A HANDFUL OF BEAUTY

This formation's second album is a bit more of the same really, as points out the similarly bland photo artwork, even if the tracks are much shorter and the recording is much clearer, this one being recorded in London's Trident studio (as opposed to the debut being Live). As just said, the music realm is much the same as in the debut with the resulting music being very credible Indian music for profane "fan" that I am.

Opening up on a capella intro, Danse Du Bonheur (happiness' dance) is a very lively track, contrasting heavily at first with the smoother and slower Lady L following it, but the track picks up much speed with Mc's almost too fast guitar lines, probably hiding still a lack of confidence on his part. India is, IMHO, the album's best track and possibly Shakti's crowning achievement. After a poor Kriti, Isis has us dreaming of Mid-Eastern desert sands and harem, even if the percussions are not suited for the full illusion. As much as Isis had us wandering westbound, Two Sisters has a definite Far-Eastern feel, but it is the poorer track on any of their three albums.

No better and no worse than its predecessor, and just like it not exactly essential for progheads unless they are looking in ethnic fusion as their favourite music, Handful Of Beauty might seem more adventurous and varied than its forerunner, but it looses a bit in over-indulgence what it had gained in freedom.

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