Altered Zones

T.R. Mahalingam (affectionately known as Mali) was a child prodigy flautist, known for his re-fashioning of the traditional South-Indian venu. “Nadabindu Kakaodi” features Mali’s modified bamboo flute, complete with an extra hole allowing for an increased expressivity and greater room for embellishments.

Mali’s flute takes on the carnatic ideal of human voice-like tonal range; every ornate detail filled with a sense of otherworldliness. Often said to have seen God during certain performances and to communicate with birds through his music, Mali’s flute playing is an expression of the tradition of nature-mimicry through careful observation and re-articulation of sounds. Mali fills in the blanks of ”Nadabindu’s” beat with elegant and boundless ornamentations that, with closed-eyes, can lift you into pure spiritual-ease. Imperative listening to avoid mid-winter bummers. --Anna Rushford, International Tapes

MP3: T.R. Mahalingam: "Nadabindu Kakaodi"

Mali: Essential Recordings of Carnatic Bamboo Flute, 1969-70 is available now via Japanese label EM Records and Normon Records