Debashish Bhattacharya 3: Calcutta Slide Guitar

(Herald rating: * * *)

The previous album by this Indian master of the slide guitar was a recording with American guitarist Bob Brozman (Mahima) which was on our list of the 30 best albums of 2003.

That album wandered between pop and world music (references to Spanish and Hawaiian guitar styles), but this time Bhattacharya stays firmly on home turf with a two ragas, here divided into their three separate sections which are, I suppose, for convenient CD scanning, although that seems unnecessary. Ragas are best listened to in their entirety to fully appreciate their development.

The first is Raga Tilak Kamod, an evening raga which opens with reflective delicacy but by its later passages features playing which will bring a smile. The other is Raga Basant Mukhari, a morning raga which yawns its way awake over tamboura drones but halfway through sounds like the coffee has kicked in.

Bhattacharya uses guitars he designed and built himself. The one on Raga Basant Mukhari has a particularly powerful resonance. For those with a penchant for Indian classical music but who don't want another sitar, violin or sarod album, this should be very appealing.

Label: Riverboat