Album Review: Shye Ben Tzur, Jonny Greenwood & The Rajasthan Express - Junun

12 November 2015 | 2:40 pm | Brendan Telford

"A true melding of influences, an uneasy alliance that permeates with a trancelike proclivity for otherworldly rhythms."

Worlds collide when composer Shye Ben Tzur, Radiohead guitarist Jonny Greenwood and Indian ensemble The Rajasthan Express come together — but not in the way you might expect.

Take the sudden trumpet blast and insidious bass line three minutes into the title track; the delayed vocals and sparse, simple drum machine on Roked; the cavernous, feverish echo of Eloah. This is not a rote "reimagining of Eastern music" but a true melding of influences, an uneasy alliance that permeates with a trancelike proclivity for otherworldly rhythms. A stunning experimental spiral, listen to Junun for the untouchable Kalandar alone.