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Everyone listening to the opening flute will have their own places to float away to but for me it is a cold, misty morning thousands of miles from here drifting on a flat wooden boat looking for the swirls and tell-tale signs of fish before casting a net. The wonderful tone of his bamboo flute recalling the sound of boats but only as heard in dreams.

This beautiful but sad sound is never far away, perhaps it is inherent in the instrument itself. The bansuri has a special place in Hindu culture as it is the instrument that Lord Krishna is depicted playing and thus the worlds of devotion and music are more tightly woven than ever when it is played and studied.

In fact, the first raag, according to Ronu Majumdar, “portrays the mood of worshipping Lord Shiva.” In this piece, Lord Shiva is associated with the pakhawaj drum while Lord Krishna is evoked by the flute.

To return to the theme of water, the final piece ‘Chalo Man Ganga Jamuna Teer’ (which translates as, “Oh my soul, let us go to the holy banks of the river Ganges and the river Jamuna.”) showcases Ronu Majumdar’s sweeping virtuosity on a piece that is as evocative and plaintive as any on this fine album for its first half and a fine thumping and spontaneous percussive interplay for its remaining moments.

An album to treasure.