Rahul Mukerji: Mridhangit

As the great (if fictitious) detective Dirk Gently said, what we are dealing with here is the fundamental interconnectedness of all things. The sinuous scales of Indian and Eastern music, the fluid melodicism of jazz, the mathematical precision of prog-rock and the wailing and pounding of heavy metal: when all are approached with the same focus and deep thought, it becomes perfectly natural to hear how they come from the same roots.

Rahul Mukerji's catalogue is one where both the palette and imagination are global in scope. There are spots where Mridhangit feels like an informal late-night jam on a Delhi street corner, and others that sound like the work of a shred metal band that just discovered John McLaughlin's Shakti. "Enjoymaddi" is based around some tricky meter-hopping of the King Crimson gamelan- rock variety, yet simmers down to a simple smoky waltz before drifting off. The fast-stomping highlight of "Dushtan" cranks the amps up to eleven and soars into space on a wave of supremely high-voltage violin. Wisely, the set never stays that loud for too long without a counterpart like the serene "Four Seas."

While Mukerji's guitar serves as a lead voice full of bright melody and bright spirits, it is no less central than the relentless rhythm and groove throughout. Drums and electric bass weave with the beautifully hypnotic patterns of tabla and mridangam, not averse to a little konokol scatting here and there. A few peaceful interludes coast on piano or flute, showing barely a hint of the blizzard before or after. There might be an occasional jazz-fusion jam in between, spiced up with clarinet or jazz organ, though never quite veering too straightforward or too slick. There are several moments where the guitar drops out entirely and gives the other range of sounds their moment to be savored. Earthy percussion, atmospheric duduk and loud (though mostly judicious) guitar pyrotechnics all have their place here. Mridhangit's biggest success is that there is never too much or too little of one thing. All these wide-ranging bits and pieces make a beautiful sum of their parts, rocking hard and seeking enlightenment even harder.