World renowned santoor player Rahul Sharma has collaborated with many western music artists from Richard Clayderman, Kenny G to Georges Kazazian and now Grammy award winning artist Eric Mouquet one half of the original duo Deep Forest. As part of Mouquet's 'Deep Forest' initiative, 'Deep India' aims at bringing together folk music of the country with electronic western music. Mouquet titles the album in the lines of other projects of Deep Forest such as Deep Brasil, Deep China.

In Deep India, Sharma has brought in folk music from all over India. From Karnataka, Assam, to Maharashtra, Kerala, Sindh and Jammu and Kashmir. The album features a track called Viva Madikeri where Sharma and Mouquet have used actual recordings of the songs sung by the tribes who reside in the area. You might want to replay Bihu (Assam) for its traditional folk sounds of Assam. You also have rare instruments that are played in Rajasthan in the city based title track. Then comes the eerie Dhol Lejhim (Maharashtra) that takes you on a trip to the Ganesh festival that Maharashtra is famous for. Mouquet’s take on the folk dance is catchy and rhythmic with good trance groove coupled with heavy Indian percussion – the Dhol and the santoor.. a complete remake of the song. Following this we have Thrilleo (Kerala) that has some powerful vocals that need to be heard. Punjab has music is rich in ragas, with Eric trying to take a melodic groovy set. The Village (Sindh) brings on Sufi singers from Punjab. But the best part comes in Sharma’s own hometown Jammu and Kashmir as he brings on the Mountain Ballad a soothing piece of work that puts you at peace. The band recorded a live ‘Paakhaa’ which is a male chorus singing in harmonies and chords, similar to the yodeling of the farmers in the mountains of Switzerland. The last Sounds of the Village is bass driven with Mouquet’s instrumentation that is omnipotent all the way and takes you through the common village sounds and life. Viva Madikeri the opener is back in a refined Radio Edit version, pretty rich style.

The album is sure attract a lot of youngsters, what with Mouquet’s world music already a hit with many, while Sharma’s very electronic and groovy style bringing in a lot of depth compared to a regular fusion album. The 10 songs on the Deep India album, truly helps Indian music reach a global platform bringing ordinary singers and musicians from far flung places in India on a stamp of an international body of work.

Reviewed by Verus Ferreira