Austinist Album Review: All India Radio

All India Radio formed in 1998 in Australia when Martin Kennedy decided to incorporate tranquility and turmoil into a platform of ambient backdrops. His inspiration stemmed from the chaotic street sounds of India as well as the British act, KLF, and in Kennedy’s hands (and studio), those varying sounds turned into serenity. The resulting organization of guitars, cellos, violins, electronic beats, and assorted exotic sounds provides the base for the band’s atmospheric recordings.

Echo Other, All India Radio’s latest album, continues with that formula of creating (mostly) instrumental, down tempo soundscapes perfect for various moods, be it that lazy afternoon on the beach or a substance induced stupor. Uncomplicated melodies, peaceful harmonies and muted nuances all leave their stamp on the record, but it is the alignment of electronica and strings that highlight All India Radio's strengths. When it clicks, Echo Other inspires and exhilarates, though it does tend to wander into redundant auras at times. That might be a reasonable assessment, since A.I.R. has regularly and appropriately contributed to various film and television scores. A fitting soundtrack to the work day, Echo Other stays in the background, surfacing only when the right chord strikes.

All India Radio: [official site] [myspace]