The Epidemics

The Epidemics
Studio album by
Shankar/Caroline
Released1986
RecordedFebruary 1985 (1985-02)
Genres
LabelECM 1308
Shankar chronology
Song for Everyone
(1985)		 The Epidemics
(1986)		 M.R.C.S.
(1989)

The Epidemics is an album by Indian violinist L. Shankar and British vocalist, keyboardist and composer Caroline recorded in February 1985 and released on ECM the following year.

Reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusicStarStarStar

Elsewhere's Graham Reid included the album in his list of "10 Unusual ECM Albums of the Eighties I Own", and remarked: "This is a kind of post-punk electro-pop outing... Synth pop with very little catchy pop, emotionally flat vocals by Caroline, widdly rock guitar by Vai and bassist Jones probably wondering why he was doing this."

A writer for Black Country Rock commented: "Squalling heavy rock guitars, eighties booming drums, fretless electric bass and new wave vocals—there is literally nothing else like it in the ECM canon... It is a strange record but probably the most accessible in the ECM catalogue for non-jazz or classical fans, sounding like a traditional eighties rock album."

Tyran Grillo, writing for ECM blog Between Sound and Space, acknowledged that "the musicianship is healthy and the record not without its charm," but stated: "it's difficult to gauge the artists' intentions. Tongue-in-cheek experiment? Worldly statement? Either way, I feel lost, and welcome anyone who knows better to help me find my way." He concluded: "An intriguing detour on the label's path through a sonic territory as vast as it is varied, it is the only ECM album I would never recommend."

Track listing

  1. "Never Take No for an Answer" (Caroline, Shankar) – 3:31
  2. "What Would I Do Without You" (Shankar) – 4:10
  3. "Situations" (Caroline, Shankar)- 5:23
  4. "You Don't Love Me Any More" (Shankar) – 3:36
  5. "You Can Be Anything" (Caroline, Shankar) – 3:56
  6. "No Cure" (Caroline, Shankar) – 3:38
  7. "Don't I Know You" (Caroline, Shankar) – 3:58
  8. "Give an Inch" (Shankar) – 3:24
  9. "Full Moon" (Shankar) – 3:20

Personnel

References

  1. 1 2 3 4 Reid, Graham (November 29, 2019). "10 Unusual ECM Albums of the Eighties I Own". Elsewhere. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  2. ↑ "Shankar, Caroline: The Epidemics". ECM Records. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  3. ↑ "ECM Records Catalog: 1300 series: ECM 1308 Shankar, Caroline - The Epidemics". JazzDisco.org. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  4. ↑ "Caroline / Shankar: The Epidemics". AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  5. ↑ "Shankar's 'The Epidemics' – Is This the Strangest LP on ECM or a Public Image Limited Offhoot?". Black Country Rock. February 10, 2018. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  6. ↑ Grillo, Tyran (January 15, 2012). "Shankar/Caroline: The Epidemics". Between Sound and Space. Retrieved September 14, 2022.