Sitar Power 2 - More fusion of Rock, Pop, Jazz 

by Ashwin Batish

When Batish released Sitar Power on vinyl in 1986, his combination of classic sitar technique, surf guitar, and hip-hop beats knocked college radio for a loop. Some critics raised questions of authenticity, a point meaningless to anyone familiar with the multicultural sponge that Indian pop and film music have become. Both that album and this one are marked by energetic dance beats, stellar sitar pickin', and Batish's wicked sense of humor - an unbeatable combo.

India West, California
The chasm between Western popular and the sedate, ponderous world of Indian classical music is not an easy one to bridge, however. Western popular music is geared to meeting the needs of a fast-paced lifestyle: It's immediate, sensuous, and hits the senses with a bang.

Dirty Linnen, NY
The Frank Zappa of the sitar has finally released his second volume of Sitar Power. It's been nine years and he has gotten even more experimental.

India Currents, California
If you think that fusion - music that combines the sounds of different traditions - is passe, you need to hear Ashwin Batish's latest. This compact disc contains eight new tracks which breathe new life into the fusion genre