Album Review: Yorkston/Thorne/Khan - Navarasa: Nine Emotions

On their third collaboration, James Yorkston, Jon Thorne and Suhail Yusuf Khan continue to produce music that crosses all boundaries to deliver a deep cross-cultural expedition of folky sounds from around the world.

The trio reflect diaspora weaving Scottish folk, subtle chilled jazz and classical Indian styles into a masterfully conceived and satisfying whole. Loosely conceived around the concept of the Navarasa, or nine emotions, Yorkston/Thorne/Khan at once celebrate the differences between their respective backgrounds and the universality of these nine emotions.

The arrangements feature a soft palette of acoustic string sounds with Yorkston on guitar, Thorne on double bass and Khan on sarangi. It forms a dreamy but versatile foundation on which the trio build the folky balladeering of The Shearing’s Not For You before they move to the subtle beauty of Westlin Winds, which combines age-old Qawwali with the poetry of Robert Burns. The mellow Darbari works Kosmiche-inspired repetition and drone with distinctly subcontinental sounds. 

Yorkston/Thorne/Khan work hard to push boundaries but there are no rough edges to their musical experimentation. They deliver a richly textured sound which has the capacity to transport listeners as they explore the Navarasa.