Stockholm-based ensemble Ishaaq Aarkistra have released their Lost Map Records debut single, ‘Grunderna’, a dizzying fusion of Eastern and Western musical traditions. The full release is backed by the dreamily drifting ‘Arikomban Space’, and will be available this July through Lost Map’s PostMap Club subscription service.
‘Grunderna’, Swedish for ‘the basics’, is a psychedelic kaleidoscope of sound. The track layers swirling analogue synths and intricate bansuri flute solos over a thundering breakbeat and a snaking raga-based riff. Led by Swedish-Indian musician Ishaaq (formerly of Speedmarket Avenue), the track was recorded at ABBA’s RMV Studio in Stockholm and produced by the acclaimed Jari Haapalainen (The Concretes, Camera Obscura). “We humans need to find our way back to the essentials,” says Ishaaq. “Nurture the basics. Enjoy the basics!”
The project, whose name is a Swedish twist on the Urdu word for “orchestra”, saw Ishaaq assemble a stellar cast of musicians including Konrad Agnas, Daniel Bingert, Suranjana Ghosh, Nicolò Melocchi, and Tripti Sharma. They improvised freely on drums, synth, tabla, and flute, with Ishaaq and Haapalainen later editing the lengthy sessions into deeply layered and immersive compositions.
Drawing comparisons to Miles Davis, Can, and Brian Eno/David Byrne, the single offers a tantalising glimpse into the expansive sound of Ishaaq Aarkistra, with more music promised for release on Lost Map in 2025.
Bandcamp: https://lostmap.bandcamp.com/album/postmap-club-223-grunderna-arikomban-space
Lost Map: https://www.lostmap.com/
