The Midival Punditz from New Delhi are part of the new movement of Indian musicians, who combine intelligent dance with traditional Indian sounds. After meeting Talvin Singh in London in 1998, they joined Tabla Beat Science. The eponymous Midival Punditz is their debut CD on which drum'n'bass, trip hop, breakbeat and progressive house come together with Indian atmospheres and soundtrack-like themes
… dominated by bamboo flutes and tinkling tablas. Especially the contributions of singer Vidya Shah literally and figuratively raise the level. Her singing makes the tracks moving into higher spheres even more floating. Very occasionally the Indian sounds are fused in a very simple New Age-like way, but luckily those are exceptions. Midival Punditz cannot be compared to the raw beats of Asian Dub Foundation. Each composition has been carefully smoothed out, as if the CD should also serve as a meditation weekend. (AD)more
