Sunbeam Rec.
Oriental Sunshine (N,1970)****°
From the moment I heard Magic Carpet, a great psychfolk item with lots of sitar (UK,1974) I wondered if there existed much more than this. I guess the one and only item of Oriental Sunshine comes perhaps closest to this inspiration. This album was bootlegged a few times (on LP, and later copied on CD), but now finally sees the light as an official re-release, with a 12-page booklet, with detailed info and pictures.
Through the liner notes I figured out how the duo of Nina Johansen (on the album with vocals, guitar) and Rune Walle (listed for sitar, guitar and vocals) were discovered on a TV show called ‘Talent 69’ from which they were chosen as the winning talent, something which resulted in the recording of their album for Philips. To complete their ideas they invited an Indian student friend, Satnam Singh for the sessions, who appeared to be an excellent flute and tabla player, with creative, (classical) Indian based ideas. Two more jazz players, Sture Janson (bass) and Espen Rud (drums) and the organist from local rock band Junipher Greene also joined in. The sessions developed pretty spontaneously, which created its own magic.
The result is in between calm psychedelic rock with a more emotional mellow undertone (because of the vocals and the songs, and slow rhythm), like the opener “Across Your Life” till what is beautiful acid folk, with songs like “Mother Nature”, “Look at me” or “Let it be my birth”, on which the improvisational flute and some tabla of Satnam are equally heartfelt, or like “Unless”, with piano and tabla. Some melancholic songs, (especially those by Nina Johansson) are really captivating. The beautiful “Can anybody tell” has a surprising rhythmical improvisation on percussion, organ and sitar. Emotionally, after the already fantastic “Visions”, for me it is the incredible song “My way to be hurt” (with jazzy calm rhythms and bass, and acoustic guitar), within all other perfection, that really hits it all. Also the last short song, “I’m going” still is in this vein. I can often imagine Satnam’s spontaneous contribution to the inspiration, like on the introduction of “Land of Wisdom”. The Indian styled “Where you went (Tum Kahan Gaye)” is his own song, which fits well within the repertoire.
A classic release which is highly recommended.
