The Jungle Book

DISSIDENTEN – THE JUNGLE BOOK

German trio Dissidenten invokes Kipling, Coltrane, the Bhagavad Gita and recite poetic musings on the significance of rhythm. A bit pretentious? Sure, but the band is gracious enough to let guest artists the Karnataka College of Percussion on vocals, tanpoura, violin, and drums steal the show song after song — especially on “Monsoon” when the D’s strip down to jockey shorts and electric piano to let a chorister strut her Carnatic pipes. In fact, so many guests take front and center in this sense-spinning fusing of classical Indian music, funk, and rock, you’d think the Germans had relegated themselves to session musician status. They play expert backbone, though, organizing a complex project that easily could have thudded.

Bob Tarte, All Music Guide