Music I like

Phew, It has been hectic all these days.
I am back with another unique artist, Paban Das Baul. Before telling anything about their music, its utmost important to know a little more about Bauls. The word "Baul" means divinely possessed, without limits, simply mad; the Bauls address each other as khepa meaning furious. They have a mode of life entirely determined by a fundamental choice and bring chaos and disorder wherever they go - attracting people towards them, inviting intimacy, breaking the rhythm of daily life.

Their wild behavior and repetitive rhythms make them seem strange and manic; so it's not surprising that in traditional Bengali society, where strict caste and class distinctions are rigidly maintained, they are chastised and despised. Through their songs, dances, gestures, through silences, through postures and looks, the Bauls tell stories of the earth, of the body, of lovers uniting - subtly revealing the mystery of life and the laws of nature. Submission to the divine is the tightrope to wisdom; Baul knowledge is transmitted through songs. This early apprenticeship gives Paban's music a unique quality. His unconventional nature and versatile talents, drawing and inspiring him from old and new sources, make him a controversial figure in Bengal.

Paban comes from Mohammedpur, Murshidabad district in West Bengal, India - land of a population incarnating the spirit of syncretism between Tantric, Vaishnava, Muslim and Buddhist traditions through music, dance and song. And his music is the most iconic of all as he derives inspirations from his roots. He is well known for his genius of improvisation on the dubki (a small tambourine) and the inspired lyrical beauty of his songs, which give him the power to create trance-like states in his listeners. Most of his music is made on instruments made by himself - the dubki, khamak and do tara.

He has been involved in collaborative projects since a long time, the most notable being with Sam Mills. I cannot understand his lyrics but his music does invoke certain feelings which can be best felt. Below is his career details:

Discography

- Paban Das Baul - Inner Knowledge (Womad Select - 1997)

- Paban Das Baul & Sam Mills - Real Sugar (Real World - 1997)

- Paban Das Baul, Gour Khepa, Nimai Goswani & Mimlu Sen - Manouche O Ratan (Fonti Musicali, Brussels - 2002)

- Paban Das baul & Jonny Wartel (Gravitation - 2003)

- Paban Das Baul & State of Bengal - Tana Tani (Real World - 2004)

- Paban Das Baul - 'live' At Satellit Cafe Paris (2008)

on Compilations

- Chants des Fous: Bengale (Chants du Monde - 1979)

- Le Chant Mystique des Bauls (Sonodisc ESP)

- Les Musiciens Bauls “ Fous de Dieu” (Disques Arion - 1983)

- Bauls Des Fous de l’Absolu (Sonodisc - 1989)

- Chants d'initiation Bauls (Buda Musique - 1992)

Collaborations

- Marque Gilmore /Drum-FM - Creation Step (Tribal Broadcast - 2003)

- The Katia Labèque Band - Unspoken (KLM - 2003)

- Cheick-Tidiane Seck - MandinGroove (Sunnyside Records - 2004)

- Paul Mills - The Other Side Of The Glass (IUS - 2006)

Filmography

- Le Chant des Fous (Doc. Georges Luneau Antenne Deux - 1979)

- Vagabunden Karawane (Doc. Embryo (german band) - 1979)

- Nagmoti (fiction: Gautam Chatterjee, Kolkata - 1972)

- La Nuit Bengali (Nicolas Klotz France - 1988)

- Egaro Miles (doc Ruchir Joshi – Channel Four / prix Joris Ivans Centre Pompidou in France - 1992)

- Bhalobasha O Andhokar (Gautam Chatterjee - 1995)

- Faut pas rêver (Doc.FR 3 - Frederic Zoltan/ Dominique Rabotteau - 1999)

Recommended:

I havent been able to find a lot of songs but still all his songs have become my favourites. They are listed below:

• Dil ki doya ( a must listen!!!)
• Mon Fakira
• Manush key