Karsh Kale Broken English

• Words: Derek Beres
• Label: Six Degrees
• XLR8R Rating: /10

On his third full-length, tabla player/drummer/DJ Karsh Kale keeps his progressive South Asian temperament intact while moving into rock, hip-hop, and broken-beat territory. Merely hinting at these styles on Liberation, we find a full assault of cross-cultural aesthetics merging into a driving soundclash. Cincinnati-reared MC Napoleon Solo adds lyrical depth to "Manifest" while Sophie Michalitsianos ensures that "Beautiful" lives up to its name, but Broken English‘s real strengths are ghazal vocalist Vishal Vaid and Kale‘s creative depth as producer. One listen to the anthemic "Rise Up" lets you know something new is brewing in global electronic music.