Navarasa: Nine Emotions＜Dark Green Vinyl/数量限定盤＞

静謐なフォーク・サウンドがエキゾに舞う音の旅
バート・ヤンシュからレディオヘッドまで魅了する
ヨークストン/ソーン/カーン最新アルバム

UKフォークのレジェンド、バート・ヤンシュもその実力を認めるスコットランドが生んだ稀代のフォーク・シンガー、ジェームス・ヨークストンを中心に、ジャズ・ベーシストのジョン・ソーン、サーランギー奏者のスハイル・ユフス・カーンによるトリオが3年ぶり3作目となる最新作をリリース。

本作はインド古典音楽や舞踊における9つの感情(恋情、滑稽な笑い、悲しみ、怒り、勇ましさ、恐れ、嫌悪、驚き、平和)をテーマに制作された。スコットランド文学の大家ロバート・バーンズの詩を引用しながら、まるでパンチ・ブラザーズがインド音楽を演奏したかのような「Westlin 'Winds」、リフレインされるワードプレイの後ろでたおやかに景色が移ろう「The Shearing's Not for You 」など静謐なアコースティック・サウンドとエキゾチックなノスタルジアがほのかに交錯する幻想的なYTKサウンドを9曲収録。アナログ盤には「AllSaved but One 」「Jon's Poem 」「Skinfast Haven Blues 」の3曲をボーナス・トラックとして追加収録。

Used in Indian classical dance and theater, Navarasa refers to the nine emotions -- nava meaning nine and rasa meaning emotion -- that humans most often show in any given situation. Ranging from anger and disgust to laughter and courage, this menu of expressions offers a broad palette from which an artist may attempt to translate. With their peculiar confluence of U.K. and Hindustani folk, jazz, and Sufism, the nimble trio of James Yorkston (guitar, vocals), Jon Thorne (double bass, vocals), and Suhail Yusuf Khan (sarangi, vocals) gamely offer their own adaptation of the Navarasa on their third collaborative outing. Culturally, the groups East-meets-West format remains vaguely exotic, if not particularly shocking, though their 2016 debut felt remarkably fresh and chock-full of original ideas and arrangements. They took it a step further on 2017s Neuk Wight Delhi All-Stars, deepening their musical conversation and expanding their range and skill. United this time under a conceptual banner, Yorkston/Thorne/Khan continue to thrive, devoting a single piece -- in their typically sparse manner -- to each of the Navarasas nine emotions. Despite its structural conceit, the results are looser than one might expect and woven through with the trios distinctive mix of patience, pathos, and subtle whimsy. Mirroring his ethereal sarangi bowings, Khans aching vocals introduce the album on Karuna, expressing sorrow with a gentle tranquility which soon gives way to Yorkstons strangely wistful adaptation of the Scottish traditional song The Shearings Not for You, which here is meant to represent disgust. The trios now-established instrumental combo feels at home in such a setting, with Khans eerie sarangi working its magic as naturally in the highlands of Scotland as in India. As a player, Thorne again takes the more neutral role that bridges the tonal gap, though he continues to shine as a lyricist and vocalist on the original standout Song for Oddur, a bittersweet harmonica-assisted ode representing love and beauty. One of the more affecting collaborations here is an a cappella reading of the British ballad Twa Brothers. Evoking the emotions of fear and terror, the dark tale of accidental fratricide builds in intensity as Yorkstons lead vocal is punctuated by Khans increasingly frantic, tabla-like rhythmic exhalations amid the menacing sound of crows in the distance. The instrumental pieces are a bit harder to suss out with, both The North Carr (laughter) and Darbari (peace/tranquility) coming across as more mournful than their subjects might suggest. As a whole, though, Navarasa: Nine Emotions is another strong effort from this agile and unexpectedly prolific trio. ~ Timothy Monger