Reviews (page 5 of 8)
I genuinely do not understand how this can be on the list... 1.5⭐️
This album started out with a couple really good songs, then as the album went on, it was like a rollercoaster. It would go from really good songs and quickly drift in to boring, then would repeat through the end of the album. It's another one of those albums I'm satisfied with having listened to it once, but won't ever come back to it.
I don’t know, this definitely sounded better through the headphones. I get what his aim is here it just doesn’t quite hit the mark for me though. The spoken samples are a highlight, particularly ‘destroyer of worlds’ which is chilling. 2.5
I judged the album by it's cover and was mistaken. This was quite diverse throughout, some of it I really liked. In fact I had some other music by this artist in my library and had forgotten all about it. But the later half of the album was a bit much for me.
Not for me
Very nice
Paar nummers wel oke maar voor de rest was t beetje all over the place
This started out OK but after a few songs got into annoying territory. I made it through, but can say I'll be happy to never listen to this again. 2/5
Interesting. Not my standard fair, but I didn't hate it.
Maar kort geluisterd, maar klonk niet heel interessant
Meeaaahhh
A quick scan of Sawhney's Wikipedia page indicates that he is prolific in the UK as a composer, producer, collaborator *and* performer. Too many milestones to list here. The concept of mixing downtempo with Nitin's influences from Asian culture is an interesting concept on paper. Back in 1999, this would be a revelation for listeners. Stevie Chick of NME wrote "It's movingly anti-sentimental, political without being polemical. It's beyond stereotype, and careening close to sublime." Political without being polemical I get. Beyond stereotype, maybe at the time? It's not now. Unfortunately it doesn't sound as fresh in 2025 as it was in 1999. Overall: 4/10
Before: Not even a little bit familiar. The cover art is crazy lmao Standout tracks: Broken Skin Homeland Weakest tracks: Nadia Anthem Without Nation During/after: Starting with Broken Skin, my mind is blown. This is fucking great. The vocals are very reminiscent of Sade and the strings and lo-fi sounding synths are the perfect backdrop. There's a hint of Indian influence that goes so hard in conjunction with the vocal sample at the beginning. Great social commentary as well. Letting Go was amazing as well. There's even more Indian influence here with the vocals and sitar(?) throughout. Homelands is SUPER interesting. There's the Indian portion at the beginning with a switch to Portuguese halfway through and English backing throughout. I'm identifying a really diverse range of world music in this track that I don't think I've ever really heard anything similar to. Pilgrim is a great rap track. I'm a fan of the mellow, spoken-word sounding rap like this. I don't love the lyrics though. I'm not sure if I was missing a message within them but they were just kind of lame. Happy to see the vocal samples about the nukes making a return in Tides. This one is a chaotic instrumental with interesting percussion and the sounds of waves in the background that makes for a great interlude. Nadia is not my favorite. I don't think that the driving percussion backing fits well with the vocal tone or melody - it just doesn't sound right. Maybe the eeriness is the goal, but it doesn't vibe super well with my ear. Immigrant continues with the vocal sample and is a beautiful ode to the plight of the disenfranchised, though it had an almost musical theater sound that I didn't vibe with. The snake charmer sounding flute (I'm an uneducated American don't cancel me if I'm wrong) in Serpents is really cool and lends to the world music vibe of this album. Anthem Without Nation didn't do a whole lot for me relative to the rest of the album. Still wonderful, but didn't click as much. I felt the same about Nostalgia, but I think my gripe here was the high pitched female vocals. The backing instrumentals were just as good as the rest of the record. The Conference is another really interesting Indian-inspired track. I'm a sucker for call and response and anthemic vocal melodies like is in the beginning of this one. I don't know how often I'll return to this track because it's not great morning commute or reading a book music, but God are these folks talented. Beyond Skin was the perfect ending. "Now I am become death, destroyer of worlds" being the very last thing we here gave me absolute chills. The perfect way to wrap up such a melancholic, chaotic criticism of war and its impacts. I had no idea what to expect with this record but I was so pleasantly surprised. I'm interested to know more about who did the vocals on each song and I was surprised Really really cool and innovative record. Each track feels like an ode to Sawhney's Indian heritage and upbringing. He's undeniably very talented and versatile (as demonstrated by the range of artists who he composed and produced for) and deserves the awards he's received. My only real complaint is that I would have loved a more solid and cohesive flow between tracks. The transitions between songs felt very choppy and some points and very smooth at other points. The production is great and, although this was released in 1999, it holds up very well. Need a blunt rotation with Nitin Sawhney and Serj Tankian so we can talk about war and western imperialism. 5/5.
this was pretty weird and not what I wanted to listen to at the time
The jazzier stuff from the album was way more fun. The male voice that sometimes comes in drags also the experience down. This is one of these albums that would work better with less voices and vocals for me. But still an interesting Listen. The Conference was silly asf. (1.5/5.0)
I actually weirdly enjoyed this, its kinda trippy and pretty chill but has some really profound stuff tucked away...not sure why it gets so much hate
Vibe was very main-character energy. Like any late-90s/early-2000s main-character contemplation montages, perhaps under rainy conditions.
Nuclear war concept albums are neat. Not my favorite style wise, but it was a good train listen.
Nadia is a bop
Reminded me of something I'd hear in a new age yoga class. Not terrible, but not memorable.
Um well, I agree with the message but wouldn’t buy the art. Some songs were better than others; disjointed.
i suppose
Reminded me of Enigma, but lacked that strong hook throughout.
I was incredibly skeptical when I first put this on. I’m not the biggest downtempo fan, and ‘90s electronica that ✨blends traditional regional music with western dance music✨ tends to always sound….pretty fucking lame, even for the time, even when it’s made by someone from said cultural background. Those assumptions made me walk into Beyond Skin with my guard up, and while it took a little bit, I’m digging this record overall. The biggest hurdle here is that Beyond Skin is a backloaded record. If you want something with a beat, it’s on the back half. The first half is DOWNtempo, and extremely slow. That’s not to say that it’s bad, and I think a song like “Homelands” does an excellent job blending Indian music with downtempo elements, while “Tides” brings in a strong jazz element. On the other hand, “Broken Skin” sounds like second-rate trip-hop, and “Letting Go” doesn’t bring enough of those South Asian musical elements to make it intriguing. The real sore spot, though, is “Pilgrim,” which features some god-awful rapping (????), if I can even call it that, and really took me out right as I was warming up to what Sawhney is doing here. Thankfully, the second half of Beyond Skin is a flawless execution of Sawhney’s stated vision. Yes, from “Nadia” to “Beyond Skin,” this record is largely upbeat, which is more my style/preference, but that isn’t what makes it engaging. To me, these songs not only incorporate elements from Indian music, but they spotlight them, and it gives these songs actual weight as a result. I feel like I’m listening to something fresh, something that has been thought-through intellectually. Not that Sawhney is bad at making downtempo music, but while good on Side A, it lacks purpose. Here, even the downtempo feels pointed, like on “Immigrant,” or the back half of “Beyond Skin” after a barrage of breakbeats over Oppenheimer’s well-known speech. The more time I sit with Beyond Skin, the more it touches me. The flaws are flaws that could be strengthened, but I also think they’re elements I generally have a hard time enjoying in electronic music, and I wouldn’t say they’re done poorly here. On the other hand, the good here is really, really, really good, with a clear vision and message that makes listening to it worthwhile. I think this balances out to a record that is overall interesting and could be right for any fan of electronic music. That said, I also think it’s a record that will be hard to sit through for anyone not already into electronic music in general. It’s not a starting point, even for downtempo, but it is interesting. With a few improvements, it could be amazing, but as it stands now, it’s still pretty great overall.
Another one I've never heard of before now. I enjoyed the South Asian elements. ‘Tides’ was good. ‘Homelands’ was good. The rap and r&b bits weren’t. This is a big-brain concept album with a pretty long runtime and that's not usually what I go for. As with the other instrumental/electronic albums on here, I’m sure there’s a lot for musicians to enjoy, but it’s not something that sticks with me as much.
I thought the middle section was the strongest (Tides, Nadia, and Immigrant were my favorite tracks), but I quite liked all of it! Loved the variety of the genres and the complexity of the lyrics. I'm guessing there's a lot more to discover with repeat listens.
I found this one interesting (in a positive way). Definitely a bit different than my usual listening, but I enjoyed the variety it offered. I thought the album worked well as a whole, maybe greater than the sum of its parts. Not sure I'll come back to it with much regularity though. Still, a solid album. Overall: 3/5
הכל נשמע אותו דבר
אלבום מאוד מגוון יש שירים מעולים אבל המון שירים פח בנוסף
I get what he's trying to do but it isn't working. Bludgeoning the listener with the little radio snippets to raise consciousness is pretty heavy-handed. And clichè, like much of this album. For example, the seemingly endless optimistic pep talk on "Pilgrim" or the over-done trip-hop sweet soul of the title track. On the other hand, I wish he had doubled down on the Indian classical stuff, really pushed that to an extreme, instead of burying the most interesting thing about this underneath stupid western pop music tropes. Too long at nearly an hour, I cringed too much at the song "Immigrant" and had to excuse myself from the table.
Some great, others not so good.
low 4 high 3 Oppenheimer what are you doing here?
Pre-listening thoughts: cannot decide if I love or hate this album cover Post/during listening thoughts: well my one revelation while listening to this electronic (?) jazz (?) trip hop (?) ambient (?) music is that it is still freaking everywhere. Especially in corporate settings like hotel lobbies or coffee shops. We haven’t progressed at all past this since 1999. What the hell guys. Anyways this is fine. I would never willingly seek it out but if I heard it in a coffee shop or hotel lobby, I wouldn’t complain. I’ve heard worse in public settings. Thinking of that one time I was in a coffee shop and I heard a really terrible indie ukulele style cover of Pumped Up Kicks. At least this isn’t that. 5/10 DID I NEED TO HEAR THIS BEFORE I DIE: nope Fav tracks: Broken Skin Least fav tracks: Homelands
I truly loved this. On the site where this project is done this averages at a little over 2.5. I'm convinced the people doing this challenge on the site are some of the most dull people imaginable. Much of the top reviews are yapping about how pretentious and self-serious it is, I was expecting something really inaccessible or out there. So I start playing it and it literally just sounds like DJ Shadow or Thievery Corporation. That's what's polarizing? It's totally listenable and it's good. There's some classical Indian music elements in it. There's some drum and bass. Like '90s trip-hop mixed with classical Indian music. Sure why not. It really honestly works well. At times it does kind of sound like something that would play in an upscale hotel I admit, but fuck it. I will definitely come back to this. One of the rare times I got something from this that only British people know or care about but I think Americans should care too. If you like '90s trip-hop/downtempo/electronica/drum and bass bullshit you will like this.
I was listening to this when it came out - along w Talvin Singh, when Ibiza's Cafe del Mar was trying to take over the world haha - 'ambient music' - couple of cool tracks but I get lost in it - forget it's even on
I really didn’t like this. Kind of annoying actually. I think I could’ve died in peace not having listened to this. Immigrant was ok.
The trance feel, unusual vocals and ethereal sounds kept me tuned in throughout the album. I did know what to expect from song to song. A couple of the more traditional didn’t resonate as much but overall solid.
Idk. Rhythmically this album is tight. But the voices which seem to range from Lisa Stansfieldish to gypsy kingsis to q-tip lite and then some traditionally - maybe qawwli singers - into the mix - feels a bit of a hodge podge instead of a diverse album. My favorite track is Tides - an instrumental. And I did really enjoy about half the album. I will return to it...
sì comunque
Bet some of you don’t even have a favourite album about nuclear weapons?! This is good but it’s not my favourite. Houmous & Chutney’s Rock Opera ‘Havana, H-Bombs & Lead Lined Hearts’ is a different level! Len wrote it about a love affair when we were touring Cuba in ‘62/63. 3.7
Meh
I like the idea of this album, and it still has parts that I do like. There are moments that sound like Lauryn Hill, moments that sound like Kate Bush, both of which are artists I love. But on the whole it still does meander quite a bit.
Bland. Not at all interesting or challenging.
Har sine moments
easy 5/5. amazing find
I was trying, I honestly was ... and then the dude in the background started chanting, that is where I draw the line!
eh too weird/global for my taste
Pretty. A bit lounge jazzy in places (some of the vocals). Generally a smooth, eclectic listen. Nice to listen to a multilingual album.
Not my kind of mussic
Did not enjoy
Album tries to do a lot but does not do a lot well 2/5
No idea what this is. I sort of liked one of the songs, can’t remember the song, which is why it isn’t a 1.
This one was a bit hit and miss for me. Some of it was hauntingly beautiful, some annoying. It's an intriguing concept for an album, but the execution was a bit off.
This is a really good album. Trip-hop and sampling aren’t usually part of my listening diet, but here, it’s mixed seamlessly with middle-eastern and Indian music. The combination is more than the some of its parts. The artist is very talented and i look forward to exploring more of their discography. A four (which might become a 5 with more familiarity).
Nice tunes but not my thing.
This downtempo triphop with smatterings of world music and glistening production is as late 90s/early 00s as it gets! Ambitious, exotic and well executed but not engaging - is it really an album about humanity's difficult relationship with nuclear weapons and the experience of Indian migrants in the UK (pretty diffuse thematic manifesto....), or does it just have some newsreel samples over the transitions between fairly boring tracks? Favourite tracks: Broken Skin, Nadia, whatever it was I listened to next...
It’s technically interesting and well performed but it feels soulless and lightweight
Nitin Sawhney’s “Beyond Skin” begins with what may seem like an unappealing proposition, but as the album progresses, it reveals itself to be a surprising and engaging musical journey. With fascinating versatility, Sawhney amalgamates elements of electronic music, world music and classical influences, creating a rich and diverse listening experience. Each track takes the listener on a journey through different soundscapes, proving that, despite its modest beginnings, the work is capable of captivating and surprising with its depth and creativity.
4 - What an album! I've never heard of this artist before listening to this album. Immediately I was blown away with the downtempo and D&B. The theme of the album was poignant, especially within the context of politics in 2025. Definitely plan to listen to this again plus more from Nitin Sawhney
kinda cool sometimes Will I listen to again: 5%
2 days in a row of albums built on minimalist electronic mood music. If the mood is abject boredom. This 1 more on the contemplative side. Intermittent noodling in various genres, from Indian traditional to for fuck sake west end show Disney ballad, all subliminally saying this is all a bit musically, well d,ull so please turn me off, you really don’t need to hear me. I’m sure he is very earnest and really means whatever he is trying to say for this degree art project of a record. But apart from being seen as a pretentious intellectual hipster, as someone else said smart and worldly, why do I need to hear this, why? Get integration of your influencesand backgroun, thats what everyone does, but I just can’t stand the diy minimalism of modern electronic music, with its basic beat rhythms, that’s so damn lifeless. If it hadn’t been for the even worst example yesterday of beep single beat shit, this would have been an easy 1 Star, but compared to that it sounds listenable so 1.5 stars
Immigrant is an immediate save to favorites. Great song
This was an odd ride. Some I was ready to punch out in within about 30 seconds, while it also had some very interesting moments. “The Conference “ was awesome. Strange nuggets like that is what makes this excersize so interesting. 2.5/5
What a strange yet interesting listen. Really liked the world-beat songs especially. And the use of space within the songs really helps deliver the message and is a nice nod to the production. This one left me wanting more only to confirm like one song said: that life is indeed like a puzzle yet to be pieced together.
Man, this eff’d with my head, especially listening through AirPods. Felt like it was moving all around so not sure if that studio engineer was fading back to front and side to side. Kinda cool but not great for a full album. 2.5 but rounding up because it overall didn’t offend me. How’s that for a review?
I’m not sure what I just listened to…but I think I kinda liked it. I preferred the more Indian influenced tunes like Homelands. Doesn’t rise to great level status but enough here for a middle of the road rating. 2.75/5
Interesting. Didn’t hate it but it wasn’t rabe worthy
Decent background music, but not something I'd revisit.
This sounds like what plays endlessly in one of those hotel lobbies that has a water dispenser with cucumbers in it and has a house aroma, like W or some shit.
Another total unknown (to me) for today's selection, and thankfully a much more interesting and engaging mystery than yesterday's Kelela album. In many ways this album plays more like a soundtrack than an album per se (or maybe the soundscape for a museum exhibition on identity and spirituality and politics), but it's still very enjoyable, even when I don't understand the lyrics at all (e.g. "Homelands"). I particularly enjoyed the opening track "Broken skin", "Tides", "Nostalgia" and the title track. I do wish there were fewer (or no) drum-n-bass tracks (like "Nadia"), but given when this came out it's probably not too surprising. Although the Wikipedia entry for this album is unhelpfully brief, the "1001 Albums" entry and the Wikipedia entry for Nitin Sawhney are defintiely worth reading, and fill out a portrait of an intriguing and multi-talented person whose life experiences are all over the map. Funny how this album kind of mirrors his life. I'm really torn between three and four stars for this album, but it feels just a bit too long and a bit too eclectic for four stars.
Nitin Sawhney was new to me, and I liked the theme of this album. Didn't really connect to the music though.
Nitin Sawheny Beyond the Skin Before listening- I have absolutely never heard of this band, so I have no preconceptions Broken Skin- whoa- IMMEDIATELY started tapping my feet- just a few instruments on this track- maybe the most important one is the snare drum keeping time- looked up the lyrics and the topic is crushing Letting Go- forgive my ignorance, but there is a strong North African/Middle East vibe on the backing track Homelands Pilgrim- I am not up on modern hip hop, but this is surprisingly modern for something made nearly 30 years ago Tides Nadia- not sung in English, and I was listening at school, so the websites with translations are blocked Immigrant- beautiful piano ballad about why people immigrate, maybe emigrate? Serpents- repetitive chant- finger cymbals, flute? Recorder? Very cool- haven't listened to anything like this before Anthem without Nation - if the translation that someone provides on YouTube is correct, this is a wonderful poem Nostalgia The Conference - not loving it, but at the very least, I think I am picking up on an artistic version of “a conference” lots of voices speaking quickly, all at one time Beyond Skin After listening- bingo- this is why the list exists- I never heard of this artist, I never would have picked this up, and I thoroughly enjoyed it- the lyrics are moving, the vocals are wonderful 3.5 stars- I thoroughly enjoyed it, but would I buy it?
Not as bad as some of the reviews here would make it seem. But, this album’s not great either.
First couple tracks were ok but lost me on track 3.
1 bosta
nada d+. começou bem daí eu tava implorando pra acabar vsf
Transcendent. Jazzy, cinematic. Mood music.
J'aime pas le trip-hop, j'aime pas la drum and bass, et j'ai pas d'affection particulière pour les sonorités orientales et indiennes. Forcément, tout ça mélangé, c'était pas ouf.
Legalize nuclear weapons
Weird, but was ok to listen to
Wow, totally different than anything I’ve heard before. Pretty eclectic and cool. Not my favorite sound but appreciate the listen
Didn't really click with this one. Not sure why it is on this 1001 albums list... Highlights Include: "Tides"
Now this is what I came for. Good shit that I've never run across.
Nice background music for work
# 421 : Zzzzz. Another one of those albums that make you reconsider whether there are actually as many as 1,001 albums you must listen to before you die…
This one has enough disjointedness to take it down to 3-3.5 range for me. Definitely a handful of really cool songs though, I feel like cutting the vocals from a song or 2 would've gotten this an easy 4.
Not good
In 1999, I ignored this on the basis that it was catnip for the dinner party crowd. In 2025, I can come to the conclusion that I was largely correct. However, this smugness is tempered by the knowledge that if I had been 26 years older in 1999, I would have so into this album. Sigh. Time is a goon.
Great sound
Very cool.
Not great...
This is why I'm sceptical of calling music art because it makes half witted people think this is what great music is, it is not. You shouldn't be trying to make art, you should be making music.
Good album. Interesting sound, sounded like Indian influences. A little like sade
I've come to realize through this list that I just don't enjoy music with Indian influence. This was... Pretty profoundly meh. Very well done, but the Indian influences really took it down several notches.
Second bad imitation album in a week. This time its Temu Portishead. 1/5
Very interesting. And partly very nice. Liked the Indian pieces. The other ones were not quite as interesting but ok.
Wasn't expecting that. Wow. From what I remember I was part of a traveling family that mowed lawns. Other than my sister they weren't really my family. The lawns we did were based on comic book artists an h.r. Geiger. One house asked if I'd run to new york for them and when I told them no they started yelling at me. The other a kid in very 80s prep garb told me he'd give me 40$ and handed me a red bill. Then immediately called someone and started making fun of me for taking a fake $40 bill. I swung something at him hitting him on the side of the head. The group convened and decided to move along. As we started to walk across the street a voice from somewhere started talking about how the kid was friendly with some cops and I imagined it was by his bus stop
Oha! Actually really cool. Very varied, had to check that Spotify didn't decide to play something else from my cue a few times. Love the chill tribal/Arabic vibes 🙏
not the most boring nor the most creative thing out there, only two tracks i enjoyed. somewhat repetitive at parts. 2.5/5
Kind of atmospheric, beats focused with some interesting instrumentals and middle -eastern vocals
Not for me unfortunately, I did enjoy the piano on Tides. Favourite track: Tides Won't be revisiting. 2/5
2/5. Drum and bass genre does offer great background music but feel like the energy stayed about the same throughout. The vocals seemed to either be samplings or pure 80s-90s ballads, with one hip-hop track on here. It feels like we are listening to an unintentional radio without a clear sense of what it's going for, just samples with drums and bass. And some songs are good but many are just not interesting enough to keep my attention. The vocal trills are crazy impressive though. Best Song: Broken Skin, Beyond Skin, Nadia
I enjoyed some of the songs on here but quite a few had little value to me. 3 stars
A new experience of sound, and a mix of electronic with music and lyrics from different parts of the world. Great listen.
good, nothing to catch my ear
Contemp British Indian musak.
Moody Downtempo for testing the limits of boredom.
At times, this sounds like a post-MJ relic, with the vocals to match. It's pretty good. I'm in awe of the reviews that describe this album as boring, because it's anything but that. Complex percussion rhythms, an enormous variety of singing styles, and some wacky chord progression in tracks like Letting Go and (especially) Tides. Really, the only obvious stinker tracks are Pilgrim and Serpents. The former features an annoyingly repetitive monotone vocal line. That song in particular seems to be catering to fans of 90s hip-hop, and I'm not one of them. The latter sounds pretty nifty at the beginning, but the musical ideas aren't developed at all. And the lyrics throughout the album – at least, the English ones – could use some work. As an example, the song Immigrant sounds fantastic, but when you dig deeper into the lyrics, they're pretty clumsy and shallow. But "boring"? Nah, man, nah. Maybe the wide variety of genres mixed into one bubbling, mind-bending pot is a lot to wrap your head around, but once you do (or even before you do), the music is undeniably interesting and engaging. The complex vocal lines on Immigrant, the beautiful and atmospheric instrumental Tides, the use of electronic sound effects. The album does lose a bit of steam in the latter half, but the above elements surely can't be discounted. Beyond Skin sounds fresh and different, and it's gonna be hard to argue otherwise. 3/5 Key tracks: Broken Skin, Homelands, Tides
is this a joke?
Like most drums and bass that I’ve been exposed to, this was fine. It was pretty boring and was perfectly acceptable background music.
Very interesting theme with cool instrumentals and great vocals throughout.
feels like an early version of tv girl, very creative and nice instrumentals but vocals can be annoying sometimes 3/5
This was a pretty disappointing selection for my 1001st album on this list. Just felt very generic and unremarkable.
Haven't heard of this before. A chill, background music-esque album about nuclear weapons doesn't seem appropriate to me. The concept of this album aside, purely musically it isn't interesting either. Actually after a while the sound of the album started to be annoying. Another strange pick from the author of the original book. 1/5
this dragged for so long, literally felt like i was listening to it for hours on end, i respect the style of it but the trip hop esc sound to it was very generic and all the songs sound the same and it didn’t keep me engaged at all
I don’t know if I’m just not in the mood, but the last couple albums here have not done much for me. This one is good, but just not grabbing me. And just like that, the songs have shifted and they are grabbing me more now. I appreciate an artist trying different things. “The Conference” is absolutely wonderful! This took me by surprise and I love it.
I don’t understand enough of anything to quantify how good this album is, but I was hooked line and sinker. How he can put together so many concepts, so many genres so cleanly is remarkable. Big winner here
Lots of cool sounds. Very seamless and excellent vibe creation. Variety with cohesion.
Anglo-Indian Nuclear Pop RnB was not on my bingo card. Really enjoyable overall. The theme is a little lost on me except for when they explicitly tell me. Might need more than one listen at work tho. Pilgrim was a bit draining.
Quite eclectic, some vocal-driven, some heavy with sampling, some more like beat-centered dance music. And a mix of languages. Wild that this is one album.
Way to get an extra star out of me: have an album cover that makes me expect screaming post-punk, and then don’t be that. Against all expectations I enjoyed most of this one. I guess it might be called jazz? But then there are tracks that are trance. At its low-point,for me, it approaches easy-listening. It’s very varied, and there are a couple of clunkers, but one consistency is that most of the melodies seem middle-eastern inspired. I’m not even sure how to explain any of this. I just know that it was unexpected, and unpredictable and very much kept my interest.
3.5 very interesting
Nukes are bad
Very interesting record. A mix of r&b, hip hop, and Asian influence. It's a very easy record to listen to and the harmonies are very pleasant throughout. Happy I had the chance to learn of this one.
point5.
This was a very interesting album that I don’t think I’d listen to again. My favorite was “Nadia”. 2.5/5
Started off kind of interesting but couldn’t take a whole album of this.
After listening to this album, I've come realize I don't like Indian music. Traditional Indian music never really pleased my taste buds, I just can't into it and now this modern take with sampling etc, is even worse. Beyond Skin started off pleasant enough with a Sade-ish sounding vocalist and chill mood music, but this eventually took a turn and by the end I was relived it was finally over. Bizarre and strange, it baffles me how this made this "must-hear" list. No thanks!
An interesting concept for an album, but that's where anything interesting about it ends. Not my cup of tea.
Weird R&B
This is definitely a prime example of the setting maketh the score. Lovely smooth British-Asian R&B with just a hint of mumblecore to it. I think on another day I could have given this a 0.2, but right now, there's Nitin wrong with this.
Interesting, but I don't see myself revisiting this album in the future.
Appreciate the effort in genre-fusion and typically enjoy the more worldly entries on the 1001 project. This really wasn’t holding my interest for a deep listen, but was decent background music. Unobtrusive electronica kept this from being overwhelming. 2.5/5
Amazing
It's fine. Chill and calm background music.
A few interesting tracks but also some that aren't really for me. I enjoy the chilled DnB vibes. Not a fan of some of the Indian-style vocals. I might investigate some of Nitin Sawhney tracks, I expect I will like some. But I don't think I will ever want to listen to another album. There is potential for something that I would really enjoy here, like a cross between Four Tet and Etherwood, but it doesn't quite deliver. Now I want to hear a collaboration album between Four Tet and Etherwood.
Enjoyed some of it, but not sure if i'll come to any of it. Tides was a high point, i've often thought there isn't enough overlap of drum and bass, and piano
Interesting mash ups but not my vibe
Brand new for me. Pretty good!
Pseudo-deep spiritually intellectual/symbolic lyrics over painfully bland late 90s/end of the millennium beats with a snippet of Oppenheimer (the guy, not the movie) as the chaser. Blah.
Smooth r&b electronic with heavy middle eastern world music vibes. Surely this has a market but it’s not for me. 2 stars because it’s not unlistenable.
Memories of high school with Chel chaya. LoFi baliwood. Good stuff in general and pretty chill.
Never heard of this group. Great find and very chill!
OK, not my thing, started strong but got a bit boring
I would never put this on a list like this unless it’s what you should not do.
new type of music for me, It was fun
Album #14 0 1/5 Not for me. Seems like there is a great message / theme to the album (lyrics) but the music/sound just isn't for me.
Good diverse ambient album. I know another song by him but was surprised I didn’t hear it on this album
Huge surprise. Never heard of em and this was unique and all over but awesome
не
The album cover is actually me having to listen to this nonsense. 2/10.
Good album overall. Not a rap fan but there was other good stuff and the female vocalist was excellent. Would be better without excessive and repetitive references to atomic testing. Not that it’s a bad thing but it’s just overdone.
The first song is awesome but some exotic sounds are a bit too much for me. The part is portuguese is also very well done and caught me by surprise.
I'd rather be nuked than listen to Homelands again.
Didn’t love it though parts were kinda relaxing
I have questions, but I’m not that mad about it.
Ihan kiinnostava teema, sekä muiltakin osin ihan onnistunut downtempolevy. Jotain olisin kaivannut lisää mutten ihan tiedä mitä. 3/5
Joitain kiinnostavia biisejä mutta pidemmän päälle vähän itseään toistava levy.
Something about 90s trip hop just makes me feel like most albums in the genre are a slog to get through. It's not like any one album is particularly overindulgent or anything, but they feel like work to get through. This one is no exception.
Personal meets political and programming meets percussion in this imperfect but intriguing meditation on identity and annihilation.
A potent and innovative album that blends the popularity of the then-popular downtempo music with hindustani music from Sawhney's heritage. The result is a spiritually-rich protest of nuclear armament. Deeply moving, effortlessly timeless, an impressive display of the power of music.
Ok, mostly enjoyed it.
electronic
This is real weird and bad.
La portada es horrorosa. El disco no está mal. Me esperaba más de Sawhney, es un trabajo que se escucha sin problemas, 12 temas casi una hora, pero esto lo hacen Morcheeba y nadie les hace caso. Boards in Canada ni te cuento. Homelands sobresale (Rizwan Qawwali Group hacen un enorme tranajo). Pilgrim suena a Digable Planets. Tides es un interludio en clave jazz que lleva a Nadia, un buen tema. Inmigrant sigue esa estela. Serpents juega con esa mezcla World Music y electrónica chill, pero se queda demasiado lejos de Dead Can Dance. Ecos de Soul II Soul, Lamb, Zero 7, etc... drum´n´bass de finales de siglo, sonidos de música clásica fusionada con la electrónica... todo encaja y suena bien, pero ha quedado un poco desfasada. Hubo discos mucho mejores en 1999: Summerteeth de Wilco, The soft bulletin de The Flaming Lips, Mule variations de Tom Waits, 69 love songs de The Magnetic Fields!!! Incluso Californication, Surrender, S&M, Come on die young, Play..
I dig this. Not overdone in any direction.
There were a few songs I enjoyed and didn’t hate the rest. Unique fusion of genres I hadn’t heard before Rating: 3.2
Honestly bad ass one of the best themed albums ive ever heard and the content sadly is as relevant as ever, beautiful album
Great journey. Was familiar with one song from an old cafe del mar compilation, was great to hear it and how it fits in the album. Have saved and will listen to again.
3+
Between 2 and 3. Some songs I really like and some I think are terrible. Very inconsistent.
de opener isch etz nöd so i mim gschmack sehr dissonant mit langsamem electrobeat. find etz de zweit letting go au ultra seicht und langwilig. homelands het chli spannenderi perkussion aber macht etz au nüüüt mit mir. alles sehr melancholisch und depri. pilgrim findi au meega scheisse sorry wiso ischs so gloomy? immigrant isch de erst song woni no easy schö find. schöni melodie cooli chords. würkli recht schön. serpents isch defür wieder e rechti tortur gnüssi etz nuuuuuull. abthem without nation isch au wieder cooli perkussivi sache im hindergrund das wüschende findi cool aber es isch so laaahm fuuuck. wenns harmonisch uflöst isch no schön. ich check scho dass mega lang söll riibig sii und denn isch d uflösig no befriedigender aber bruudi. the conference goht blöööd
HAHAHAHAHAH find broken skin rig na cool aber die strings sind ja echt insanely luut, was hend sie sich überleit letting go het so null bass nüt find sie singt na cool aber jo nanig so en fan hahaha fuck de ahfang vo homelands huere funny das wo sie so indisch dezwüsche singed findi sehr schön ja vocal percussion huere lustig aber jz nöd gad gnüssbar pilgrim hani sehr schlecht gfunde tides isch eig na herzig, iwie erinnereds mich au chli ah geziite nadia gaht no dumm mitem indische(?) gsang undem drumnbass mässige beat jo es zieht sich chli immigrant isch ja ultra schnulzig heter das iwie für en disney gilm gschribe??? schrecklich däng dürürüdängdang? und wieder han ichs gfühl, es isch sooo arsch abgmischt?? oder isch das alles extra?? nostalgia hani echt na schön gfunde dagadagadagada chani halt echt nöd so vill demit ahfange he jo will ich broken skin na cool gfunde han und hie und da es paar sache recht kreativ gfunde han, wirds wahrsch es knapps 2 aber ich chegg immernanig was de mitem mix gmacht het
Very unique and interesting album that blends Indian, jazz, electronic, and classical music. This is definitely an album you won't forget about whether you like the album or not. Mid 4.
It wasn't awful. It was fairly boring really. There were a couple of brief moments (The Pilgrim was one) where it briefly got interesting, but generally it was nondescript and boring. I wouldn't bother listening to it again.
Exotic and relevant with depth.
I didn’t except to like this much, but it actually really worked. A mix of genres that flow really well
Some pretty orchestrations and a beautiful voice, but not really my cup of tea.
2.25
Intialaista pop musiikkia..intialaisköyhäläisten irtokynnet kimaltavat ja ydinaseet räpsähtelevät intialaisten maantäyttö budjettiesitys intialaisten kannalta täynnä hyvää ja kaunista...
Me aburrió de nuevo
Very cool and unique multicultural and beautiful music with a mix of flamenco, hip-hop, African, Indian, languages/singers
I could imagine hearing a few of these tracks at The Bronze... and that pleases me...
This was different. While I will never feel the need to revisit this, it was a good change of pace.
It’s ok
The bleak themes and lyrics tie this diverse and exotic LP into a cohesive, meaningful experience. Interesting stuff.
Makes me want to take x and walk around Burning Man circa 2000 again.
I can see what he was trying to do, but this is pretty boring coffee house music. Or rather, the kind of music that a movie thinks would play in a coffee shop.
Musically this is diverse and well made. Lyrically this is an important album. The two do not connect at all though. the music is so bored of the themes of the words being said, and the lyrics are so much more intense than the come down off a hangover music that is being played. I have no idea how to rate that.
Even though I didn't really enjoy about half of what was here, the highlights (Broken Skin, Letting Go, Tides, and Nostalgia) are so good it was worth slogging through the throwaway tracks ten times over
Very skillfully done fusion. You can pick out the different elements and their origins in each song, but they sound cohesive together; each song is a singular whole not a collection of disparate parts. Was dubious after the opening track, the lead English vocal delivery is rather forced and I was bracing for an entire album of that, but thankfully that's not the case. Unfortunately the slightly hamfisted lyrics do make a return, but they're easy enough to ignore.
I didn't really like anything except "Homelands," but I appreciate the creativity
Terrible, but +1 for "Tides"
Think 'The Conference' killed a part of me
Very cool. Original blend of jazz, soul, hip hop, groove with Indian flair
Albumi #117, 27.11.2024 Downtempoa soittava brittiläis-intialanen Nitin Sawhey on tuntematon suuruus. Vuosituhannen vaihteessa julkaistu albumi käsittelee teemallisesti ydinaseita. Tulkinnassa on vahvasti itämaisia vivahteita ja yleisvire teemastaankin johtuen hieman melankolinen. Mielenkiintoinen teos vaikka ei ihan saavuttanutkaan minussa suurempaa innostusta.
Love a bit of D'n'b, this was fantastic. Nadia the standout for me.
Shitty indian music infused with jungle. Near the end they go Deng de Deng de Deng deng deng for 2 minutes. It felt like an eternity. Horrible.
I had a really good time with this album. After the first two tracks I thought it would be very similar throughout but it's actually quite varied. The spine of the album is a constant but it branches out into other areas. A little jazz piano in 'Tides', a bit of drum and bass with 'Nadia', some chilled out vibes, some more pop orientated tracks. 'Homelands' is more Indian inspired and 'Pilgrim' is down tempo rap. There is some really weird stuff on here. 'The Conference' is absolutely bizarre and I'm not sure if I like it it's that weird. Some of the pop songs are really beautiful though. 'Nostalgia' and especially 'Immigrant' which I really enjoyed a lot and is easily the best track on the album. I'm not sure who the female vocalist is on it but I need to find out, she's got a beautiful voice. Though there are a couple of duds here, the good stuff far outweighs it. I really enjoyed listening and was looking forward to what genre would be next. It kept my attention and kept me very intrigued and interested.
A warm feeling album sonically with some variety in sounds but honestly nothing about it really captivated me. I was pretty bored listening to it. I don't know why it felt the need to be an hour long and I'm not really sure why it made this list.
This was fun! Really varied sounds. I love how he would switch between jazz, hip hop, traditional Indian music, electronic beats and sounds and then crazy Hindi yodelling?!? This was wild and goes really hard.
It felt at times more classical and Indian influenced then electronic. Overall it didn't get me extreme electronic vibes. It also had a lot of instrument sounds that were pure and not electronic. So it was not what I was expecting (dance/rave vibes), but it was also refreshing to see a different way electronic music could be used. I liked pieces individually, but sometimes they were just so on the nose (Immigrants) that the lyrics didn't have as much depth. I also don't think it was super cohesive as an album. It was really all over the place in terms of the style of song. Each piece alone wasn't bad, but together I didn't always get it.
I thought this would feel darker based on the description, but it's actually super pretty and chill despite its theme.
About as good as electronica plus jazz can be.
Started off alright, but near the end became too much. I’ll pass
Some of Beyond Skin is good. Some of it is awful. Stands to reason for an album that by its own admission is pretentious and deliberately diverse, but it doesn't work for me even though it has an undeniably interesting appeal in the sound and atmosphere it creates. I liked Homelands (has some really cool influences) and Nadia (quite Massive Attack-ey), I hated Serpents, I'll give it another 2.
Real mix of quality here - some interesting experiments, some monumental failures. The more R&B type stuff is pretty bland, it works better when it's more electronic with a bit of pace to it - Nadia the best track. 2/5.
Not a fan of Pilgrim. I love Tides. This is one of the more interesting drum & bass albums I've heard so far.
3.5
Interessant.
it insists upon itself...
Never heard this before. Interesting variety of music while still seeming to follow a theme throughout the album. I guess I'm glad I've heard this, but it doesn't really resonate with me. I did like The Conference. Soft 3 stars.
This is #day86 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and... how about music to take a dump to? Long story short, this is not an album you must hear before you die. It's a 1 out of 5, of course. Looking forward to #day87.
Interesting voices in the samples, very different culturally from what I'm used to. It also stops them from seeming too repetitive, since I don't actually understand any of the words.
Parts Portishead-Massive Attack trip hopness, Parts nice jazzy/classical/electronica/world music. I feel like I should hate this but it's kind of nice. Okay Pilgrim just came on pretty lame. Some interesting mixes of world vocals and breakbeats but I'd say the project is overall uneven with some some weird bobby mcferin meets a 90's club experiments like serpents or how lame pilgrim is but with some okay tracks like homelands, nadia, tides, letting go and anthem without nation
The album cover is terrible. The music is incredibly bland. Some of it sounds like it's trying to be Massive Attack, but nowhere near successfully. Also pretentious.
Really beautiful. Only one track around the middle of the album didn't connect (I won't say which one) but otherwise it is fantastic. So many ideas and strands of music woven into a rich tapestry that I felt enriched just listening. A solid solid 4*
I could barely get through this. Very boring. I really just don't know who this is for.
The attempt to blend multiple genres of music into the most boring hour of music ever was successful.
I think it took me three tries to listen to this all the way through, and I would forget each song as I listened to it. Not giving this a 1 star because at least it didn't make me actively dislike it.
I'm super into this. The concept is stellar, each track super distinct and yet functions as a clear distinct whole. The jungle beats are interspersed with a very tasteful and well executed indian sound blends and instrumentation. Great record.
Had a couple of shifting vibes but overall a nice steady rhythm and mellow sounds. Pretty solid.
that was fun. i like how weird it is, even if it's not really to my taste
I must say this album impressed me. I did not know this artist nor the album. I found that the multiple tracks showed a good range of different genres, some better than other but overall, a good listen.
It just sounded too cafe del mar 2003.
Interesting listen. Lots of different sounds. Good background music
The concept is a very interesting one, but the music itself doesn't really inspire me much. There are a couple of bangers here, and a few of the chanting tracks were really mesmerizing. I found a lot of the ambient, atmospheric stuff to be really bland though, especially Nostaliga, which ends up coming across like a bad Bjork pastiche. Best Track: Nadia Worst Track: Nostaliga
Best Song: Homelands Worst Song: Pilgrim Homelands is an incredible song
Quite enjoyed that ...definitely something I wouldn't have heard without this list and life's all the better for the eclectic mix
This is a weird take coming from a guy who has trouble getting into albums without vocals, but I think my favorite track on here was the instrumental one ("Tides"). I'd like to say that I really appreciated the unique sound and the deep meaning behind the lyrics and the musical artistry...but that would be a lie. This album did not work for me. 2.1
Enjoyable, but not my bag.
This was strange. I just don’t think I understood it. Oppenheimer referenced?
Such good ambiance
This album slaps! I really like the variety on display here. Some songs felt like they belong in Persona, 'Letting Go' sounded like it belonged in Nier: Automata or Stellar Blade, while others had a drum-n-bass deal going on. I happen to be a sucker for all three. The first 7 songs, with the exception of 'Pilgrims', were amazing. 'Pilgrims' was a low-point. I don't mind the rap, but the instrumentals suffer, which was a huge part of my enjoyment of the album overall I liked the composition of the album and the arrangement as well. It does fall off a bit at the end for me, but I'd still give it a re-listen as a whole. 'Tides' takes my fave slot. I'm glad to have listened to this album!
Long electronic album with no lasting significant cultural impact? Uh oh. But I was somewhat pleasantly surprised by this Disney-esque, jazzy, Hindi approach. Still way too long though, but at least it's something different.
Hot tip for listening to albums like this: Only listen when traveling alone by night - by car, train or walking through a busy city centre… The mode of transportation doesn’t matter. Just don’t listen in broad daylight.
? My 1000 album
Y’know I kinda dig some of this. Reminds me of that album Sting did around that time.
Alright
As far as somewhat random 90's electronic albums go, this one is up there with the best of them. Very cool mix of genres from around the world, very well written and quite catchy more often than you'd think. Perfect for an afternoon chillout. Key tracks: Broken Skin Letting Go Homelands Nadia
Intéressant dans son hybridité et ses influences indiennes. Les chansons plus électropop « actuelles » (à l’époque) m’ont semblé moins bien passer l’épreuve du temps, elles se dénoncent elles-mêmes.
interesting
Ei minua varten.
This was an interesting album. I am not sure I could say I liked it, but there were a lot of different types of music that would be hard to categorize. The vocals and music were good, but I'm not sure about how it all came together.
There some interesting stuff, reminiscent of Badmarsh and Shri (and even Ravi Shankar). More western than I’d hoped…
very interesting
3 - This is just a bog standard 3, because I really just don't know how to feel about the album. It kind of annoyed me in parts, where it started really great and then just elements would come in and not really fit. Dunno, just felt off but hard to put my finger on it.
Not quite sure how I felt about this one. At points I loved the fusion of genres, and at other times I felt it was just putting too much Western sheen on world music. It has elements of that late 90s/early 2000s new age fusion that to me is way overrepresented on this list. But despite those qualms I thought this was a pretty engaging listen with lots of interesting timbres. Fave Tracks: Pilgrim, Nadia 3.6/5
Decent enough listen but didn't really move the needle. Fairly uneventful
Well that was something.
**Beyond Skin** is the 1999 album by British-Indian musician and composer Nitin Sawhney. It stands as one of the defining works in his discography and a landmark album in the world music and electronica scene. Sawhney’s blend of classical Indian music with Western genres like jazz, drum and bass, and electronica creates a deeply resonant fusion of sounds that serve as the vehicle for his exploration of identity, politics, and culture. ## Overview ### Themes **Beyond Skin** is a politically charged album, with Sawhney grappling with issues like nuclear warfare, nationalism, identity, and the scars of colonialism. Released at the cusp of the new millennium, the album reflects both personal and global concerns. The title, "Beyond Skin," suggests that the album seeks to transcend superficial labels of race, nationality, and identity, addressing the deeper, more universal issues of humanity. ### Production and Musical Style Sawhney’s background in both Eastern and Western classical music is evident throughout the album. His use of live instrumentation—tabla, sitar, and various forms of percussion—alongside electronic programming gives the album a unique sonic depth. Sawhney’s knack for layering diverse sounds, from lush orchestral strings to intricate rhythms, is one of his key strengths as a producer. This eclecticism creates a cinematic soundscape, making **Beyond Skin** more than just an album but an immersive experience. ## Track-by-Track Analysis ### 1. **Broken Skin** The album opens with “Broken Skin,” a track featuring vocals by Tina Grace. The song begins with a gentle, ambient soundscape, slowly building into a blend of Indian classical instruments and Western beats. The lyrics explore themes of emotional fragility and identity, setting the tone for the rest of the album. Sawhney's use of sitar alongside electronic elements here is notable, creating a seamless integration of traditional and contemporary sounds. ### 2. **Letting Go** This track, featuring vocals by Alyssa Brigid, has a softer, more introspective feel. It delves into personal emotions, notably the act of releasing past pain. The minimalist production emphasizes the vocal performance, while Sawhney’s subtle use of tabla in the background gives the song an understated world music flair. The blend of electronica and acoustic instrumentation here is both haunting and poignant. ### 3. **Homelands** Perhaps the most famous track on the album, “Homelands” is a perfect example of Sawhney’s ability to blend Indian classical music with Western forms. The track features a prominent sitar line, played by Sawhney, alongside driving, pulsating rhythms. Lyrically, it touches on displacement, the search for identity, and the emotional scars left by colonialism and migration. The chant-like vocal phrases, combined with Sawhney's intricate percussion arrangements, create a hypnotic and emotionally charged piece. ### 4. **The Pilgrim** “The Pilgrim” features a more traditional Indian classical arrangement, with a focus on tabla and sitar. This instrumental track acts as a meditative interlude, allowing the listener to reflect on the broader themes of the album. Its placement within the album is strategic, providing a moment of calm and introspection before the heavier themes of the following tracks. ### 5. **Tides** “Tides” features a spoken-word sample of J. Robert Oppenheimer’s famous reflection on the atomic bomb (“I am become death, the destroyer of worlds”), which immediately sets a heavy, apocalyptic tone. The song is deeply atmospheric, with echoing beats and ambient textures. Sawhney explores the dangers of nuclear proliferation and the destruction of humanity’s moral fabric. The production here is dense, with layered vocal samples and instrumentation that evoke a sense of foreboding. This track is one of the more explicitly political pieces on the album. ### 6. **Nadia** “Nadia” is a standout track, a beautiful fusion of Indian classical vocals and Western string arrangements. The song features the voice of Indian singer Swati Natekar, whose haunting vocal performance adds an ethereal quality to the track. The minimalist production allows Natekar’s voice to shine, while the subtle beats and instrumentation provide a delicate backdrop. Lyrically, the song explores themes of loss and memory, with Natekar’s emotive performance capturing the sadness of a loved one lost. ### 7. **Immigrant** This track features an intense drum and bass rhythm mixed with Indian classical elements. It directly addresses the immigrant experience in the UK, confronting racism, xenophobia, and the feeling of otherness. The fast-paced beat contrasts with the slower, more introspective vocal lines, creating a feeling of tension that reflects the social struggles immigrants face. Sawhney’s use of tabla against the backdrop of drum and bass gives the track a sharp, confrontational edge. ### 8. **Serpents** “Serpents” returns to a more atmospheric, ambient sound, with slow, rolling beats and dark undertones. This track deals with the internal and external conflicts of life, with lyrics that evoke imagery of danger, deceit, and survival. Sawhney’s production on this track leans heavily into the electronic realm, with swirling synths and brooding basslines. The song’s cryptic nature adds a layer of mystery to the album’s narrative. ### 9. **Anthem Without Nation** This track is one of the most overtly political songs on the album. Sawhney critiques nationalism, borders, and the concept of identity as tied to the nation-state. Featuring a haunting piano melody and a mix of electronic and acoustic elements, the track builds gradually, with powerful vocal samples interspersed throughout. The production here is particularly striking, with Sawhney layering vocal samples, orchestral strings, and drums to create a sense of urgency and power. ### 10. **Beyond Skin** The title track serves as a summary of the album’s themes. With sparse production and a focus on atmospheric textures, “Beyond Skin” explores the idea of looking beyond race, nationality, and superficial differences to see the shared humanity beneath. Sawhney’s use of strings and subtle electronic elements creates a reflective, almost cinematic atmosphere. The track feels like a meditation, drawing the album’s narrative to a quiet yet profound conclusion. ## Themes and Influences One of the most striking elements of **Beyond Skin** is its exploration of identity. Sawhney, being of Indian descent and raised in Britain, uses the album to confront the complexities of his own dual identity. The blending of Eastern and Western musical traditions reflects this personal journey, with Sawhney seeking to transcend labels and categories. The album also deals heavily with the political landscape of the late 20th century. The nuclear threat, as symbolized by Oppenheimer’s quote in “Tides,” looms over the album as a reminder of humanity’s capacity for self-destruction. Sawhney also critiques nationalism and the divisive nature of borders in “Anthem Without Nation,” highlighting the need for global unity. Colonialism’s legacy is another recurring theme. Tracks like “Homelands” and “Immigrant” address the scars left by imperialism and the ongoing struggles of diasporic communities. These songs confront the feeling of displacement that many immigrants face, caught between the homeland they left behind and the new countries that often treat them as outsiders. Sawhney’s use of traditional Indian music is not simply a nod to his heritage but a reclamation of a cultural tradition that was suppressed during colonial rule. By blending these sounds with modern genres like electronica and drum and bass, Sawhney is asserting a new form of identity that is fluid, multifaceted, and resistant to simplistic categorization. ## Production From a production standpoint, **Beyond Skin** is masterfully crafted. Sawhney’s ability to blend live instrumentation with electronic elements is one of the album’s most significant achievements. Each track feels meticulously constructed, with a perfect balance between the organic and the synthetic. His use of live Indian instruments like tabla, sitar, and tanpura adds a layer of authenticity to the fusion, grounding the electronic elements in a rich cultural tradition. The album’s pacing is also noteworthy. Sawhney balances uptempo, rhythmically intense tracks like “Immigrant” and “Homelands” with softer, more introspective pieces like “Letting Go” and “Nadia.” This dynamic range keeps the album engaging throughout, with each track offering something new. Sawhney’s use of vocal samples, particularly in politically charged tracks like “Tides” and “Anthem Without Nation,” is another highlight. These samples add context and depth to the music, turning each song into a statement. The album feels more like a conversation or a political manifesto than a collection of songs, with Sawhney using music as a platform for larger social commentary. ## Pros and Cons ### Pros: 1. **Innovative Fusion of Genres**: Sawhney’s blending of Indian classical music with Western genres like electronica, jazz, and drum and bass is masterful. Few albums achieve such a seamless fusion of sounds from different cultures. 2. **Rich Thematic Content**: The album’s exploration of identity, politics, and humanity gives it significant depth. Sawhney tackles difficult subjects like nationalism, colonialism, and nuclear warfare with intelligence and sensitivity. 3. **Cohesive Production**: Every track on **Beyond Skin** feels meticulously crafted. Sawhney’s ability to balance live instrumentation with electronic production is remarkable, giving the album a distinct sound that is both cinematic and intimate. 4. **Emotional Resonance**: Tracks like “Nadia” and “Homelands” are deeply moving, with Sawhney’s use of melody and rhythm evoking powerful emotions. ### Cons: 1. **Occasional Over-reliance on Atmospherics**: While Sawhney’s atmospheric production is often a strength, there are moments where it feels like certain tracks rely too much on mood rather than substance. Some listeners may find these sections too abstract or slow-paced. 2. **Niche Appeal**: **Beyond Skin** is not a commercial album, and its fusion of world music and electronica may not appeal to mainstream audiences. The album requires patience and a willingness to engage with its complex themes, which may alienate some listeners. 3. **Dense Subject Matter**: The political and philosophical nature of the album’s themes can feel heavy at times. Tracks like “Tides” and “Anthem Without Nation” are powerful but may feel overwhelming or inaccessible to those seeking lighter fare. ## Conclusion **Beyond Skin** is a groundbreaking album that showcases Nitin Sawhney’s exceptional skill as a composer, producer, and thinker. It’s an album that pushes boundaries—both musically and thematically—challenging listeners to think deeply about identity, politics, and the human condition. While its complexity may not be for everyone, for those willing to engage with it, **Beyond Skin** offers a profound and rewarding listening experience. Its fusion of Eastern and Western sounds, combined with its exploration of timely political issues, ensures that it remains a relevant and influential work decades after its release.
LOVE THIS ALBUM 😍😍😍
not for me
This is really hard to listen to
I’m surprised that I enjoyed this one. It’s very different but if nothing else, it’s nice background noise while focusing on something else.
This was pretty good. Interesting. Nothing amazing, but certainly well made. Indian trip hop, very mellow and thoughtful. Good for disco naps. 3/5
I haven't heard this album before. It was pretty good.
This was interesting to listen to -- love the Indian influence here.
Interesting album. Some things were a bit whiney, others were quite interesting and enjoyable.
Indian trip-hop. It wasn’t the worst I’ve listened to on the list, but it felt overly long. I made it through the whole thing because there were moments that sounded like Portishead.
fuckin fuck
Just awful. Has the potential to be a fantastic and compelling trip hop album. Instead it's a cheesy soundtrack to a 90s British Airways commercial. At best, dentist office music.
This was a pleasant surprise. For some unknown reason - probably musical prejudice - Ive always steered clear of Nitin. My mistake. There's some wonderful melodies fusing with music from all around the world. I didn't understand the thread that held it all together, but it did sound like a complete body of work, from start to finish. Off to investigate more.
Ah yes, the big years of the chillout/lounge craze. A moment in time that we didn't need to remember, let alone to go back to in a book supposed to be about the most essential albums of all time. This isn't essential, this is a gimmicky downtempo album that uses hindustani music to try to mask its blandness.
Can Downtempo make you angry? Turn this on and find out!
tHat'S OkaY, wE hAvE "wOrLd MuSic" oN tHe LiSt!
Not really my genre, but the vocals were nice.
Another one that I wouldn’t have sought on my own, and isn’t quite my cuppa, but I’m glad to have heard it. I will always be more receptive to niche genres and interesting misfires than competent-but-complacent albums on this list.
definitely feels like a more stripped back and less autotuned precursor of fka twigs. a mix of almost operatic ethereal indie folk and ambient electronica with stripped back 90s pop electronic breakbeats. the sound shifts from reggaeton to ethnic liquid dnb/breakbeat while still maintaining the relatively beautiful and yearning musical structure.
An interesting album with the backdrop of Indian nuclear proliferation. I liked it more than I expected.
There were bands at the time doing this same style, but much better. This was forgettable. I've never heard of this group before and literally forgot about them between the time I listened and the time I wrote this review.
Beyond Skin is all over the place stylistically. There are some beautiful moments that I like, good production and I like some of those foreign influences but it also drops like basically novelty songs in between with annoying parts. Maybe a solid EP in there but nothing more. 2.5 stars.
it's giving indian bjork
Guys. This one is a 2 or a 2.5. It sounds great- there’s nothing objectionable really on it— it combines a bunch of interesting sounds—- but - those alone do not equal greatness. It’s just fine. I expect more from the albums on this list.in a vacuum - if I was in a better mood MAYBE I’d give it three- but for this exercise - it’s a big 2. My least fav thus far. There’s clearly a lot of talent/technical work on here- but- it feels lifeless. Just like someone who likes massive attack and various hindustani music melded them seamlessly without thinking as far as why they were doing it.
I really enjoyed the way this album started off, but as the album wore on I don't know if I was feeling disconnected with the changing styles or if it was just going to far in areas that for the most part don't interest me. It is beautifully produced and I can see why some people would get something out of this. But for me after "Broken Skin", "Letting Go", "Homelands" and "Tides" nothing else quite reached me. After the first five tracks, I was aiming for a strong four, but after the Journey of the subsequent seven tracks, I'm landing on a (2.85) ★★½
I find the hindustani influences and the anti-nuclear weapons theme interesting, but I think triphop and downtempo are really boring genres, so overall not a fun listen
Lots of diverse sounds, but overall pretty sterile and dull. Much of it has the feel of a film score, where it work nicely in the background of a scene, but it's not interesting enough to be a standalone work of art. It's not bad, but it's not that great either. Light 3 stars.
3.5
First off a real eyesore album cover. Kind of like The Bends done in a drab Massive Attack 100th Window style. Music is actually a pretty cool mix of all sorts of stuff from soul ballads, trip hop, drum n bass, jazz, TV soundtracks, Hindistani rap and classical. A bit like Protection by Massive Attack but with the added Rubber Biscuit Hindustani rap and classical. Unfortunately it’s all bit soupy and generic sounding. Songs are not really that interesting and most of the styles except for the novel worldy bits have definitely been done better on other records. 2.5 stars
Nice and boring, like something that plays in a new age shop while you shop for crystals. 2.5 stars
This is definitely case where the album cover really does not reflect the music. I get it as there's a theme of nuclear war, and the image drives home the seriousness of that danger. But musically, you really expect something more dramatic and heavy than what we have here. But maybe it's more striking that way because it's not a heavy metal album, which often have an element of self-parody. As for the album itself, 'Beyond Skin' is a decent example of world music mixed with Western influence, especially drum n bass. It's similar to Talvin Singh's work, though it's a much more serious statement. There are two ways to listen to this, as background music in a trendy coffee shop, or as a serious contemplation of the fragility of the modern world. The former is easier, as it's tempting to ignore the subtle clues about the dark theme and just let the (somewhat Westernized) images of India wash over you. But then you suddenly hear Robert Oppenheimer's chilly words (quoting the Bhagavad Gita, tying things back to India). They end the album in stark contrast to the very light music. It rips you out of the comfort of your travel daydreams and urges you to listen to the whole album again, but paying more attention this time.
First 3 songs are pretty good everything else was garbage
Música étnica, árabe, flamenco, house, no sé, un popurrí.
Not bad, just not for me
En sjov omgang. En masse som lyder ultra generisk, og nærmest moderne, men så er det lige krydret med bollywood lyde, og en indisk Scatman John. Homeland, og Serpents var især sjove. Tides var ret fin og stemningsfuld, og god kontrast til det skraldet rap forsøg der var inden. Jeg nød det meste, grinede højt af flere sange. - The confessor, er lyden af knallert! Altså hvis en døv skulle gengive den.👌- Albummet er en 4er, men fordi den også er ufrivillige komisk, så ender jeg på 3.
Noget af det er interessant. Jeg får sådan lidt nogle vibes af indisk trip-hop. Men pladen kan ikke holde min interesse fast hele vejen igennem
Interesting non American offering. Mindful
Cheesy listening, but quite pleasant overall. Nothing groundbreaking.
Beyond Skin is an album from Nitin Sawhney, a British musician that has won a number of awards. This is an odd collection of songs, with downtempo electronic backgrounds, and elements of Indian influence throughout the work. There are odd ballads, "Anthem without Nation," poorly executed rap, "Pilgrim," rhythmic exercises, "The Conference," and even near-pop songs, "Nostalgia." Some of the tracks are interesting, but the scattered collection is enough to dampen any interest.
This album is all over the place. I think that adds some charm to its record, though.
Bit all over the place, parts were okay but other tracks I really disliked
But boring at times, great at others. Really a middle-of-the-road album.
This is a solid "meh" from me. Some of the tracks are pretty groovy, but others just aren't my jam. I definitely disagree with the shocking amount of 1s this has received because there's FAR worse albums on this list. It's pretty all over the place and kinda boring for some tracks. It sounds like something I'd hear in a small coffee shop that charges $15 for a coffee with mandatory tips. 4/10 Would I listen again? Nah
5/5
My favorite part of 1001 Albums Generator is finding new artists, and Nitin Sawhney is a great discovery. Thanks!
Interesting accent flavor but the track with no words (Tides?) sounded like standard hotel lounge music - smooth and relaxing with waves. Serpent was... crazy.
The mix of Indian and electronic was an interesting change of pace. Outside of a few tracks, it was consistently good overall.
This was great. Clean musicianship and recording. Grabbed my interest from the get go and held it. Sometimes jazz, sometimes electronica, sometimes tabla and indian influence, other times more western trad.
Cool
Soul, RnB, indian world, Rap, 1999 -> 3