Big Drum: Small World

Johnny Kalsi is one of the giants of the Asian Underground scene in London. His impressive resume includes stints with Alaap, Transglobal Underground, and Afro Celt Sound System. Kalsi is in great demand because he is the master of the dhol, a two-headed wooden drum from north India. The dhol produces a distinctive sound that lends readily to intricate fast-paced rhythms. Kalsi teaches the dhol and other drums at a studio in London and many of his pupils now play with him.

Kalsi is now the front man for the band Dhol Foundation (also the name of his school) and in early 2001 released a single with Natacha Atlas. "Shin the Mechanic" was a big hit world wide and left fans of world fusion eagerly awaiting Dhol Foundation's full-length release. Big Drum : Small World was worth the wait.

The first song, "Eik Din" opens with a bird singing; appropriate for the organic nature of this music. A human singer joins the bird and is in turned joined by a bell, cello and frame drum. The pastoral feel bursts into electronics and dhol, with the beat kicking in at an outrageous 180 bpm. Despite the pace, the melody and rhythm are controlled and uplifting, not frenzied.

"Iridian" sounds very much like an Afro Celt Sound System song, light and happy with the distinctive flute melody and violin solos while Kalsi's dhol sets a bhangra rhythm. The song takes an abrupt detour to a jazz piano solo (not my thing but others would enjoy) for a few seconds then returns to the main melody.

"Healing With Tumeric" turns up the energy with a bhangra dance number. It features sitar and flute-sounding keyboards, electronic atmospherics, and multiple dhol players. The dhols set the tone here, when they are playing, the track is hard driving dance, when they aren't, the track is atmospheric, almost ambient. That may sound weird but the interludes and changes work very well.

Next, Near Eastern chanteuse Natacha Atlas graces us with "Shin the Mechanic." The song is classic Natacha with Kalsi ably accompanying on dhol. By classic Natacha I mean a catchy song with a pop feel, beautiful singing, and foot-tapping rhythm.

The down-tempo "Poseidon" is perfect lounge music featuring light keyboards and superbly understated table and dhol. Turning to Indian classical music, "Seven Heaven" features santoor and hammered dulcimer in a very pleasantly relaxing tune.

The DCS in "TDF Meets DCS" is Shin DCS (You guessed it, he's also the Shin in Shin the Mechanic). Shin sings on this song which has an urban groove with gang vocals, electric guitar and mass drumming. He has a great voice, articulation, and range. I searched all of the liner notes, press releases and the band's Web site but couldn't find any info on who Shin is or where else we might find his work. That's a shame.

Natacha Atlas and Shin DCS return for the sweeping ballad "Tere Bina." A beautiful romantic duet in the Indian tradition, it shows off the vocal talents of both, accompanied by strings, keyboards, tabla and dhol. Very nice song.

The title track and "Drummer's Reel" are bhangra drum jams that will satisfy the primal cravings of any drum fanatic. "Big Drum Small World" is what American drum-and-bass should sound like. "Drummer's Reel" features a massive array of 42 drummers (all students of Kalsi) providing the beat for an Irish reel. In between "Big Drum Small World" and "Drummer's Reel" lies "Colours of Punjab," a light-heartedly melody with intricate percussion. Pleasant and pastoral.

Fans of drums should definitely get Big Drum Small World, as should fans of Indian music.