In the next evolution of human and machine creativity, Turning Jewels Into Water brings us a sound that combines Indian born percussionist Ravish Momin and experimental Haitian electronic artist Val Jeanty. Together the two create music that is rich with ritual beats global rhythms, electronica, and improvisations. The duet is celebrating their debut album, Which Way Is Home?, a magical collection of electronica with world beats that is fresh and stimulating. The EP features three original tracks, along with two remixes by Nyege Nyege Tapes-affiliated, Kampala-based producers Slikback and Zilla. That’s the short of it!
Positives:
Momin’s percussion and drum playing is exceptional, add to that the rich electronic samples and effects of Jeanty, and this is a rich tapestry of rhythmic delight.
Bottom Line:
Turning Jewels Into Water is creating an element in the electronica and world music genre that is organic and drinks deeply from the well of heritage from both genres as well as the culture of both the artist’s. North African and Middle-Eastern rhythmic traditions entwine to create a liberation of sounds that communicates a musical art form for fresh beginnings. Both the remixes are brilliant and add to the movement of the album, this is a well-crafted body of work of considerable creativity. Turning Jewels Into Water is at once deeply industrialized, interdisciplinary, and socially relevant, while also covering a broad aesthetic range of rhythms, sound colors and groove that will appeal to diverse audiences.