About Real Sugar
Real Sugar is a collaborative studio album by Bengali folk musician Paban Das Baul and British producer and guitarist Sam Mills. The album blends traditional Baul music from Bengal with contemporary production techniques. Caroline Records released the album on February 25, 1997 in CD format.
The recording sessions integrated Baul folk traditions with Western instrumentation. Paban Das Baul contributed vocals, ektara (a single-stringed drone instrument), and khamak (a percussion-string hybrid). Sam Mills provided guitar arrangements, electronic textures, and production oversight. The collaboration marked one of the first international releases to feature Baul music in a cross-cultural fusion context.
The album comprises nine tracks. Notable compositions include Dil Ki Doya, a devotional song emphasizing emotional surrender, and Nacho Kali, a rhythmic piece invoking the goddess Kali through dance metaphors. Porojonome explores themes of rebirth and cyclical existence, while Ore Poinkha employs playful, conversational lyrics. Boshondharar Buke references the seasonal transition into spring, and Mon Fakira reflects ascetic longing. The track Choncholo Mon addresses the restless mind, and Mon Moti uses the pearl as a metaphor for inner purity. The closing track, Gopun Premer Kotha, narrates hidden love through cryptic Baul symbolism.
Caroline Records distributed the album under license, targeting world music audiences. The release received attention for its fusion of Bengali folk elements with global production standards. Live performances followed in Europe and India, though documentation of these events remains limited. The album’s reception contributed to broader recognition of Baul music outside South Asia, though specific sales figures or chart positions are not publicly recorded.
The artwork and liner notes accompanied the CD release, featuring translations of selected lyrics. No subsequent reissues or remastered editions have been confirmed. The collaboration between Paban Das Baul and Sam Mills did not yield further studio albums, though both artists continued independent projects in their respective genres.