L. Shankar - Raga Abheri, second half of Taanam (1995)

Today "Shenkar" will perhaps be most recognizable to the world as "the guy who does the Heroes title theme." But before he (presumably) burned out and began degrading himself making shitty pop and new age music, L. Shankar was one of most brilliant musicians of the century. Starting from a rigorous grounding in classical Carnatic music, he created music that challenged the rigid structure of the conservative Carnatic community, liberating musical possibilities with wild creativity.

This is L. Shankar at the height of his genius, track 3 from the 1995 CD Raga Abheri. His transitions are brilliant and yet discomfortingly slightly askew, producing a driving tension that makes the music even more potent and intense.

Pictures are from the 1981 album, Who's To Know (probably the only album of L. Shankar that is more brilliant than this one), since I don't have the Raga Abheri album artwork. In Raga Abheri, Shankar is using the same double violin pictured here.

Hear more here:
http://www.musicindiaonline.com/music...
The first track is the legendary Ragamalika from Who's To Know, minus the alapana before and drum solos after.

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[irocallday24]

SEX TO MY EARS

[capitalismforme]

The description was very ignorant and insulting.

[Ganesh Datta]

The description is an insult to both the music and the musician. L Shankar opened up the Carnatic classical style of music to thousands of people that might not have heard it otherwise. Also, music is music no matter what style. If Shenkar found happiness in the fusion music he moved onto, then that is his personal preference as a person and a musician - you have no right to say that he is degrading himself.

[nacho mena]

Tuve la honra de tocar y grabar con el en el disco de Sergio Dias (Os Mutantes) y me quedé impresionado con su musicalidad y simpatía, también estaba otro maestro que infelizmente no está mas con nosotros Marcio Montarroyos, otro grande.

[ThreeLeggedMongoose]

Divine.

[Navmi7]

Bravo its awesome music

[climit1pt6]

Eargasm!

[transmuseq]

One of my favorites of all time. Love this piece!!! Love the Master L. Shankar.

[Anoushka Majumdar]

awsomeeee....genius...!!!!!

[Suryadeepty Mangalampally]

No word in any language in the world is sufficient to describe the beauty of this Shankars legendry aubum. My regards to the grate Artist shri Shankar as well as to the person who frist uploaded this album....