OK (Talvin Singh album)

Last updated

OK
TalvinSinghOKCover.jpg
Studio album by
Released9 November 1998 (1998-11-09)
Genre
Length60:48
Label Island
Producer Talvin Singh
Talvin Singh chronology
OK
(1998)
Ha
(2001)

OK is the debut studio album by English / Indian tabla player and record producer Talvin Singh, released on Island Records in 1998. It won him the Mercury Prize for 1999. [2] The record was included in the book 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die . [3] It took nine months of travelling around and recording to complete the album. Singh recorded in London and on Okinawa Island to capture folk singers, as well as in India to collaborate with the Madras Philharmonic Orchestra. [4]

Contents

Singh hired various collaborators, including guitarist Jon Klein, [5] with whom he had previously recorded on Siouxsie and the Banshees's single "Kiss Them for Me" and toured during the inaugural Lollapalooza festival. [6] Ryuichi Sakamoto played flute on the album and sent his parts via a computer with an email which was a first in the late 1990s. [4] Rakesh Chaurasia also performed flute. [5] Singh recruited an eight female singer choir for the song "Soni". [5] Guy Sigsworth played keyboards on the opening track "Traveller", and also on "Sutrix" and the title track of the album. [5] Vocalist Suchitra Pillai joined in for the song "Sutrix". [5]

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [1]
Entertainment Weekly B [7]
The Guardian Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [8]
Los Angeles Times Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar half.svg [9]
Muzik Star full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svg [10]
NME 8/10 [11]
Pitchfork 7.5/10 [12]
Rolling Stone Star full.svgStar full.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svgStar empty.svg [13]

In the NME , reviewer Christian Ward noted that Singh was "trying to cover the globe with his music", as a voice intones "The world is sound", at the start of the album. [11] The record is rooted in India with odes to Asian underground scene, dub rhythms and jazz. There is also a contrast between "geisha choirs and cut-up beats", along with plaintive orchestral arrangements. [11] Ward noted that "convulsive rhythms compete with sensuous strings to create a deep, dark atmosphere", concluding with this positive sentence, "There are still more sonic territories to explore, but on this evidence, it seems that Talvin Singh will get there first." [11]

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Traveller"11:18
2."Butterfly"4:26
3."Sutrix"5:55
4."Mombasstic"5:45
5."Decca"1:20
6."Eclipse"5:50
7."OK"4:19
8."Light"6:23
9."Disser/Point.Mento.B"2:43
10."Soni"5:59
11."Vikram the Vampire"6:47
Japanese edition bonus track
No.TitleLength
12."Wrist Flick"5:48

Additional musicians Talvin collaborated with

Charts

ChartPeak
position
UK Albums (OCC) [14] 41

Certifications

RegionCertification Certified units/sales
United Kingdom (BPI) [15] Silver60,000^

^ Shipments figures based on certification alone.

Related Research Articles

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siouxsie and the Banshees</span> British rock band

Siouxsie and the Banshees were a British rock band formed in London in 1976 by vocalist Siouxsie Sioux and bass guitarist Steven Severin. They have been widely influential, both over their contemporaries and with later acts. The Times called the group "one of the most audacious and uncompromising musical adventurers of the post-punk era".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">The Creatures</span> English band

The Creatures were an English band formed in 1981 by vocalist Siouxsie Sioux and drummer Budgie of the group Siouxsie and the Banshees. The Creatures released their first EP Wild Things in 1981. They recorded four studio albums: Feast in 1983, Boomerang in 1989, Anima Animus in 1999 and Hái! in 2003.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Siouxsie Sioux</span> English singer

Susan Janet Ballion, known professionally as Siouxsie Sioux, is an English singer, songwriter, musician and record producer. She came to prominence as the leader and main lyricist of the rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees, who were active from 1976 to 1996. They released 11 studio albums, and had several UK Top 20 singles including "Hong Kong Garden", "Happy House" and "Peek-a-Boo", plus a US Top 25 single in the Billboard Hot 100, with "Kiss Them for Me".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Hariprasad Chaurasia</span> Indian flautist

Hariprasad Chaurasia is an Indian music director and classical flautist, who plays the bansuri, in the Hindustani classical tradition.

<i>Superstition</i> (Siouxsie and the Banshees album) 1991 studio album by Siouxsie and the Banshees

Superstition is the tenth studio album by English rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees, released on 10 June 1991 by Polydor Records. The lead single, "Kiss Them for Me", gave the band their first top 40 Billboard Hot 100 entry in the United States, peaking at No. 23, with the album peaking at No. 65 on the Billboard 200 chart. The band widened their musical influences with the arrival of musician Talvin Singh, who played tablas on the songs "Kiss Them for Me" and "Silver Waterfalls".

Talvin Singh OBE is an English musician, producer, and composer. A tabla player, he is known for creating an innovative fusion of Indian classical music with drum and bass. Singh is generally considered involved with an electronica subgenre called Asian Underground, and more recently as Indian and/or Asian electronica.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Budgie (musician)</span> English drummer

Peter Edward Clarke, known professionally as Budgie, is an English drummer best known for his work in Siouxsie and the Banshees. He is also the co-founder of the Creatures.

Asian underground is a term associated with various British Asian, South Asian Canadian, and South Asian American musicians who blend elements of Western underground dance music and the traditional Asian music of their home countries in South Asia. The sound has roots in the South Asian Diaspora, and many notable musicians within the genre are immigrants or children of immigrants. The first well-known mention was the compilation album Anokha - Soundz of the Asian Underground released in 1997 and masterminded by Talvin Singh and Sweety Kapoor. It is not a strict musical genre per se, since the specific sounds can vary wildly.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Guy Sigsworth</span> English record producer and songwriter (born 1960)

Allan Arthur Guy Sigsworth is an English record producer and songwriter. During his career, he has worked with many artists, including Seal, Björk, Goldie, Madonna, Britney Spears, Kate Havnevik, Imogen Heap, Bebel Gilberto, Mozez, David Sylvian, Alanis Morissette, Eric Whitacre, Alison Moyet, and AURORA. He has also collaborated with many celebrated instrumental musicians, including Talvin Singh, Jon Hassell, and Lester Bowie. He is a member of the duo Frou Frou, with Imogen Heap.

<i>The Scream</i> (album) 1978 studio album by Siouxsie and the Banshees

The Scream is the debut studio album by British rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees, released on 13 November 1978 by Polydor Records. Its innovative combination of angular and serrated guitar with a bass-led rhythm and machine-like drums played mostly on toms, made it a pioneering work of the post-punk genre.

<i>Juju</i> (Siouxsie and the Banshees album) 1981 studio album by Siouxsie and the Banshees

Juju is the fourth studio album by British rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees. It was recorded at Surrey Sound studio with Nigel Gray as co-producer, and was released on 19 June 1981 by Polydor Records. Two singles were released from Juju: "Spellbound" and "Arabian Knights".

<i>Peepshow</i> (album) 1988 studio album by Siouxsie and the Banshees

Peepshow is the ninth studio album by English rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees, released in the United Kingdom on 5 September 1988 by Polydor Records and in the United States the following day by Geffen Records. It was their first record as a quintet. With the arrival of multi-instrumentalist Martin McCarrick and guitarist Jon Klein, the group recorded a multifaceted album with a variety of influences. Peepshow included the singles "Peek-a-Boo", "The Killing Jar" and "The Last Beat of My Heart".

<i>Dead Bees on a Cake</i> 1999 studio album by David Sylvian

Dead Bees on a Cake is the fifth studio album by British singer-songwriter David Sylvian, released in March 1999 on Virgin Records. It was his first solo album in 12 years since Secrets of the Beehive. The album peaked at no. 31 in the UK Albums Chart at release and contained his last UK Top 40 single to date in "I Surrender".

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Spellbound (Siouxsie and the Banshees song)</span> 1981 single by Siouxsie and the Banshees

"Spellbound" is a song by English rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees. The group wrote it and co-produced it with Nigel Gray. It was released in 1981 by record label Polydor as the first single from the band's fourth studio album, Juju.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Kiss Them for Me (song)</span> 1991 single by Siouxsie and the Banshees

"Kiss Them for Me" is a song written and recorded by English rock band Siouxsie and the Banshees. It was produced by Stephen Hague. It was released in 1991 as the first single from the band's 10th studio album, Superstition.

Nēnēs (ネーネーズ) is an Okinawan folk music group formed in 1990 by China Sadao (知名定男). The group name means "sisters" in Okinawan. Nēnēs is composed of four female singers who perform traditional Okinawan folk songs in traditional costume with sanshin accompaniment; they have also performed with a backing band, Sadao China Gakudan. They toured Europe and played New York City in 1994. An independent release, IKAWŪ, landed them a recording contract with Sony Records and a collaboration with Ryuichi Sakamoto. They hold a resident gig at the Live House Shima-Uta club in Naha, Okinawa.

Acacia was a multi-cultural British experimental pop band active during the mid-1990s. The band is most notable for helping to launch the subsequent musical careers of several of its members, most notably keyboard player/producer Guy Sigsworth, singer Alexander "Blackmoth" Nilere and associate vocalist Imogen Heap. Though never commercially successful, Acacia attracted a good deal of underground attention during their existence and were notable for their eclectic musical approach and for Nilere's unorthodox, polysexual image.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Tristin Norwell</span> Musical artist

Tristin Norwell is a British music composer, producer, mixer, arranger, and musician.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Rakesh Chaurasia</span> Indian flautist

Rakesh Chaurasia is an Indian flautist, who plays the bansuri, an Indian bamboo flute. He is the nephew of flautist Hariprasad Chaurasia.

<span class="mw-page-title-main">Jon Klein (musician)</span> Musical artist

Jonathan David Klein known professionally as Jon Klein and sometimes as John Kline, is an English guitarist and producer, best known for being a member of Siouxsie and the Banshees for seven years, from 1987 until 1994. Klein has worked for other artists including Talvin Singh and Sinéad O'Connor. More recently he has worked as a co-producer and guitarist with Fangoria, Space Tribe, ESP, Shriekback, Micko and the Mellotronics and Jah Wobble.

References

  1. 1 2 3 Hilburn, Matthew. "OK – Talvin Singh". AllMusic . Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  2. Quinn, Sue (8 September 1999). "Music award OK by Singh". The Guardian . Retrieved 10 May 2016.
  3. Dimery, Robert; Lydon, Michael (23 March 2010). 1001 Albums You Must Hear Before You Die: Revised and Updated Edition. Universe. ISBN   978-0-7893-2074-2.
  4. 1 2 Simpson, Dave (8 May 2018). "How we made Talvin Singh's Mercury-winning album OK". The Guardian . Retrieved 2 November 2020.
  5. 1 2 3 4 5 "Talvin Singh – OK (booklet)". Label: Island Records – 5322514, Universal UMC – 5322514. 2 × CD. Belgium. 2009.
  6. Paytress, Mark (2003). Siouxsie & the Banshees: The Authorised Biography. Sanctuary. ISBN   1-86074-375-7.
  7. Hermes, Will (6 November 1998). "OK". Entertainment Weekly . Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  8. Garratt, Sheryl (4 December 1998). "Talvin Singh: OK (Island)". The Guardian .
  9. Lechner, Ernesto (14 November 1998). "Talvin Singh, 'O.K.,' Island / Asian Dub Foundation, 'Rafi's Revenge,' London". Los Angeles Times . Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  10. Wyatt, Kieran (November 1998). "Talvin Singh: OK (Island)". Muzik (42): 86.
  11. 1 2 3 4 Ward, Christian (3 November 1998). "Talvin Singh – OK". NME . Archived from the original on 17 August 2000. Retrieved 10 January 2019.
  12. Khan, Samir. "Talvin Singh: OK". Pitchfork . Archived from the original on 16 August 2000. Retrieved 24 February 2019.
  13. Hoskyns, Barney (26 November 1998). "Talvin Singh: OK". Rolling Stone . Archived from the original on 11 October 2008. Retrieved 30 March 2020.
  14. "Talvin Singh". Official Charts Company . Retrieved 2 March 2018.
  15. "British album certifications – Talvin Singh – OK". British Phonographic Industry.