Search: Bhangra

Try Partners In Rhyme - Timeless. Its quite trad in places, but the production gives it that extra edge - check out Mithra Noo in particular.

Much of the crossover Bhangra/rap/dance stuff ends up sounding suspiciously like Transglobal Underground which is why I don't think it ever really progressed much past 97 (Punjabio MC for instance). Problem is that the Bhangra market is still quite conservative, and suspicious of breakout tunes. In the end it is usually artists from outside of Bhangra who sample it who would create the most crossover tunes - and this just would not be stocked by the usual Bhangra distributors.

I agree though, I've been looking for more interesting stuff to come out of it for years. Its quite Boy band centric at the moment, which are very much like Westlife in terms of experimentation.

I played in a bhangra group for a little while in the late eighties. IIRC, the best bands then were premi and alaap, but I can't really tell you any more than that. We played with premi at newcastle uni, and it was great - an absolute riot. The tapes I used to have were somewhat MOR, but very "different" sounding, in that they didn't resemble what one had learned to expect as "indian music" (actually, I'd refer to bhangra as very much british music) but in inhabited this totally different sonic space, which kept it "fresh" sounding despite the MOR-ness. For those who watch "goodness gracious me", yes, I did used to wear clothes like that when we played. When there's six of you, you don't feel quite so silly.

This question brought back some happy memories!

x0x0

i bought a 7" on ebay and it just arrived today, along with something the seller chucked in for free (in return for appraisal): it's his own work as panjabi mc, a 12" called "mundian to bach ke" and i've gotta say i really like it. being ignorant i'm not sure about the trad bit, whether it's original or sampled. the bassline however, is unmistakably the theme from knight rider.

interesting that pete should have said that punjabio mc's (i'm guessing this is the same guy) sound hasn't progressed beyond '97 because this is sounding quite current, probably because of the explosion of indian music samples being used in hip hop right now, and also the whole bootleg thing.

here is a real audio sample
not much else happens in the song beyond these 15 seconds i must admit! but they are a good 15 seconds.

revive!

how funny is it to read this after Punjabi MC has gotten so big?

minna touched greatness!