Hamza Rahimtula Brings His Banjara Series To India

Hamza Rahimtula has been turning his focus to different regions and countries with his 'Banjara' album series, previously drawing from the cultures of Turkey, Mali, Spain, South America and Tibet to create dancefloor soundtracks. While we have covered the series multiple times in the past, it would be remiss to not shed the light as the New Delhi DJ-producer and Wind Horse Records label-head brings the series to his homeland of India.

Greater familiarity with the culture allows Hamza to present some of the most focused work of the series, compelling more strongly with minimal elements this time – as exemplified in the opener 'Morchang' and the spacious 'Samsara'. 'Barmer Calling' also remains notable, not just for its tongue-in-cheek play on the titles 'Berlin Calling' (or by extension, 'London Calling') but also for creating the viscerally resounding compositions, associated with the massive venues of the German capital, with local timbres.

In contrast to the house and house-adjacent cheeriness of the previous releases within the series, 'Banjara Series: India' leans more towards the dark sombreness of techno. The 10-track release utilises everything from tabla solos, morchang rhythms, bansuri lines and the occasional dramatic string sweeps of Indian cinema – but for the most part, just uses the palette of Indian instruments to serve the musical ideas of time-tested modern dance music without explicitly quoting its musical idioms. A slight exception to that rule is minutely hinted with the rhythms overlaid between the four-to-the-floor thump of the closer 'Tribal Sensitivity'.

Listen to 'Banjara Series, India' below and head to Hamza's artist profile for more information.