Call of the Valley

Oh hell yeah this is my shit right here. Raga it to me baby yeah

Hypnotic, but not particularly remarkable.

It was over an hour of nice instrumental! Not my thing but decent enough. 3.5/5 ⭐️ 232/1081

First Indian album. I've been apprehensive about these things for a while and thought I'd already pulled one of them on the list, though that surprisingly hasn't been the case. Admittedly, this isn't the first Indian album I've listened to. I assembled pre-written reviews for about four of them. Off the top of my head, there's "College Girl/Shalimar" (a compilation album mistakenly listed on this website as just "Shalimar"), "The Sounds of India", "Ok" and "Beyond Skin". Admittedly, they haven't been that bad. It's just the female Indian vocals that I find to be a bit grating. This will also hopefully prove to be tolerable. It looks to be more of an instrumental album rather than a vocal one, so I'm content with spacing out to some sitars for a few. Here goes. Huh. The version of this album on streaming doesn't appear to line up with the original Wikipedia tracklisting. Oh, fuarrkkk. The track names and orderings across Wikipedia, YouTube Music and Album of the Year (where I submit my humble little track ratings) are all different from one another. This is a disaster. Guess I'll just have to mosey on down to YouTube and find a playlist which makes sense of all this tomfoolery. Despite being a very fucking confusing album to listen to, I thought this was alright. I suppose it shouldn't surprise me, though the sound of this album was delicate in a way I found to be generally appealing. I like the jangling Indian instrument that lingers in the background of these songs, though its name currently escapes me. You've also got your flutes, which add some interesting Middle Eastern flavouring to the music as well as those distinctive tablas, which guide the tracks along to solid finishes. The best instrument, however, is none of them. There's an effective use of silence and space on this album that adds an enjoyable, reflective quality to the music. If I am criticise, it's that this music becomes indistinct and a little droning after a while, though the forty-minute runtime keeps things from becoming too overbearing. All in all, this was a decent, relaxed time. I wouldn't have minded going the full hour-ten runtime that features on the remastered version of this album, but alas. I've got a crippling review debt I need to settle. Book time. "A key recording in introducing Indian music to Western audiences". George Harrison, Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan, Roger McGuinn and David Crosby are among the fans of this album. The album blends Western and traditional Indian instruments together into a complete package, making for an accessible introductory foray into Indian music. Highly influential and rode the wave of demand for Indian music that was created by psych-rock. Wikipedia says this is a concept album centered around a day in the life of an Indian shepherd. The album innovates with its addition of guitars and flutes to the sound palette. The "best selling Indian music album worldwide", apparently. The album received a perfect score from Allmusic, though no other critics seem to care about this album and it charted nowhere. I'm favourable to this inclusion - it seems like a solid enough pick to me. I cosign this inclusion.

An enjoyable and captivating album of Indian music with a hint of western instrumentation, the melodies are carried along beautifully by santoor (a type of hammered dulcimer), flute and slide guitar with complex tabla rhythms.

This was ok. Took me to another place a bit, but was mostly just 3 people diddling around. 3/5

Not the vibe

Sweet but I'm never going to revisit this

Completely different to anything else on this list that I've had so far, and in a good way. Hopefully many more records like this to come.

Jeg kan faktisk virkelig godt lide det, og det trækker op med et ikke-vestligt indslag. Til gengæld trækker det ned, at det bliver noget langt. Så en stor 3'er. Klart et genhør værd, når det godt må være lidt spacy.

For what its worth a really nice indian classical music piece which just sounds different. Reminded me of the time i spend at the temple and idk whether thats a good or bad thing. Really liked the flute and guitar parts and the drum bounce was undeniable. Docking a point just cause the aspect of no lyrics does bring it down a point in my honest opinion - since replay value goes down. Fav song: Don’t really have one

Boring

I don't have the eastern music knowledge or vocabulary to understand or explain what I'm hearing. This could be the most amazing Eastern music on the planet, or it could be the background music in an Indian restaurant. Baffled by its inclusion and is pretty much wasted on me.

1967 Hindu classical music - noy for me

One might question why this is included in the 1001 Albums list that hardly include any album with traditional, folk or classical music. Heck, there is hardly any jazz in the 1001-list which makes up most of the great albums released before the late 1960s. Arguably the album had some influence on the psychedelic movement, but it feels out of place, especially considering all the "world music" that should then have been included. It seems quite pointless to even rank this album alongside Elvis Presley and The Beatles...

That was pleasant.

Very nice, ethereal, can see how it blew everyone in the 60s away. Can’t say it was the best active listening experience but nice to have on in the background.

I'm not familiar with Indian music at all and this would be my first exposure to a full length album. I've heard some of it in my life mostly in movies or background noise at restaurants. This really didn't do much for me and by the end the repetition started to become irritating. Apparently the version I listened to on Spotify isn't the original, I still won't be seeking it out anytime soon.

I can see why all the white people fell in love with it in 1968. To my ear, the Western instruments blend perfectly, and maybe lend some melodic urgency that it might otherwise lack. Wonderful stuff.

I love this. Good for meditation

I don't think this is a traditional album of songs. From what little research I did, this was a concept piece that was built on a loose narrative of a shepherd's day in Kashmir, moving from dawn to dusk. Apparently, the "tracks" aren't songs so much as they're ragas, which are traditional Hindustani classical music that ties specific ragas to specific times of day. So this isn't really so much of an album as it is a script for a day. So what did I think? I think I think it's good but this is so far removed from my comfort zone and knowledge base, it's hard to know for certain.

Love the scales used. Instrumentation is sick. Reminds me of age of empires and that's a great thing. Very soothing.

Obviously difficult for me to judge on purely technical grounds, & I hesitate to admire Call of the Valley from the point of view that it happened to have a major influence on a bunch of white musicians (Dylan, Crosby, Harrison, McCartney). I can only go for aesthetic & somatic reasons, which I guess we should be going for anyway. Something along the lines of 'peaceful' & 'meditative' are the most evident descriptors, but one ought to add to that 'dangerous,' 'preparatory,' & 'slice of life.' Energized by the tranquility of a natural setting, the album is likewise a human story, & in this story I trace the outlines of a birth, a battle, & many bits of everydayness. Of course, it is no more than a feeling (or a strong suggestion) of coherent storytelling.

I was only able to find the first side of the album on youtube, but man, it was great. The beats are hypnotic, and the instrumentals are beautiful. I'd listen to more of this for sure.

Didn't like the start and if I want calming music I prefer just piano

I don't think I'll be listening to this again, but I'm glad I got the chance to hear it once.

Great background music. Nothing to not like.

I think I just attained enlightenment or some shit. Far out, man.

Good, does remind me of the landscape

Glad to listen to this as it was definitely not the type of music I’m used to.

Tricky to review just because it’s such a drastic departure from western music I’m used to. It IS very pretty and relaxing though. Plus my ears do like the attempts to make it accessible.

More or less what I had in mind of a Indian music album, pleasantly relaxing

BEFORE: Never heard of it. Fair play. It's a welcome change from all the 60s and 70s mainstream rock. I did find a slightly confusing version on Spotify attributed to all 3 original artists - Hariprasad Chaurasia, Brij Bhushan Kabra and Pandi Shivkuma Sharma. It's in a different order but still the same recordings, with one original track split into two and some bonus tracks (one of which is combined with an the original tracks - I skipped the bonus tracks for the sake of time). AFTER: The music is beautiful. Gentle and meditative but with some great tension and release created by the instrumentation - the drones, microtonal runs, mix of major, minor and microtonal intervals, notes bending in and out of harmony. The percussion is propulsive and the flute adds something different. I don't think I lost too much here by listening to the tracks out of order - you still get a clear sense of the pastoral narrative. HIGHLIGHTS: Nat Bhairav unfolds and then accelerates with propulsive tabla. The modal mixture and microtonal runs of Piloo are otherworldly . I loved the flute, guitar and santoor working in unison on Desh. LOWLIGHTS: None for me. The music ebbs and flows, but my interest never did. This was just so different for me that it was never less than captivating. VERDICT: 5 stars. Beautiful. Totally different to anything I've listened to before. This would go well with an edible, if that's your thing.

This call was to a wrong number and not even worth leaving voicemail

This is the kind of album I wanted to pick up the project for. Something I likely wouldn't have heard otherwise. It's brill to hear classical music from cultures so different to my own, and the music was really relaxing and pleasant.

A fantastic pleasant surprise. Calming, engaging, and not like anything I've ever listened to. Absolutely worth a revisit, and has some truly excellent musicianship throughout

Probably not the right takeaway but kinda reminded me of dune

Loved this album

I was in the valley...

Alls i know is i was on a 2 hour car ride and all of a sudden i was there

Didn’t love it but definitely didn’t hate it. Pleasant overall.

unreal - cool record

This was very relaxing and enjoyable - like I was in a waiting room. Would I ever find myself in a place to listen to this again? I don’t foresee that, but it was nice for today.

Hard for me to judge this as it feels like I should have a better grounding in traditional Indian music before I offer any big statements on it. I guess all I can say is: I liked it. Best track: "Ahir Bhairav"

Heard before?:❌️ Will listen again?:❓️

Another tricky one to review. I don't have any context for the music so can only go off 'vibes'. 'Vibes' score? Four. Had a great time.

mid 4 why is this list entirely western popular music plus the occasional Indian classical album? All because of george harrison I suppose.

Quite Relaxing

This is a cool and interesting album. While listening I felt calm and a bit transported — it’s pure Indian classical music that paints a beautiful picture of a day in the Himalayan valley. The combination of santoor, guitar, and bansuri (flute) creates a very peaceful, flowing atmosphere. The music moves slowly and naturally, like walking through mountains from morning to night. It’s meditative, elegant, and full of atmosphere without ever becoming boring. Even if you’re not usually into Indian classical music, this one is surprisingly accessible and enjoyable. A unique and very special record that feels timeless.

Not really my thing but so peaceful and relaxing and I'm surprised how much i liked it!

Almost interesting. (The version on YouTube (i.e. the actual official album) is considerably better than the one on Spotify though.)

Very interesting sound! But mostly background for me. 3.25

At times the music is quite relaxing. Until the flûte kicks in and gives you the spades. Not for me

I'm sorry, this is not for me and I can't listen to a full album of it

Expected some hour long noise. Only 20 mins and mildly interesting.

Not my usual vibe but great to watch the sunset on my commute home

This is the kind of music that I expect to hear when I'm sitting in a hippies house, or someplace that sells tie dyed shirts that got tired of playing the Dead.

This was soothing. I liked it quite a bit!

Thank you for being enjoyed by Paul McCartney, George Harrison, and Bob Dylan, so they could convert it into better music

Nice little album for a Sunday. Definitely relaxing. Not something I would choose of my own accord but skillful and well-made.

Це найкраща хіндустанська музика, що була в цьому списку. Чи вона трохи адаптована під західного слухача, але набагато легше слухається: гарні мелодії, флейта теж красива. Рівень езотеричності теж достатньо прийнятний.

Дефолтна езотерична музика на сітарі. Взагалі хз що тут сказати, таке або подобається або ні. Мені - ні.

I think I found the right record on YouTube?? An ok listen, I wouldn’t call it a must listen.

Really made me feel like I should be herding ship in the Himalayas.

Its pretty. I'll give it that. Like very very pretty alot of the times. Its just not my cup of tea really. Nothing against this kind of music im just not huge on alot of instrumental music. It always feels like there is a peice missing. But this is good instrumental music. The flutes are a bit much somtimes and other times they are perfectly on. The drumming is a stand out. Bro is pulling it all together. And the im assuming sitar or something is the most Indian thing of all time so it shows you exactly what's up. There are a few interesting ways songs progress. Im sure its just a western mindset but sometimes it zigs where I would zag. Just neat sometimes. Not a bad record in the least. Just not really my thing that much. Beautiful at times, just too sparse for my personal tastes

Mul polnud erilist klikki selle albumiga. Ma oskan tunnustada autori head muusikalist annet ja muusika enda detailsust, aga see ei pane siiski mind kuulama. See on mõneti ebaaus, sest minu otsust mõjutab ka kultuurne taust, aga see on minu kontrolli alt väljas. Mulle meeldib, et see generaator andis mulle vahelduseks ka albumi, mis pole tuntud briti ja ameerika levimuusika nagu enamus albumeid siin.

A : 2, Bhoop JL : 3

It took a bit of searching to find the right album, but a YT playlist had it covered. It was alright. Not really into the genre, but I dug the vibe. Was definitely wondering I wouldn't have found out listened to on my own. It's things like this that make me really appreciate this project.

Different experience, but I’m glad it wasn’t any longer. I think it would be more interesting to see it performed live.

Relaxing

Reminds me of a bit where when you are in an indian restaurant and one of the songs is play you say "Oh! I love this one".

fascinating listen

I will never listen or think about this ever again

A strange one to be listening to on my way to and from work. Very beautiful music.

Still wonderful

Bolly chillout

Very versatile playing. Indian music is always some experience. Nice!

YouTube. Spotify is a lie

listening to the youtube version, as the other reviews suggested. i think in the right setting i might really enjoy this, but sitting in my cubicle is not the right set/setting

So I listened to this on YouTube (which I found cuz I looked at the reviews here and they all said the one on Spotify was wrong) and realised that I’d already listened to this album before. At my grandmother house, at some point. That’s what this album is, it’s Dadima’s fr. Almost cried listening to it, not for any other reason except that I never really actually soaked in what I’ve been hearing all these years. It’s beautiful, a reminder of home, between the sitar and flute with the harmonium in the background, I can taste chai and parle g, with some stupid Pakistani serial playing in the background. Shits heat.

Back in my day we listened to real music. None of this shit with lyrics and fast paced instrumentals. Proper music

Eh, 2.5 but rounding up to 3. I think if I were in a Himalayan spa awaiting my salt scrub and cleansing facial, it may hit different. Rounding up to 3 stars because it inspired me to make a massage appointment.

hay que estar en el mood trililí pero no está mal

Chilled album, great background music or for guided meditation

A good album. It’s interesting to listen to and I appreciate it’s on the list. I think that it can start sounding similar after a bit but it’s still good.

A lovely discovery! I could see myself continuing to return to this.

I rolled my eyes and expected the worst when I pulled up the wikipedia page to figure out why this was on a list otherwise not known for its depth or awareness of the world outside the UK. "George Harrison, David Crosby, Paul McCartney, Bob Dylan and Roger McGuinn are fans of the album". Oh, right, delightful. This is going to be garbage. It's not garbage though. It's very good actually.

Yeah this isn't for me. The music is made well enough, but I'm not connecting with it at all, sorry.

Didn't convert me, and I'd have to listen a lot more to really tell the tracks apart, but a lot of it was effective in establishing a world and an atmosphere that was intriguing to live in.

Pleasant enough with some excellent melody and musicianship. More background music than something I can truly immerse in.

4/5

Thought this would be much more of a challenging listening. However, once it started I was in. I was actually sad when it was over. Perfect length for an album

calmy balmy smooth

About what I expected the Ravi Shankar album to be like, which underscores how cool the Shankar album really was. I liked this though, it was a good listen. A more international version of this list would be a lot of fun.

Love this music. Incredible musicians. Just crazy spiritual transcendent talent. But I rarely feel like listening to it. Made for an interesting day at work. 4.81

nope!

Very peaceful. Not something I would seek out or listen to again. Sounded nice. Could work really well as a soundtrack/score.

Diverting sitar noodling to listen to passively during a run. Don’t regret it but probably won’t listen again

Hard to find, but very relaxing different.

06/20 Boring

nice background music

It reminds me of something that would be on one of those listening stations in the 90s, or something that pier one imports would play.

This is terrible. I listened to the Spotify version for 10 minutes and got totally anxious. So I dropped it and gave it a 1 star ranking. Then I listened to the YouTube version, which seems to be the original. But again, I just can't stand that one instrument that sounds like a whining guitar. So the 1 isn't going to change.

Nat is a zen experience. The flutes reminded me of a sunrise. What an experience to also listen to it as I was ascending on a flight.

Überraschend trifft es sehr gut. Die Art der Musik ist nicht meine typische Lieblingsmusik. Aber es ist sphärisch, entspannend. Und am Ende habe ich das komplette Album gehört und es ist wirklich gut gemachte Musik. Würde ich es jeden Tag hören wollen? Eher nein, aber zum entspannen und als Vertreter dieses Genre ist es Top. 4/5

It's not that bad, but at the same time I'm fairly certain I'm never ever gonna put this on again Some of it really sounds like Age of Empires II music The problem with this is that I don't hate it but I can't give it much more than 1 star as there's really nothing in it for me 1.6

Ah, beautiful Indian ragas by master musicians. Tabla, my favorite. The sounds of classical Hindustani music are just so beguiling. It’s a 4 rather than 5 for me, as I simply love the sound, but the record itself didn’t distinguish itself as better than others I’ve heard.

Yep

My first thought when reading the Wikipedia article on this album was "I wonder if this is in the common cultural sphere of Indians, considering how influential it was outside the country." It so happens my neighbor is Indian, and when I asked him about it, he'd never heard of it or the musicians. So, that's kind of a bust there. I mean, it is a HUGE and very diverse country, so it's probably not all that surprising. As far as the album goes I'm actually VERY MUCH enjoying it. It's reminds me of the sound of ambient electronic music, but with traditional Indian instruments. It's going have to take a serious turn for the worse to keep me from adding this to my personal collection. I'll probably spin this a couple more times today Newinformationhascometolightman.gif Turns out I was listening to the wrong version like everyone else. Listening to the correct version, I definitely like this less. Newinformationhascometolightman.gif So there are multiple versions to this, apparently, and I'm listening to yet another one, that I *think* is the right one? This is getting confusing and shitty, and I feel frustrated that I (and the rest of us) may be listening to and rating various incorrect (or not the original) versions of this album. I think I need to tap out here. I've listened to three half-albums over the last two hours, and I just can't do anymore. I might have to come back to this. ⭐⭐⭐? Who knows? Were any of the albums I listened to the right one?

Gear: ZMF Auteur Classic LTD Shedua Artwork: 🐑🏞️🖼️ Production: 🎧😘🤌 Music: 🌄🕊️🧘‍♀️ Rating: 🐑🐑🐏/5

Albums like this is why I'm doing this.

Good

Very calming but not boring. Quite a beautiful album with a lot of great musical depth. The album cover fits well.

Cool for some, just not cool for me.

I'd never ever go out of my way to go look for Hindustani classical music, but it's a hella relaxing listen.

This is ok I guess - it’s quite samey, and also sounds like a lot of the late 60s George Harrison Beatles stuff. I could murder a Lamb Pasanda right now, though.

I enjoy instrumental albums, so I'm going to guess my rating will be higher than the global These are some talented musicians I simultaneously feel zen and like I want to dance I'm not a fan of 20 minute songs I enjoyed this recommendation, will definitely go on my focus playlist

Its a cool album for what it is - classical Indian music. Now, as neither a fan of traditional classical music nor an Indian, its a bit out of my element. However, I would vibe the fuck out with this if I was stoned.

Not on Spotify. May be the best of the Indian music albums on this list. Sort of low key, not particularly traditional. Not bad.

This album has really jammed me up. Another one of those albums that draws no attention to itself and when you force yourself to listen to it it seems fine. Sorry George Harrison.

I HAD to listen to this before I die?! Maybe it’s ok if it was background music while I was eating in an Indian restaurant, but I can’t imagine ever wanting to put this on to listen. I’m sure the musicians are/were top notch, but I still don’t want to hear it. This must’ve been the 1001st album on the list.

music is love

Thank you for albums like this. Never would've found this on my own. That said, it's okay if a bit the same sounding. 3/5

I enjoyed this album, it was a refreshing change and nice to listen to something a little more 'World music' (probably not a WOKE term today!)

Thanks to the reviews which said the wrong album is linked - Apple music is wrong too! I enjoyed this album, what a great find!

It's nice they have different music on this list but I did not get much out of this. Fine to listen to but did not inspire

Beautiful, peaceful. RYM: N Saved a song: N

I listened to the YouTube version and I enjoyed it. I wish YT would let me do other things on my phone while I have a video playing, but I understand that capitalism requires my uncompromised attention. I don't have many notes here because I don't have much experience with Indian music. I could see myself owning this, but there are other "world music" records I would buy first.

op de youtoep gekeken want blijkbaar is die andere doodoo. het heeft wel iets, maar dit ga ik wss nooit meer luisteren. is wel mooi.

A nice, soothing listen. Evocative of imagery of valleys and sweeping countryside, an album for the great outdoors It does sound quite samey but I put that down more to my unfamiliarity with this style in the first place Hard for me to pick a standout because I listened to the album one a single YouTube video, although it isn't on Spotify to add my favourite to the playlist anyway 3.5

Don't really see what other people see in this one. It's hypnotic for sure and really novel for the time, but it doesn't really differ that much from other Classical Hindi albums and I find it kind of boring. The entire piece gets to be a bit weary and tiresome. Ravi Shankar does more interesting stuff on his albums and preceeded this album by a decade or so. The fake out with the streaming version of this album done by other people is a big fuck you move as well.

trying to find the real version of the album was such a nightmare and im still not even sure if was listening to the real one. crazy how much texture and atmosphere they were able to get out of only 4 instruments. really gorgeous stuff

Overall: 7/10 I found this to be very beautiful and charming. It's great for relaxing and while it was hard to stay fully engaged the entire time, there were lots of moments that made me stop and pay extra close attention to. Fav Song: Raga Pahadi

I would have loved to listen to this album. But as mentioned many times before, Spotify links to the wrong album. I can’t find the right one there. On YouTube, the listening experience is very limited because of the ads. That’s why I’ve only heard parts of the album. It’s a shame, because what I heard seemed quite interesting. So, unfortunately, I can’t say anything specific about the music. 3/5

Stunningly pretty

Raga Bhoop is tuff, Nat Bhairav low key goes hard. Peaceful, not on Spotify, fell asleep woke up to more auto play Tikka Masala

We had a slow morning in bathrobes drinking coffee in the 90 degree heat outside. This was the perfect album for that particular circumstance.

In short, this is the best-selling album of classical Indian music, recorded by three local masters. Traditional Indian santoor and bansoori are mixed here with flute and slide guitar. In the mid-1960s, many Western rock musicians began experimenting with Eastern music, which eventually led to psychedelia. For the thus-warmed American and European public, this sound, on the one hand, was nothing new; on the other, only Indians could play their music so authentically. Word of mouth about the album was also helped by reviews from "advanced users": David Crosby, Bob Dylan, and, of course, George Harrison. Pleasant, contemplative melodies, equally suitable for work, for starting the day, or simply for gazing at the sunset. After listening to it once, I automatically turned it on again.

Interesting to hear the genesis of the Indian sound in western rock. It comes off as far more serious than other instrumental world music pieces from the era. There is a sense of weight, importance, intensity, and calm, all at once. I’d love to get this on vinyl, and I’m glad to have encountered it.

Goa trance den akustiska versionen

Välkommen till Asia spa.

Så bara för att Harrison och McCartney gillade att knarka måste jag lyssna på det här. Nåja, det finns någonting här av värde. Inte minst som inspiration till spiritual jazz från Alice Coltrane till dagens favoriter i Work money death. Problemet är väl att det bara blir ande och ingen jazz på Call of the valley.

Jag kan omöjligt bedöma om detta är bra för sin genre. Det tilltalar mig inte det minsta.

Its annoying having to listen to it on youtube but very good. Very serene and calming.

What an amazing record. I drifted away completely to another place and another time. A true treat. The instrumentation is amazing and fresh like a mountain spring. So much so that I had to look up which instruments were used in this amazing work. I have a new appreciation for a whole new genre of music and I thank this list for this. I have no metric to compare this piece of art so I'll just give it a 10/10 as this is now the standard.

This was a fun journey, it was not something I am even remotely familiar with, so I cannot really say anything about the actual performance or what it tries to be. but it was nice, calm yet energetic and new. It is fun how they say that this particular album still uses a lot of western influences, but I am wholly incapable of hearing those (probably because I have no reference on classical Indian music).

I like Indian music and I’ve heard this before. It’s fine, but the westernizing touches aren’t necessary. I haven’t listened to this here because the link to Spotify is to some knock off version. The original doesn’t see to be available.

Godda be in the mood for it

Auf dem Balkon in der Sonne gehört - dort passt es ganz gut. Hört sich an wie ein George Harrison album

This was nice, should spend more time with it.

Call of the Valley showcases Shivkumar Sharma’s remarkable mastery of the santoor, creating beautiful, meditative passages with warmth and precision. The performances are graceful and often captivating, but the extended improvisations sometimes feel too similar and reduce the album’s momentum. I admired the musicianship more than I consistently enjoyed the listening experience. Still, its peaceful atmosphere and expressive melodies make it a rewarding introduction to Indian classical music today for relaxed listening.

Indian classic i think this sounds are common now its impressive for 1967 ..6/10

Very interesting and used while meditating. Some incredibly talented musicians.

5.5/10

Naja, wahrscheinlich kann ich nicht beurteilen, ob das nun wirklich bahnbrechend war. Als Musik in einem indischen Restaurant würde es jedenfalls für die richtige Atmosphäre sorgen!

Instrumental Indian tinged floating new age type peaceful pastoral.

Lovely example of classical Indian Raga. It might not be for everyone, but this is a prime example of why we're here. There's a slide guitar in there, but it disappears into the fabric of the songs. The whole album feels like it should come with a pot of chai, a basket of naan, and a big bowl of lamb curry. Maybe a mango lassi chaser. My. Rating: 5/5

Meditativ, lite väl psykos 06:30 en torsdag kanske

Alla låtar lät typ lika. Hyfsat coolt men inget jag lyssnar på frivilligt 2/5

Pleasant. Good for a mellow Sunday morning. (2.1*s) The 1001 Must Hear List expanding our world music horizon.

Gets on the list for being the first raga album to hit the states and grab the attention of some famous rock artists. If not for that, sounded like all other classical raga. Hard to decipher individual songs. I imagine Indian people listen to Rock and Roll and think it all sounds the same. I prefer the Ravi raga with faster pace and energy. Call of the Valley was very slow. Peaceful but boring. Glad I got to listen and further my musical culture but most likely not visiting the valley again. 1.18 stars.

I can understand why this gained some popularity in the music world when Indian influence was getting some exposure in the late 60's. I assume the nod from The Beatles and the like is the real reason this gained traction and ended up on this list. Otherwise I'm not sure how this breaks out compared to any other Indian music I've heard. It's an OK example of the style and associated instruments but not something I would go out of my way for otherwise. While the individual pieces are fine the full album feels a little repetitive as I wasn't able to differentiate much between the tracks. Better than some of the other world music entries on this list, worse than others. Either way glad for the single listen for exposure but not something I'll return to. 1.31 stars

Some bits very meditative. Other places a bit annoying. No better than a 3 but no worse

musica tradizionale indiana, non il mio

very chill. very long

Really liked this one, great performances and a sound I don’t have nearly enough experience with

Just very meditative and pleasant to listen to

It's cool to mix in some music from other cultures.

The link went somewhere different. I found this on YouTube. It’s sounds like what I was expecting I think if I have to listen on YouTube I’m not going to like it. I wish this was on Apple Music so I could get more details. It’s not bad but it all sounds like the same thing.

Correcto

5 out of 5. This album is a reason why to do this one album a day challenge.

fun

Soothing Indian music

Great trance like ragas for mystical long walk or other flow like activities

Yanno, this isn't something I may ever listen to again, but thank God albums like these are on this list. I have zero fucking clue how to rate this. Is this...good Eastern music? Average? Bad? I am clueless. But it was peaceful and enjoyable, and I never (EVER) would have found this on my own. Three stars. Edit: At the end of the day, I am but a white boi from Greeley and I am never listening to this again. Two stars. But two really big, loving, stars.

A couple Indian albums on this list. Good for me to get an idea of the rhythm and instrumentation.

I was not previously familiar with the artist or album. This is Indian classical music, very similar to Ravi Shankar for my foreign ears. I am very happy to see more classical Indian artists other than Ravi Shankar on this list. I would listen again.

Much better background music than any jazz on this list

Trying to track this thing down, I noticed this artist just pumps this shit out constantly. Worse, he now uses AI for his albums, which is insane, given this album cover's beauty.

Great background music

This is ok.

Favorite Track: Nat Bhairav

Interesting but not that special.

In a nutshell: a day in the life. Sometimes you don't need lyrics to tell a story. A melody is more than enough. In Indian classical or Hindustani classical music, it's Raga (in English, melodic structure). It's a contemplative and atmospheric concept album. Play the original release, it's a manageable 39:46. Overall: 6/10

10/10 album cover

definitely my goto soundtrack if i'm ever charming snakes

This is some good shit tbh, I kinda want to listen to this non-stop whilst I work. 4/5

Very landscaping soundstrack. Might be back at some point.

i appreciate that it influenced some of the '60s pop acts' forays into psychedelia but the 70 minute extended cut of this borders on tedium at a certain point EDIT: nevermind! that was the spotify version, the youtube album is great– avoid the spotify cut for best results 4.5/5

Seriously compelling if you can give it the time

Pleasant music, but doesn’t really grab me - could happily listen to in background like classical music

I can pretty much see and hear Sgt. Peppers in this. 3/5

Hard to rate this. Better when in correct order

Beautiful stuff

This had to be the best Indian music album i’ve ever heard - by which i mean the only Inidan music album I’ve listened to. I can hear where Talvin Singh got his ideas from for his OK album (maybe he sampled from this? The Shepherd Girl track sounds familiar). Anyways, nice enough album. Probably not on high rotation on my record player but that probaly does it a disservice. I might be wrong but there have been several albums on here because they have changed the genre, mixed styles where not previously done, so i wonder if this album is one of those - blending some western guitar with Indian instruments. It works well. The musicians seem to know their craft and i can appreciate the texture they create, their tight playing, etc.

Maybe the most peaceful album I’ve ever listened to

5/10 Does any music really cross cultural boundaries? It is impossible for me to hear this without my western ear. It is exotic and interesting to an extent, but I can't feel it move me or connect with me in any way

Экзотично, духовно.

1.5

This starts off with a serious vibe and doesn't let go. I'm back in Rajasthan in one of those rare peaceful moments in India, on a rooftop somewhere eating lunch with a view over the valley, old Mughal palaces in the distance. I'll definitely go back to this gem. Discovering amazing albums like this makes the low points of this list worthwhile. 5/5

After eventually finding what i think is the right album on Youtube, this all felt a bit background music for me. The exception was track 3 which had a bit more energy and grabbed the attention more. Track 4’s percussion reminded me of the Beatles Within You Without You, but not in a positive way

This sounded like the kind of music I put on to go to sleep to. Which is fine, but I’m not sure I want to listen to it when I’m staying awake. I didn’t hate it, I just didn’t understand why it’s on the generator. I feel a bit miserly giving it a 1* because it’s not the worst thing I’ve heard - but it really is only 2* because there’s no 1.5*.

I didn't enjoy this. I feel a bit uncomfortable saying that about a non-western artist, but that's silly really, as I don't enjoy specific genres (death metal for example) and wouldn't worry about stating my thoughts on that, so why would it be different for Hindustani classical music? I don't like the droning sound that punctuated a lot of this, and something about that, plus the syncopated rhythms that were happening, made me feel really anxious at points. Something that this album and certain trance/dance albums have weirdly in common. I would like a 1.5 star, as it's not close to the album I've enjoyed least during this project, but if I were to give it 2, that would be way overselling my enjoyment. I fully accept this was influential, but I did not like it. So a 1 it is. 1/5

fuckin beautiful. the music & the artwork. I can see why people have spiritual experiences in India. mostly it makes me wanna play civ 5 tho 8 / 10

Decidí invertir tiempo en esto. La primera canción me piró la cabeza porque era algo muy diferente a lo que estaba acostumbrada. Escuchaba el banjo y pensaba que realmente era un arte. Pero con el paso de las canciones me pareció que todas las músicas eran iguales y se intensificaban a un nivel con el que ya no podía conectar. Me dolían los oídos de tanta información

Skön bakgrundsmusik. Cool med fusion mellan raga och sextiotalspop, fast mest raga istället för tvärtom som hos Beatles m fl. En fyra

An extremely pleasant listening experience, great for just having it on in the background, that's it really.

Well recorded and pleasant classical Indian music that did big business with hippies in the early 70s. I can totally see how this would be a great soundtrack for getting stoned which I am sure was most of the appeal for Western audiences when first released, although that now seems disrespectful to the musicians and their tradition. I didn't realize that there was a guitar on this album until I read it on the wikipedia article. A really different approach to the instrument (especially the use of microtones), which is really interesting.

I picked a good night to cook butter chicken

Спасибо, но нет

As a European, I find it difficult to judge traditional Indian music fairly, simply because I’m not familiar enough with comparable music. I can say, however, that I really enjoyed listening to Shivkumar Sharma’s “Call of the Valley”—especially since I was in the mood for peace and meditation this morning. That this album was well-received worldwide upon its release, I would nevertheless attribute more to the spirit of the times than to any extraordinary quality of the music. The instrumental pieces simply tell a little story that you can follow if you already know what it’s about (a shepherd’s day in Kashmir). Of course, something like this exists in all cultures—Europeans probably think first of either Camille Saint-Saëns’s "The Carnival of the Animals" or Sergei Prokofiev’s "Peter and the Wolf". Should one be familiar with these? For one’s own culture: certainly. Otherwise: I don’t know.

Estaba tan estresada, que realmente me desconecto, me relajo, me puso en mi eje. 🧘🏻‍♀️

Day 250 Glad I heard it, will almost certainly never hear it again Highlight Ode to the Sun God

Pleasant instrumentals

I try to keep an open mind about international stuff, but this shit sucked. To quote Jim from the Office: "Do you take requests? Please stop."

Nice!

Dazzling.

I was skeptical of this but it's a really relaxing record to listen to, some describe like a musical cleanse which I'd agree with. Really made my day this one, shame its not on streaming services but I'll have to download a copy for future listens!

This was a tough listen. it is safe to say, i will never, ever, listen to this one again. i felt like i was in some bad Indian restaurant.

I mean, look, this is probably best in class in what it is, but it is what it is. Compared to other styles of music, this just seems borderline unlistenable. It is not offensive and it doesn't make me angry, so I won't give it one star.

Painful I did not enjoy. I did not even find relaxing

Well, this was interesting… I feel so relaxed.

It’s cool, glad I heard it. Not the kind of thing I’m going to put on for myself.

Not something I would ever think to listen to normally. It’s not bad.

if i ever wanted to throw an india themed party i know now what music to play...

Definitely wouldn't have listened to this under any normal circumstances. Almost certainly won't be coming back to it. Clearly it was a groundbreaking record, however I think that's more about its significance as a cultural piece rather than extraordinary musicality. Not horrible to listen to, but to my ears not particularly interesting either.

Boring. I tried to let it fade into the background, but even then I was tempted to not finish the album. Maybe I'm not enough of a musician to appreciate the complexities of whatever.

Totally tuned out the record in the background. I guess it’s great background music? It can definitely set a mood into the room if playing this on speakers. But then again it sounds like music I’d hear in a restaurant. Record did drag on at the end. As someone said to my band once “they just want to solo until the cows come home”.

Found out the version I listened to on Spotify was not the original, and I have no desire to go to Youtube to listen to the original. I guess that sums up my feelings about this album.

I like the album cover. 3/5

To me this is just an extended version of Love You To by the Beatles. But it is good music. I rather listen to it live, it doesn't catch you on an album version.

This falls squarely in the realm of I kind of like it, I appreciate the musicianship and everything going on. But ultimately it’s not for me and I’ll probably never listen to it again. 3/5

Not for me.

"Call of the Valley" is hauntingly beautiful, transporting the listener to rustic landscapes of valleys, hills and streams. I wasn't expecting to like this, but was drawn into the album's sincerity and the pictures of life it evokes.

Really nice stuff. I'm glad the list does include SOME music from outside the Western canon - this is pure Hindustani classical, all tabla and sitar in the traditional ways, and it's great! I love getting lost in the droney rhythms. Side note, the release history of this album is extremely strange, especially factoring in the "fake" version released by Shivkumar's son in 2012, which is apparently just a really bad new age release.

I really enjoyed this. Beautiful instrumentals which even offset the annoying ads I had to watch on YouTube. I probably won’t listen again, but who cares?

What a wonderful, mesmerizing listen. Albums like these frequently remind me that India has some of the most unique and pleasant instruments out there! Can't blame the numerous white boys who worked the sitar into Western music over the years.

Neat album but not something in my wheelhouse to become a regular listen.

This is the sort of thing I usually enjoy. But I read I've probably listened to the wrong thing. Who can keep up. What I heard was nice.

Okay if it’s your thing.

se me hizo muy largo...

I am happy to have been introduced to a new style of music that I had never really delved into before. The musicians were all very talented and it was a unique sound. It was not really my cup of tea, and some of the songs went on for quite a long time (although they were not too repetitive). It's not bad, but not the best that I have heard.

What a beautiful record.

Better than coldplay

Cool to hear stuff i usually wouldnt listen to, still not really my thing. Fav song: Ode to the Sun God

Listening to something like this makes you realise how fucking insipid the vast majority of popular music really is, and I say this as someone who loves a lot of insipid popular music.

Not on Spotify so I listened to RRRepeat!!! By Gyari. Will listen to someday

Fue buena experiencia, me gustó que fuera corto, aunque no estoy acostumbrado a este tipo de música

Ok now! Meh

yess! instrumental albums for the win!

I mistook discipline for formality on first pass, but this is intense rather than stuffy stuff. Whatever a raga is, the shapes the ones here give to these songs are full of teeming detail and a sense that they were playing with limited studio time and so focused on getting the best takes fast.

Agreeably arcadian, gets a bit more vigorous towards the end.

Well this was a bit of a mission to even get started. I spent the first half hour this morning listening to completely the wrong album via Apple Music before realising it was a remake by his son. That version wasn’t great. I eventually found the original Call of the Valley by Shivkumar Sharma on YouTube, which was a much better experience. The actual album is musically haunting and genuinely beautiful. It’s very chilled, very relaxed, and works perfectly as background music. You can just let it wash over you. That said, it does lack variety. It all blends into one long, continuous piece, and while it’s lovely, it doesn’t really give you any standout moments to hold onto. I can appreciate how good it is, but it’s not something I’d go back to. It feels more like an experience than an album you revisit for specific tracks. Favourite tracks: Ahir Bhairav_Nat Bhairav is probably the closest to a standout, although it could have been a bit shorter. Least favourite tracks: It all blends into one, so nothing really stands out either way. Album artwork: Nice, simple cover that fits the tone of the music.

Op Spotify staat een rerecording, dus naar Youtube(https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O1zzVqrCEeU&list=RDO1zzVqrCEeU ) gaan we dan maar! Psychedelische Indiase jazz, dat is dus precies waar ik deze lijst voor ben begonnen ooit. Voor vreemde muziek die ik anders echt nooit zou tegenkomen! Blijkbaar vond en de heiligen(Beatles leden en Dylan) dit een fantastisch album. Waarschijnlijk is dat deels de reden waarom het er op staat. Het is prima, ik vind het goed wegluisteren, duurt niet al te lang en er zit geen vocals op. Dit album druipt van de sfeer, dat is zeker duidelijk en binnen no-time is duidelijk uit welk land dit album komt. Erg fijn om eens iets te hebben dat buiten de 'gebaande' paden valt en echt iets anders is. Het is absoluut een soort trip dit, niet altijd vind ik het een even prettige trip want mijn god is dit soms een chaotische bak aan muziek. Maar in kleine stukken zoals het titelnummer? Dan is dit echt heel mooi eigenlijk! Hoe geef je zoiets dan een rating? zou ik het snel nog eens aanzetten? Eerlijk gezegd niet, daarvoor voelt dit echt veel te chaotisch en heftig voor. Maar ben ik blij dat ik het heb gehoord voor ik doodga? Best wel eigenlijk! Dit was best een goed stuk muziek en iets wat ik zonder deze lijst zeer waarschijnlijk nooit had gehoord. 4 sterren dan maar? 4 sterren dan maar! FAVO: Call of the valley, maar eigenlijk is dit een album dat je ook echt zo moet luisteren.

???

I am totally unqualified to judge this one as I know very little about Hindustani music. However, it is very pretty. And it does feel like it conveys a shepherd’s day. The album was very influential, apparently. I could imagine hearing it in an eclectic new age-y shop. Album 23, March 21, 2026

it was okay not my type of music though

Conflicting information online about the original recording, and different versions available. It was a nice listen, but ultimately I'm not 100% sure I listened to the original. Nice atmospheric and takes you on a journey

Based on all the previous albums I’ve gotten so far which seem super similar to each other on average, this feels so random and I love it. It’s very different in a way where I do finally feel like “yes, this is something Im glad I listened to before I die.” While the rest of the albums haven’t had that effect.

So relaxing, I'll definitely listen to this again.

You’ve trekked across Vienna to the richest district, you buzz through to an old lady’s incredible rich person apartment with views over the whole inner city. You are there to collect an antique wooden chair she has put up on marketplace for €10. You take the chair and walk it across town and on two trams. On these trams you enter and sit on your own antique chair while everyone else sits on the provided tram seats. No one else knows that you can just bring your own chair onto the tram. All the while this album is playing in your ears. Sat on a crowded tram in the standing section on an antique wooden chair you are listening to Ragas and it feels like a performance art piece but just for me. PURE JOY. life is so weird. Anyway, I loved the album this is what I’m doing this for LOLLL it was so funny

interesting listen! knowing this is The album that sparked all the south asian influences in western music in the late 60s made a lot of sense bc it sounds so quintessential of that era. guy shreeeeeeds on raga pahadi which was a fun time

Short and sweet!

Would give this zero

Not huge. Felt like the one expiremental song on revolver that I like but more Indian and an hour long instead of like 5 mins tops

Call of the Valley is a hauntingly beautiful album, full of lush soundscapes that feel perfectly matched to its cover—an image of shepherds guiding their flock through the rolling green hills of northern India. As my first real introduction to Hindustani classical music, I found it surprisingly approachable, with a calm, meditative quality that’s far less intrusive than I expected. That said, it’s not something I could listen to all day. In smaller stretches—about 40 minutes at a time—it’s a rewarding and immersive experience. Sidenote: Track down the original album on YouTube—the versions on Apple Music and Spotify don’t appear to be correct.

This was just fine for what it is. It's never going to be something I will listen to on purpose, but it doesn't bother me when I do.

Finally something I actually want to listen to twice

This was a nice change of pace and I enjoyed the album. It did get a little samey after a while, but I really did enjoy the listen.

1st time for me and had no prior knowledge of albumn or artists. Enjoyable, can see how this inspired a lot of western artists of the same era.

This was very pleasant, easy listening. Great to have on in the background while working. I have a newfound appreciation for traditional Indian instruments and musical traditions.

Very nice

Background yoga studio music

Hay música de India mucho más interesante que esto, desconozco su origen pero ps está mega entry level jajaja

Sitar and flute

Mmm I'll have to come back to this one because I can't find it! And I guess I don't wanna hit "did not listen" cuz I don't want it away from the queue forever, just have to come back to it. People are saying Youtube has it but I can only find the album by Sharma's son. I guess for now I'll have to put it at 3 to keep things neutral. Sucks, I was kinda looking forward to ragas and the wiki said that someone's using a slide guitar instead of a sitar, that sounded kinda neat. Oh well, maybe soon.

Non something I would seek out on my own but I am very glad I listened. This is probably the most enjoyment I have received from an Indian album so far. I loved the use of stereo separation while the instruments danced around each other and did call and response. Every instrument finds ways to shine here. My favorite moment was the final two minutes of Nat Bhairav where it accelerates. The title track is probably the best song overall though.

My ears were not nurtured by this music in my culture, so the vibrations do not resonate for me. It may be beautiful. It may be list worthy. But I find it discordant with what envigorates my music brain.

This is #day582 of my #1001albumsyoumusthearbeforeyoudie challenge, and… that's definitely something I haven't heard before. I kind of understand the record's inclusion on the list, though. I like the sheep on the cover. Still, this is a 2 out of 5. Looking forward to #day583.

davigale aseti yleobebit

A very good album. No matter where I am in the world this would likely transport me to a healing place. Perfect for those walking amongst us who like to appropriate breathwork or yoga from South Asian culture. Probably a good soundtrack to have on if someone was having a bad trip.

Beautiful music. It’s hard to compare an album like this to the bull on this list which is more mainstream, but music made well is always great.

I can dig some world beats in the right setting. This was fine I guess.

I dig me some tabla!

A pleasant listen for my journey across the bardo today (my walk to work). Don’t really know how to score ones like this, honestly. But this was relaxing and not annoying.

Interesting I suppose. I have no frame of reference for how good, unique this is. I don’t know…I guess I’ll round up because it made me want to meditate and find my inner peace. 2.5

Took some effort to find what I think is the right album. I thought it was fine, but not amazing. Cool that it influenced many other artists of the time, but just an ok listen on its own. 2.75/5

Had to negotiate with YouTube to find the right album, but that never killed anyone. Well, it’s beautiful. I do hear the valley calling. The pieces are striking, melodic, structured but not repetitive and they avoid being too long or winding. Makes me want to be outside by the lake. I kind of wish the list had more stuff like this on it (“stuff” meaning music from around the world rather than just “The West”); this is the kind of listening experience that actually makes me feel like my horizons are expanded. Calming and stirring at once.

Light classical music with just enough Indian elements to appeal to the squares who want to think they’re cool and enlightened and with it. Not bad though.

I don’t know to what extent this is the best Indian music, but I guess it was among the first to be publicized in the West (although apparently only on YouTube nowadays). I love the microtonal or half-tone notes, but of course they sound “weird” to my Western ears. It was good though.

06/03/2026 I unfortunately listened to the Spotify version, which was ass. So I'm gonna have to give it another go. Spotify listeners: 42.7k

Album No. 0174 on my list. Having never heard of “Call of the Valley” and not knowing any of the contributors to this, O had no idea about what I was getting into. I’ve learned though that this is a milestone record for the world music genre and has influenced a number of Western musicians, i.e. key figures of the 1960s and 70s musical landscape. I completely get why it appealed to many people at the time. To my limited understanding, it seems to entail a lot of classic Indian music, but one can clearly discern th Western twist in the whole album, making it more accessible to people rather accustomed to Western musical traditions. I’m afraid I have to say that I’m personally not the biggest fan of the tracks, because they are too boring for “foreground music”, but not relaxed a comfortable enough for background music. Maybe the reason is that I’m just not accustomed fo the music and that it may feel better once I’m more used to it. Anyway, not a bad thing an okay-ish overall. I’ll add “Rafa (Pilu)(Teentaal)”, and “Ahir Bhairav (Teeentaal)” plus “Nat Bhairav (Ektaal)” to my playlist. 2/5 stars.

I can appreciate the craft but the only time I'll listen to this again is if I somehow end up on a yoga retreat. That is to say, I guess, that in context, this would be fine, but listening to this whilst writing a handover document is perhaps not going to highlight the best of it.

This was a difficult one to track down - I would recommend going to Youtube - there was a playlist that matched the tracklist (with bonus tracks) and most of the song runtimes from Wikipedia. Nothing on Apple Music really matched in terms of names. Overall interesting, especially considering this was apparently the album that broke through internationally in the late 60s and influenced several major pop/rock groups (The Bealtes among them).

This is really nice.

I can imagine that when this hit the west in the 60s it would have been a revelation. Indian music is now more common and accessible so it's lost some of that, but this is still a decent record. As you might expect, it's very pastoral and atmospheric. For me that means this probably isn't something I'd regularly listen to, but it's an interesting entry on the list

I enjoyed this but probably don’t know enough to appreciate the full nuances of classical Hindustani music

Kind of enjoyed this as background music for walks, but got pretty frustrated at the lack of structure. Maybe that’s a me problem and life is too structured, but if I’m giving you my attention for an hour plus I need some kind of progress.

With each of these absolutely terrible, boring albums I just get more and more upset that there isn’t a single Ween album on this list.

Im a sucker for tablas 😂 I enjoyed this more compared to some of the other Indian music weve encountered so far because the songs are quite short in comparison. The ideas never dragged on (for my ears) After one listen, Im not hearing the whole “day in the life” concept, but there is some flow from start to finish. The end of twilight zone was probably my favorite part of the album. 2.5 stars