Lightsweetcrude

Biography
Press

The ragas of North India are the musical 'fossil fuel' for this cutting edge Toronto-based instrumental project. This ancient fuel has been injected into the modern 'engine' of psychedelic laptop rock, and the group's extended improvisations and ambient excursions are constantly pushing the music's miles-per-gallon potential. This blend of Indian Classical music with modern sounds and production certainly evokes the experimental spirit of '60s and '70s psychedelic culture, as do the oil-based liquid light projections that frame the band's performances....

lightsweetcrude's Listen To The Colour began as a studio project helmed by Toronto producer/engineer Jason Steidman (Canadian Brass, Sarah Slean, Brubeck and Braid), whose first significant encounter with Indian music began a journey and quest for knowledge that has lasted many years, and is ongoing. This release took many years to come together, and boasts a great lineup of players including former Blue Note artist and Garaj Mahal founder, Fareed Haque, and a dream team of players Steidman worked with during his years working in the big rooms, such as Rez Abbasi, Ravi Naimpally, Ian De Souza, recent collaborator, Amir Amiri, and many others.

Awards

2x Winner of "Best World" category at the Barrie New Music Awards (2010 + 2011)

Tags

"lightsweetcrude [...] just released its debut album, "Listen to the Colour" and it’s a solid calling card. Alternately visceral and meditative, the music here will appeal to fans of groups like Remember Shakti or the Mahavishnu Orchestra. And adding additional firepower to the affair are several heavies who are well-versed in classical Indian music: Guitarists Fareed Haque and Rez Abbasi, tabla player Ravi Naimpally, bassist Ian De Souza and Amir Amiri who plays the exquisite-sounding santur, an ancient 72-string instrument used in Persian classical music."

- Errol Nazareth, Toronto Sun Oct 14th, 2011