About Usfret
Usfret is a studio album by Indian percussionist and composer Trilok Gurtu, released in 1988. The record appeared under the German label CMP Records in CD format as part of Gurtu’s early explorations in fusion and world music. The album marked a period in which Gurtu integrated traditional Indian rhythmic structures with jazz, electronic elements and global influences.
Gurtu composed and arranged all tracks on Usfret. The album contains seven original pieces: Shobharock, Shangri La / Usfret, OM, Deep Tri, Goose Bumps, Milo and Inner Voice. The title track Usfret appears as part of a medley with Shangri La, blending percussive intensity with ambient textures. OM and Inner Voice reflect Gurtu’s use of chant-like vocalizations alongside layered percussion, while Goose Bumps and Deep Tri incorporate synthetic sounds and rhythmic experimentation.
The recording sessions for Usfret featured Gurtu on drums, percussion and vocals. Collaborators included musicians from jazz and Indian classical backgrounds, though specific session details remain partially undocumented. The production emphasized live improvisation and studio processing, creating a dense, polyrhythmic soundscapes characteristic of Gurtu’s work during this era.
CMP Records distributed Usfret in 1988 as part of its catalog focusing on avant-garde and cross-cultural music. The album received attention for its fusion of Indian classical rhythms with contemporary production techniques. Later reissues or remasters of Usfret are not widely documented, and the original CD release remains the primary format for the work. The cover art and liner notes reflected the album’s thematic blend of tradition and innovation, though specific design credits are not publicly verified.
Gurtu’s subsequent projects expanded on the stylistic directions introduced in Usfret, but the album itself stands as a distinct entry in his 1980s discography. The absence of detailed session logs or comprehensive archival notes limits further historical context, though the record continues to be referenced in discussions of fusion percussion and global jazz.