Last Days of Meaning

Nitin Sawhney is as much a philosopher as he is a composer. This time, his thoughtful and melodic songs are arranged into a dramatic cycle, interrupted by the dramatised monologues of a lonely chap apparently listening to a cassette-tape his ex-wife has sent him. Between each piece of music, distinguished thespian John Hurt wrestles out loud with loneliness and fear. Thankfully the bleak picture he paints is balanced by a genuinely positive collection of songs, intended to articulate his exwife's side of the story.

Long-time collaborators of Sawhney's like Tina Grace and Natty are joined by some remarkable young voices – mostly unsigned talent from the fringes of the folk and jazz scenes, to sing lyrics rich with philosophical musing and compassionate sentiments. Opening track ‘The Devil and Midnight’ features soul diva Yolanda Quartey, whose stunning voice mixes Etta James and Aretha Franklin. Two pieces showcase the sensuous voice of Nicki Wells: the hypnotic ‘Tender World’ and the tabla-driven groove of ‘Kite’. There's the usual strong Asian flavour to Sawhney's subtle arrangements, inflected by deft touches of nu-soul, country blues and Latin American beats. On ‘Laugh’, the unusual voice of Eska Mtungwazi coils playfully round what sounds like a broken musical box, and there's a quirky, English neo-folk sound to the charmingly naive performances from Hannah Peel and Laura Groves on the fragile ghost pop of ‘I'm Done. Placid instrumental ‘Daydream’ highlights Ashwin Srinivasan on bansuri flute, demonstrating that Sawhney doesn't always need words to lift his melodies. It's currently only available as a download with the CD release due out on September 5.