Storm

Storm is a composition by Indian musician Ananda Shankar, released as part of his self-titled debut album in 1970. The track spans 5 minutes and 20 seconds and exemplifies Shankar’s fusion of traditional Indian classical music with Western psychedelic rock and funk elements. The album marked a departure from conventional Indian classical presentations by incorporating electric instruments, synthesizers and rhythmic patterns drawn from global genres.

Ananda Shankar produced the album under the label Reprise Records, a subsidiary of Warner Bros. Records. The recording sessions took place in London, where Shankar collaborated with session musicians to blend sitar melodies with Moog synthesizers, electric guitars and a driving percussion section. Storm stands out for its layered arrangement, featuring a prominent sitar riff over a syncopated groove, augmented by orchestral strings and electronic effects. The track’s dynamic shifts and improvisational segments reflect Shankar’s training under his uncle, sitar maestro Ravi Shankar, while embracing contemporary studio experimentation.

The album Ananda Shankar received limited commercial attention upon release but gained a cult following in subsequent decades for its innovative cross-genre approach. Storm became one of the record’s most recognized tracks, later sampled and covered by artists in hip-hop, electronic and alternative music scenes. The original vinyl pressing included liner notes by Shankar, outlining his intent to bridge Eastern and Western musical traditions without diluting either.

No comprehensive documentation exists on the track’s exact recording dates or the identities of all contributing session musicians. The album’s reissues by labels such as Finders Keepers Records in the 2000s introduced the work to newer audiences, often highlighting Storm as a key example of 1970s Indo-fusion. The composition remains a reference point in discussions of South Asian artists’ engagement with global popular music forms during the era.