Real World Records

Spirited, experimentally minded soundclash that's as fun as it is inspired

Without Zero marks the return of some true veterans of the Asian underground. ... But despite the death of Haroon in 1999, Joi have continued to spearhead a sprit of East/West cultural fusion, integrating two decades of British club and evolution from acid house to drum ’n’ bass into their flexible, loose-limbed design.

The band’s third album to appear on Peter Gabriel’s Real World imprint, Without Zero sees Shamsher joined by a cast of musicians including sitar player Nildari Kumar, adventurous drum ’n’ bass duo Spring Heel Jack, and vocalist Apeksha Dandekar, who offers vocals and chants in Hindi and Urdu. Whereas many modern UK club genres have pillaged ethnic music for vaguely ‘exotic’ sounds, Without Zero approaches the culture-clash from the opposite direction. Eschewing samples, the likes of "Come Back To Me" and "What You Are" are built on an essentially traditional bedrock of live sitar, pipes, and tabla, beefed up with propulsive rhythms and techno bass.

That’s not to say, however, that Shamsher is averse to a spot of studio trickery – see how he digitally chops up Dandekar’s mournful wail and presents the pieces soaked in echo on “Amar Kahani”. Nor is the live instrumentation here exclusively Asian: “Praying For You” drops snatches of what sounds like bluesy slide guitar to amongst thudding, Chemical Brothers-style beats, while “Cha Cha Cha” blends the wail of vocalist Apeksha Dandekar with heavy, chunky rock riffs. The pick here, however, might just be “What You Are” - a deft crossbreed of mid-90s chart house and Bhangra peppered with dramatic, organic drum rolls. A spirited, experimentally minded soundclash that’s as fun as it is inspired.

Reviewer: Louis Patterson

Press review from: BBC World review (UK)

Thrilling Big Beat

Farook Shamsher's Joi are the Faithless of British Asian breakbeat. Both grew out of late-'80s rave, both unite weird electronica with the Whirl-Y-Gig end of crusty rave... And, like Faithless, they're still making dated but often thrilling big beat with a trancey, shamanic edge. The Bollywood strings ("Praying") and loungey sitar breaks ("Forget Me Not") are still there, but are joined by more wordly African and Arabic sources. The highlight here is "Come Back To Me", Farook's genuinely moving tribute to his late brother, Haroon.

Press review from: Uncut (UK)

Inspired

The first Joi album in, well, far too long. Five years

have brought a refinement to the sound, to the point where East and West mix well, often (as on the opener, "Praying For You") with palpable excitement. It might not seem as exotic as it once did, but there's an individuality to the music now, so there's no Asian Underground tag attached. This is just world music for the club scene, handsomely crafted and sometimes inspired.

Chris Nickson

Press review from: Global Village Idiot webzine (UK/International)

A Zero That Deserves Full Marks!

Joi aka Farook Shamsher, is back. Not that he'd ever really been away. But this latest offering, Joi's third album for Real World, has been in production for a few years....Farook and long-time collaborators/producers Spring Heel Jack have here produced an amazing fusion album...There's no doubt that Haroon would have been proud of the musical fruits Farook and co have harvested.

It's largely dominated by Western beats, with the programming of the tracks giving a space to allowing the ethereal Indian voices to really lift the music. The traditional Asian and Arabic instrumentation - tabla, flute, sitar, the zurna and oud - add spice and colour on tracks such as 'The Blessing', 'My Love' and 'Amar Kahani'. It's been a long time coming but it's worth the wait. Treat yourself to a magical journey of sound.

Press review from: Songlines (Top of the World album choice) (UK)

Fantastic return. Next time don't leave it so long

Heroes of the Asian underground, this East London collective return with their first album in five years. Frenetically upbeat, 'Without Zero' deepens the Joi family vibe. The Shamsher brothers filter their love of Bengali, Bollywood and qawwali music through modern urban dance.... Like their Brick Lane home, a vibrant meeting point for a thousand ideas. Multiculti London at its best.... Fantastic return. Next time don't leave it so long

Press review from: Swell Music (UK)

Joy at Joi comeback

Throw a ticker-tape parade, do a Mexican wave, hold a party and ready to turn up the volume on your stereo because legendary band Joi are making a comeback. Due for release later this month, their highly anticipated third album Without Zero fuses Western beats with Indian voices and traditional Asian and Arabic instrumentation. In addition, a number of magical musicians have made guest appearances on it.... Here's hoping the London-based band, who laid the foundation for commercial fusion music as we know it today, are back for good.

Press review from: Eastern Eye (UK)