Phil Mongredien 

Shye Ben Tzur, Johnny Greenwood and the Rajasthan Express: Junun review – joyous and hypnotic

Jonny Greenwood’s latest collaboration is a multi-faceted excursion to the heart of qawwali
  
  

Rajasthan Express, Jonny Greenwood, Shye Ben Tzur
The Rajasthan Express with Jonny Greenwood (second from left, middle row) and Shye Ben Tzur. Photograph: PR

This latest venture from Radiohead multi-instrumentalist Jonny Greenwood finds him teaming up with Indian-based Israeli songwriter Shye Ben Tzur for an excursion into qawwali, captured on film by Paul Thomas Anderson in an hour-long documentary of the same name. Throughout, Greenwood contributes subtle embellishments – occasional electronic beats, as well as understated guitar and bass – rather than any scene-stealing showboating. Indeed, the real stars here are the Rajasthan Express’s six-piece brass section, who come into their own on the joyous Julus and Junun Brass. Elsewhere, the hypnotic Hu locks into an almighty groove, while the excellent title track is built atop a pleasingly complex rhythm.

 

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