| Desert Rain | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Studio album by Indian Ocean | ||||
| Released | 1997 | |||
| Genre | Fusion, Rock, Jazz | |||
| Label | Kosmic | |||
| Indian Ocean chronology | ||||
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Desert Rain is the second album of Indian Ocean and the first live album ever to be released by any Indian band. It was recorded completely by accident from a concert played at the annual SAHMAT show at Mandi House, New Delhi on 1 January 1997. After waiting 7 hours to get on stage, Indian Ocean played an inspired concert that was well received by the crowd. Quite fortuitously, the band noticed a DAT recorder, bought a tape and recorded the concert. No major record label was willing to take the risk of releasing a live album, and so a record company was label called 'Independent Music' was formed to release the album. Naresh Bhatia was the person instrumental behind the release of Desert Rain.
The album was released as a limited-edition copy in 1997 for circulation around Delhi. it was re-released in 2002 given the increasingly massive popularity of the band.
Released on cassettes and CDs, Desert Rain was a landmark album for its time and today, almost a decade later, still continues to sell. In 2006, it was no. 2 on the iTunes UK world music charts.
Bhaskar Gupta of Allmusic.com gave the album a favourable review and considers it a vital link to the development of the band's music and their early inspirations.[1]