Tala Matrix

• Artist: Tabla Beat Science
• Rating:
• Release Date: September 12, 2000
• Genre: Electronica

Review

With their debut CD Tala Matrix, the project known as Tabla Beat Science has essentially taken the rich and time-honored tradition of the tabla (a pair of North Indian hand drums) and fused it with contemporary electronica studio wizardry. Tala Matrix is dedicated to the memory of the late, great, and innovative tabla virtuoso Ustad Alla Rakha (1919-2000). The Tabla Beat Science project is comprised of one of Ustad Alla Rakha's sons, the tabla superman Zakir Hussain. Additional members include the venerated sarangi player Ustad Sultan Khan; Indian and jazz percussion innovator Trilok Gurtu; New York drummer Karsh Kale; bass, drum, and tabla visionary Talvin Singh; and music programmer Brad Somatik. Producer/bassist Bill Laswell, who "conceived and constructed" the CD, acts as the catalyst for the outfit, adding the bottom end with his dub basslines and the overall aesthetic with his studio prowess. More of a consortium than a full-blown collaboration, not one of the songs on Tabla Matrix features all members of the group. Zakir Hussain's many tracks are among the best on the album, though Trilok Gurtu's funky Big Brother and Talvin Singh's Don't Worry.Com are both extremely compelling. The often zombie-ridden doldrums of electronica should benefit immensely from this experimental union with tabla. An excellent CD that deserves to be heard many times by many people, Tala Matrix manages to be innovative without loosing sight of tradition. ~ John Vallier, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Secret Channel	Bill Laswell, Zakir Hussain	Bill Laswell, Zakir Hussain, Tabla Beat Science	(7:34)
Magnetic	Zakir Hussain, Bill Laswell	Zakir Hussain, Tabla Beat Science, Sultan Khan	(7:43)
Audiomaze	Zakir Hussain, Bill Laswell	Tabla Beat Science, Zakir Hussain	(7:49)
Don't Worry	Zakir Hussain, Bill Laswell	Zakir Hussain, Talvin Singh, Tabla Beat Science	(6:13)
Palmistry	Karsh Kale	Karsh Kale, Tabla Beat Science, Zakir Hussain	(4:39)
Devotional	Sultan Khan, Bill Laswell, Zakir Hussain	Tabla Beat Science, Sultan Khan, Bill Laswell, Zakir Hussain	(8:11)
Big Brother	Trilok Gurtu	Zakir Hussain, Trilok Gurtu, Tabla Beat Science	(4:56)
Triangular Objects	Talvin Singh, Karsh Kale	Zakir Hussain, Talvin Singh, Tabla Beat Science	(7:58)
Biotech		Bill Laswell, Tabla Beat Science, Zakir Hussain	(6:42)
Alla	Zakir Hussain	Zakir Hussain	(11:52)

Credits

Matt Howe (Production Consultant), Trilok Gurtu (Production Consultant), Trilok Gurtu (Drums), Matt Howe (Engineer), Karsh Kale (Performer), Aldo Sampieri (Design), Bill Laswell (Bass), Bill Laswell (Sound Construction), Robert Musso (Engineer), Michael Fossenkemper (Mastering), Trilok Gurtu (Tabla), Tristin Norwell (Engineer), Sultan Khan (Performer), Talvin Singh (Production Consultant), Tristin Norwell (Mixing Engineer), Zakir Hussain (Tabla)