Photo by James Bartolozzi
On January 20, Red Baraat will release ‘Gaadi of Truth’ (Sinj Records), an explosive new album that expands their singular sound, merging North Indian bhangra rhythms, jazz, go-go, brass funk, and hip-hop, with new elements of South Asian Qawwali traditions, Cumbia grooves, electronic music, and more. The Wall Street Journal’s Speakeasy blog premiered the album’s title track, “Gaadi of Truth,” calling it a “boldly infectious polyrhythmic jam.” Listen here:http://shorefi.re/1u5GMHP
In the year since Red Baraat released their last album, ‘Shruggy Ji,’ the Brooklyn-based kinetic eight-piece drum and brass ensemble earned their first #1 on Billboard’s World Music chart, played sold-out shows across the country, including performances at Central Park Summer Stage, Austin City Limits, and Monterey Jazz Festival, and were even commissioned by NPR Music to compose an original song for a live improvised recording performed with 350 local musicians on the steps of the Brooklyn Public Library (http://youtu.be/S9vbOVJTKok).
Comprised of 13 songs written by Red Baraat and produced by bandleader and dhol player Sunny Jain, ‘Gaadi of Truth’ features collaborations with ‘Delicate’ Steve Marion playing guitar on “Bhangale Oochale,” Mandeep Sethi rapping on top of the brass-heavy “Zindabad,” and two remixes by Lost In The Trees and Karsh Kale. If ‘Shruggy Ji’ was a statement and celebration of pluralism, ‘Gaadi of Truth’ (Gaadi is Hindi for car or train) reflects on the hard realities of the band’s worldwide travel experience touring and promoting their music. The result is their darkest sounding record to date.
“It’s not necessarily bhangra music anymore. It’s not a brass band anymore. What is it now? I don’t really know. It’s a way dirtier and darker record,” says Jain. “But it is still a massive sonic sound coming at you comprised of horns and drums. Still very much a communing of all different types of backgrounds – being in the moment and feeling the passion to play, and to deliver with other people feeling the same energy in that moment. It’s still very much about that raw visceral on the edge deliverance of music.”
Known for their high-spirited and energetic live shows, Brooklyn’s “best party band in years” (NPR) will tour North America again in 2015 and host their fourth annual Festival of Colors to celebrate Holi, which has now expanded to four cities: New York, Washington DC, Philadelphia and Boston. More details will be announced soon.
‘Gaadi of Truth’ tracklist:
01. Gaadi of Truth
02. Horizon Line
03. Call to Now
04. Zindabad (feat. Mandeep Sethi)
05. Bhangale Oochale (feat. ‘Delicate’ Steve Marion)
06. Crown of Spades
07. Rang Barse
08. Layers
09. Bhangra Pirates
10. Se Hace Camino
11. Akhiyan Udeek Diyan
12. Layers (Karsh Kale Remix)
13. Horizon Line (Lost in the Trees Remix)
