Sarod maestro Soumik Dattas “King of Ghosts”, which is a live score inspired by Oscar-winning director Satyajit Rays cult film “Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne”, will release on Friday.
After receiving a rapturous reception at the candlelit Sam Wanamaker Playhouse at Shakespeare’s Globe earlier this year, “King of Ghosts”, composed by Datta, percussionist Cormac Byrne and jazz composer Johannes Berauer, will be unveiled by Globe Music. It is a new record label from Shakespeare’s Globe.
The project arrived at the Sam Wanamaker Playhouse for two performances in June as part of the Globe’s Festival of Independence.
The performances there featuring Datta’s sarod, Byrne’s Irish folk rhythms, the City of London Sinfonia and conducted by Shakespeare’s Globe’s director of music Bill Barclay were later recorded.
“‘King of Ghosts’ is a tribute to Satyajit Ray and his film ‘Goopy Gyne Bagha Byne’. For those unfamiliar with the film, this new album provides a sonic adventure that takes you on the same journey,” Datta said in a statement.
“From haunted forests to war scenes, through black holes and lucky escapes from wicked wizards, the orchestra and sarod weave a melodic suite drawing in the listener into an enchanted world.
“Collaborating with Cormac Byrne and Johannes Berauer, I wanted to give the familiar tale a quirky vintage feel by weaving Indian classical and folk music with contemporary western techniques.”
