The notion of new dimensions of our mind will always be an aspect of our infinite curiosity. Many people fear the chasms because of the potential to get lost within them, many embrace them for that very reason. Losing ones’ self is definitely an aspect of the band Raja Khan. Their show last night at Death to the Sun 2 was an open invitation to all ears. Free of charge, the band came on stage and lit the place up with the most cohesive performance of the night, despite missing the saxophone. Set up on the floor and splashing into the crowd, there was no barrier between audience and performer. The depth of their development was apparent in the pedal setup, a forest of sounds from one guitar. I recommend the track Jenesis for any first time listeners although their entire album “Sons” is a tastefully twisted body of work.
Album cover by Raphael Yefet
They are artists in every sense of the word. Their album art and spiritual undertones exemplify that. They have a multifaceted cultural approach, blending Middle-Eastern, Latin American, and Indian musical notions with powerfully diverse rock and free-form interpretation iconic of the 60’s greats like Jimi Hendrix. Their sacred ‘dios de los muertos’-esque relic (Peppermint?) stood ominously stoic on stage for the entire performance, wielding a peacock feather and a skull colored like the blue man group. Raja Khan’s collective understanding of music is out of this world and their explorations of the language are commendable yet somehow relatively unrecognized. Raphael Yefet on drums has a fascinating sense of time and drove the energy of the band through their set. Synchronized and beautifully chaotic, the noise they drenched Death to the Sun with is not something I will soon forget. Keep an eye out for these guys to break on through. May they continue to breathe and grow. Raja Khan makes a great addition to any festival line-up, and I can’t wait to hear more from them.
Expressions Rich in Character 