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Here sees the release of the first instalment of the 24 track
mixed ‘Small World’ project, which takes the
label beyond the Asian-influenced beat, to encompass influences
from all over the world, creating a truly global musical
blueprint.
TIMEOUT - Anything and everything is just the kind of
playlist an inexperienced DJ can make a pigs’ ear out of
however silky the source material, but Pathaan has repeatedly
shown how it’s done on the decks and on discs; last
year’s ‘SmallWorld’ (Stoned Asia Music’)
compilation was a gem, probably the finest globally inspired
collection of the year. Dave Swindells
MUZIK - An excellent mix of cool global beats and
beyond. Phil Mison
Muzik Magazine - Lovely atmospheric music - Pathaan's
unique vision taking us somewhere new and exciting - with his
Global Beats style he's really found a new groove. Chris
Mellor
RHYTHM, USA & Wax Magazine - Small World takes the
progressive sound of Pathaan and Stoned Asia Music to it's
natural conclusion. Somehow managing to retain his unique vibe
whilst seamlessly traversing the plains of Africa and deserts of
the Middle East, Pathaan's deeply atmospheric mix proves once
again that global dance holds the key to the future.
Phil Meadley
DJ MAGAZINE - Pathaan’s shrunk the world not the
beats on this, his post Stoned Asia adventures. His net has been
cast even further across the globe and the result is a very
satisfying mix of downtempo beats and uplifting grooves. Managing
to avoid the ‘new age’ pitfall,
‘SmallWorld’ really does capture something very
special. CD one comes loaded with ‘Discerning
Blunts’, including Mere Mortals, Buddha Finger, Kalahari
Bushmen and the soul lifting ‘Shiva’ from Ikarus. CD
two ‘Uplifting Blunts’ is magic stuff. Organic
Grooves, Radar, Gaudi and Feel Good Productions rub alongside my
personal favourites Swiss born Cosmic Rocker. At last, world
music without the ‘worldy’ tag. Bring on the global
groove! Kate Wiseblood
MUZIK – Pathaan continues to spread his world
beat message with this new double CD compilation. CD1 is
‘Discerning Beats’, a downtempo selection featuring
the classic ‘Mizkett’ by Infernal and Buddha
Finga’s ‘Manyana’. CD2 is ‘Uplifting
Blunts’, a more uptempo selection featuring the excellent
‘Sufani’ by Gaudi. If you’re a Stoned Asia
Music fan, this is a excellent purchase. Phil
Mison
BIG CHILL - Time was when Monday nights at the Dogstar
played host to something completely different to Chilli Dog or
Sofa So Good – Pathaan’s now legendary Stoned Asia
nights, which have subsequently moved onto a number of pastures
new. These days, Pathaan puts on nights in East as well as SW
London, with international residencies in Italy, New York,
Barcelona and Ibiza (and not forgetting the odd appearance at
festivals such as The Big Chill’s fifth Enchanted Garden).
No wonder the marketing executives at Sony et al have been
pumping out those ghastly ‘Global Chillout’
compilations. It truly is an international business these days.
But of course there is Global, and there is global, the two faces
of our shrinking world. One represents the increasing
homogenisation of our culture – in reality, the domination
of Western norms – and the other an ever-expanding openness
to new cultural forms and hybrids. Needless to say, it is to the
latter category that ‘Pathaan’s Small World’
belongs. Divided across two CDs, ‘Discerning Blunts’
and ‘Uplifting Blunts’, it is a thoroughly eclectic
and wide-ranging mix that ranges far beyond the confines of the
UK. As a result there is nothing here that suffers from
over-familiarity; it contains nine exclusive tracks amongst its
twenty-four (many of them recent signings to Pathaan’s
Stoned Asia music label). Indeed, with the exception of Zohar,
Jah Wobble, and Organic Grooves, few of the artists included here
mean much to me at all. Several of them, however, look likely to
become better known: Infernal, for example, whose
‘Mizkett’ is a truly gorgeous track with ‘chill
out classic’ written all over it. There are also fine
tracks from The Rootsman, Farid and Radar that shows just how
much talent exists in this field for those who care to look.
Ranging freely across Indian, Arabic, African and New Age sounds,
this is somewhat in the mould of the earlier Buddha Bar mixes
– back when they were fresh – although Pathaan has a
taste for ethnic dub in place of the Buddha crew’s leanings
towards house and lounge. Atmospheric, evocative and
unobtrusively mixed, ‘Pathaan’s Small World’ is
a more than worthy addition to the world of global chill.
Freddie B
BPM – The strength of this two CD mix set is it
cohesion - a United Nations of down tempo or the Lonely Planet
lounge, if you will. Through disc 1, Discerning Blunts, and onto
disc 2, uplifting Blunts, Pathaan melds together beats influenced
by African, Middle Eastern, Asian, more ambiguous, and as yet
undiscovered music from forgotten realms, mesmerizing and
beautiful spirit chants and more modern funky flavours.
It’s a neo-retro world beat extravaganza!!! Most magical is
leaving the discs on repeat – forever circumnavigating the
globe – never finding them tiresome and discovering
something new with each listen. Few CDs can make that promise and
are as richly rewarding as Pathaan’s SmallWorld.
Yuri Wuensch
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