From Scratch

From Scratch is a composition by Indian percussionist and composer Trilok Gurtu. The track appears as the fifth piece on his 1991 studio album Living Magic, released by CMP Records. The album was issued in CD format and marked Gurtu’s continued exploration of fusion between Indian classical rhythms and contemporary jazz elements.

Gurtu composed and performed the track, which spans a duration of 2 minutes and 26 seconds. The piece exemplifies his signature approach to percussion, blending traditional Indian instruments with electronic textures and improvisational techniques. While specific instrumentation for the track remains undocumented in widely available sources, Gurtu’s work on Living Magic frequently incorporated tabla, frame drums, and synthesized percussion layers.

The album Living Magic was recorded and produced in the early 1990s, with Gurtu collaborating with engineers and session musicians whose identities are not fully detailed in standard references. The release followed Gurtu’s earlier experimental projects and preceded his broader recognition in global fusion and world music circuits. CMP Records, a German label specializing in jazz and avant-garde music, distributed the album internationally.

Critical reception of Living Magic at the time highlighted Gurtu’s ability to merge disparate musical traditions, though detailed track-by-track analyses of the album—including From Scratch—are limited in archival reviews. The brevity of the composition suggests an interlude or transitional role within the album’s structure, contrasting with longer, more expansive works featured elsewhere on the record.

No commercial singles or music videos were released for From Scratch, and the track has not been widely anthologized outside its original album context. Later compilations of Gurtu’s work occasionally include selections from Living Magic, but the specific inclusion of this track varies by release. The album itself remains available through physical reissues and digital platforms, though comprehensive liner notes or session documentation are not publicly accessible.