Junun (album)

Junun
Studio album by Shye Ben Tzur, Jonny Greenwood, and the Rajasthan Express
Released 20 November 2015 (2015-11-20)
Recorded 2015 in Mehrangarh Fort, Rajasthan, India
Length 58:04
Label Nonesuch Records
Producer Jonny Greenwood[1]

Junun is a 2015 album by the Israeli composer Shye Ben Tzur, the English composer and Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood, and the Indian ensemble the Rajasthan Express. It was produced by Greenwood and recorded, mixed, and engineered by Radiohead producer Nigel Godrich.[2][3][1]

The songs were written by Ben Tzur, with Greenwood contributing guitar, bass, keyboards, ondes Martenot and programming. Pitchfork described the music as incorporating "Bollywood-style brass exuberance, the devotional Qawwali music of Sufi Islam, and bowed-string instruments associated with the Manganiar community."[4] Its lyrics are in Hebrew, Hindi, and Urdu.[4]

Junun's recording in Mehrangarah Fort in Rajasthan, India, is the subject of a documentary of the same name by Paul Thomas Anderson, released in October 2015.[5] Greenwood had previously composed soundtracks for several Anderson films.[2]

Reception

Pitchfork gave Junun 8.0 out of 10 and wrote: "The ensemble's playing and the leader's compositions make Junun an easy stretch—though, crucially, not a condescending one—for listeners otherwise unfamiliar with the great variety of methods often obscured by 'world music' market-speak."[4] The Guardian gave it 4 out of 5 and wrote: "Greenwood contributes subtle embellishments – occasional electronic beats, as well as understated guitar and bass – rather than any scene-stealing showboating. Indeed, the real stars here are the Rajasthan Express's six-piece brass section."[6]

Track listing

  1. "Junun" – 5:54
  2. "Roked" – 3:21
  3. "Hu" – 7:49
  4. "Chala Vahi Des" – 4:16
  5. "Kalandar" – 8:50
  6. "Eloah" – 3:55
  7. "Julus" – 3:44
  8. "Allah Elohim" – 4:21
  9. "Ahuvi" – 5:08
  10. "Azof" – 3:50
  11. "Junun Brass" – 3:29
  12. "There are Birds in the Echo Chamber" – 0:32
  13. "Modeh" – 5:35

Personnel

  • Shye Ben Tzur – vocal, guitar, flute
  • Jonny Greenwood – guitar, bass guitar, drum machine and computers, ondes martenot, keyboard
  • Aamir Bhiyani – lead trumpet
  • Hazmat – tuba
  • Ajaj Damami – trombone
  • Sabir Damami – tuba
  • Soheb Bhiyani – trumpet
  • Bhanwaru Khan – tuba
  • Zaki Ali Qawwal – Qawwali vocal

  • Zakir Ali Qawwal – Qawwali vocal, harmonium
  • Gufran Ali, Shazib Ali – Qawwali chorus
  • Ehtisham Khan Ajmer – Qawwali chorus, dholak
  • Chugge Khan – percussion (khartal, bhapang, manjeera)
  • Nihal Khan – dholak
  • Nathu Lal Solanki – Narsi Lal Solanki, nagara
  • Asin Khan – sarangi on "Hu", vocal on "Ahuvi"
  • Dara Khan – kamaicha on "Hu" and "Ahuvi"
  • Afshana Khan – vocal on "Chala Vahi Des"
  • Razia Sultan – vocal on "Chala Vahi Des," "Allah Elohim"

References

  1. 1 2 "Nonesuch Records Junun". Nonesuch Records Official Website. Retrieved 2016-10-04.
  2. 1 2 "NYFF Review: Paul Thomas Anderson is Trying Something Different With 'Junun'". Indiewire. Retrieved 2015-10-09.
  3. "Film Review: 'Junun'". Variety. Retrieved 2015-10-09.
  4. 1 2 3 "Shye Ben Tzur / Jonny Greenwood / The Rajasthan Express: Junun". Pitchfork. Retrieved 2015-12-17.
  5. "'Junun': NYFF Review". The Hollywood Reporter. Retrieved 2015-10-09.
  6. Mongredien, Phil (2015-11-22). "Shye Ben Tzur, Johnny Greenwood and the Rajasthan Express: Junun review – joyous and hypnotic". The Guardian. ISSN 0261-3077. Retrieved 2016-01-25.
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