Ilaiyaraaja Fire Star: Synth-Pop And Electro-Funk From Tamil Films

Indian film music invariably manages to take you by surprise, time and time again. Hard electro-funk and sweet synth-pop are not genres you would expect from India. Yet, in the late 80s electronic beats and synths were eagerly embraced by the film industry of South India along with kung fu fights, aerobics, sunglasses and track-suits. The rich and funky Tamil grooves of the early 80s transformed into stripped electronic synthesizer music. Composer Ilaiyaraaja, AKA The Maestro, used minimal beats and synthetic arrangements to create an addictive and captivating electro synth pop sound. His experimental mind, unfailing pop instinct and advanced harmonics make the songs a feast for the ears that will grow with every listening. With copious sleeve notes on the featured films, the double LP is housed in a heavy card sleeve.

Compiled by Edo Bouman. The brains behind the Bombay Connection label, whose previous releases, Bombay Connection, Bombshell Baby of Bombay and Charanjit Singh's Ten Ragas To A Disco Beat raised the bar for Bollywood and Indian electronic music compilations and reissues. He also compiled the lavish,now out of print, TASCHEN book, Art Of Bollywood.