Nitin Sawhney feat Natty - Days Of Fire

’s thematic musical explorations range from the cultural to the political and religious, thus continually exploring the ever changing themes that arise and often merge into one another other. It is always a welcome change to bring back a collective social consciousness to music as opposed to the usual plethora of love and self-obsession and having a good time. His various and numerous collaborations indicate his musical range and influences, ‘Days of Fire’ being a continuing testament to this.

This London-centric track reflects the clouded judgment in what constitutes terrorism and its supposed threat, drawing allusion to the bombings of 7/7 and the eventual shooting of Jean Charles de Menezes. It is perhaps because many Londoners can empathise with the content that makes for a compelling listen without sounding contrived, the changes ringing true as Natty runs through the thoughts and emotions attached to the simple act of taking public transport.

Natty’s gravelly delivery is strained in places, hinting desperation, to a deeper, lower approach, sounding somewhat detached and desensitised. In other places, he jaunts along as he talks us through his actions and his frame of mind throughout. Instrumentally simplistic and repetitive in its acoustic arrangement with only Natty traversing verbally, it only serves to effectively heighten his emotional state in his vocal tonal changes thus being extremely lyrically aware.

Taken from his latest album ‘London Undersound’, this is a fine offering from Nitin Sawhney, requiring one to take a step back and listen. Really listen.