2001

2001 is a 14-minute-30-second instrumental composition by Indian musician Ananda Shankar. Released in 1970, the track appeared on his self-titled debut album Ananda Shankar, issued by the British label Reprise Records. The piece blends sitar with Moog synthesizer, electric guitar and Western orchestral arrangements, reflecting Shankar’s fusion of Hindustani classical music and psychedelic rock.

The composition opens with a sitar introduction before transitioning into a rhythmic section driven by tabla and electric bass. A prominent Moog synthesizer melody anchors the middle segment, accompanied by layered strings and brass. The track’s title references the futuristic themes of its era, though Shankar did not publicly elaborate on its specific inspiration. The album’s production involved collaboration with British session musicians, though exact personnel credits remain partially undocumented.

Ananda Shankar marked the artist’s first major international release following his relocation from India to Los Angeles. The album’s fusion approach predated wider crossover experiments in Indian classical and Western pop. 2001 became one of the record’s most recognized tracks, later sampled or covered by electronic and hip-hop artists. The original vinyl pressing featured the composition as the B-side’s closing piece, paired with shorter vocal and instrumental works.

No official music video or live performance recordings of 2001 from the 1970 era are confirmed to exist. The track’s master tapes were remastered for a 2005 CD reissue by EMI, which included liner notes detailing Shankar’s early career. The composition’s duration and structural complexity distinguished it from contemporary Indian pop fusions, which typically adhered to shorter radio-friendly formats.