Tac, et demi

\"Tac, et demi\" is a composition by percussionist and composer Trilok Gurtu, featured as the sixth track on his 1991 studio album Living Magic. The piece spans 6 minutes and 35 seconds, blending elements of jazz fusion with Indian classical rhythms and electronic textures. Gurtu produced the track and performed percussion, synthesizers, and drum programming, though the full list of contributing musicians on this specific recording remains partially undocumented.

The album Living Magic marked Gurtu’s third solo release under the German label CMP Records and followed his collaborations with artists such as John McLaughlin and Oregon. The record adopted a predominantly electronic and experimental approach while retaining Gurtu’s signature integration of traditional Indian percussion instruments like the tabla and mridangam. The album’s production incorporated digital sampling and studio effects, reflecting the technological advancements in music production during the early 1990s.

\"Tac, et demi\" exemplifies Gurtu’s cross-genre experimentation, layering intricate polyrhythms with ambient synth pads and processed drum sounds. The track’s title, derived from French, translates roughly to \"Tick, and a half,\" possibly alluding to its rhythmic structure or temporal phrasing. The composition avoids conventional verse-chorus formats, instead developing through dynamic shifts in texture and tempo. While the album received limited commercial promotion, it contributed to Gurtu’s reputation as an innovator in world fusion and avant-garde percussion.

Living Magic was released on CD in 1991, with distribution primarily in European and North American markets. The artwork and liner notes emphasized the album’s conceptual themes, though specific details about the recording sessions or alternate takes for \"Tac, et demi\" are not widely documented. Gurtu’s subsequent works continued to explore similar fusion techniques, but this track remains a notable example of his early electronic-infused output.