Anoushka Shankar & Karsh Kale Breathing Underwater

• Words: Derek Beres
• Label: Manhattan
• XLR8R Rating: /10

The length these two artists have traveled to evolve classical Indian music is astounding, so their reunion could only result in greatness. Anoushka Shankar, whose father, Ravi, introduced the entire genre to Western audiences, plays the sitar beautifully above Karsh Kale's tablas. Along with the MIDIval PunditZ, Kale's production hand is exceptional, as the classical pantheon converges with digital technology. Sting, Norah Jones, Vishal Vaid, and Kale himself layer the instrumentals with brilliant vocals. An inclusion of Chinese folk music and a dazzling display of the santur make this a globetrotting effort. True to their original intent, all boundaries dissolve on this masterpiece.