Visual Audio ~ State Of Bengal ~ Electronic ~ CD ~ Used VG

Editorial Reviews

Much anticipated, long overdue, and well worth the wait, the full-length debut from Sam Zaman (a.k.a. State of Bengal) propels him straight to the head of the class of progressive drum & bass and global groove. Along with Talvin Singh, State of Bengal is one of the pillars of London's Asian Underground scene documented on the classic Anokha collection of DJs and drum & bass renegades. Liberally and ingenuously mixing Bengali folk music with Western dance music, State of Bengal cooks up an exquisite blend that effortlessly marries the traditional to the up-to-the-moment. In fact, the blend is what Zaman really excels at, bringing jazzy sax and funky guitar together with jittery drum loops in "Chittagong Chill" while putting a harmonium and cut-up vocals against tablas and violins in "Taki Naki." Zaman clearly takes delight in fusing the musical language of his Pakistani roots with whatever strikes his fancy--listen to the slightly goofy "Elephant Ride" or the insistent down-shifting groove of "Hunters" to hear the sound of a man truly enjoying his work. Zaman is much more than just another clever mixologist: he's a true craftsman and visionary with perfect instincts for getting the most out of every moment. He's also gifted with a seemingly inexhaustible supply of good ideas. The years of DJ'ing, mixing, producing, and playing (he plays bass and percussion), including remixes for such heavyweights as Massive Attack and the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, have paid off in experience and a broad perspective. State of Bengal? State of the art--and then some. --Carl Hanni