a Romanian Gypsy ensemble that lends its "quaint" and "primitive" spunk to the tastemaker quartet, producing a "rousing, olde country" stewe.

Anyone with an interest in music beyond her/his borders should pick up the real thing, spend a little money, force her/himself to get used to its strangeness, and maybe she/he will come away a little wiser. Oh, yes, purchase an honest classical disc next time, as well.

Beautiful!.......2000-07-13

This CD is great in many ways. There is beatiful music from all over the world on this one. It's interesting 'cause it's rather easy listened, but still very deep and vital. "Pannonia Boundless" and "Turceasca" was the first two tracks to capture me. After that you discover the beauty of the other tracks. The themes of the songs are very clear and they work fine both as headphone-music as background-music. Get this one!

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