Make Way for the Indian

Make Way for the Indian is an album by the English musician Apache Indian, released in 1995.[2][3]

Make Way for the Indian
Studio album by
Released1995
GenreReggae, bhangra
LabelIsland[1]
Apache Indian chronology
No Reservations
(1993)
Make Way for the Indian
(1995)
Real People
(1997)

The title track peaked at No. 29 on the UK Singles Chart.[4] "Boomshackalak" was a hit in the United States.[5]

Production

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The album was produced in part by Mafia & Fluxy.[6] "Armagideon Time" is a cover of the Willie Williams song; "Born for a Purpose" was originally by Dr Alimantado.[7][8] Frankie Paul, Sly and Robbie, and Tim Dog contributed to the album.[9][10] Apache Indian chose to produce a sound more rooted in reggae than in bhangra.[11]

Critical reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [12]
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music     [13]
MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide     [14]

Trouser Press wrote that "Apache uses a more folkloric bhangra sound with his dancehall and adds elements of roots reggae, jungle, hip-hop, R&B, rock steady and rock."[15] The Independent called the album "a more diversely accessible set than his debut [that] finds Apache coming close to jungle on 'Who Say?'"[8] The Times considered it to be "fresh, strong and entirely credible... Indian's gruff growl really comes into its own on 'Born for a Purpose', a rumbling reggae groove freighted with a hard-hitting declamation of self-belief that gradually mutates into a wickedly soulful chorus."[16]

The Guardian determined that "accessibility remains paramount ... and clearly contributed to the muddled musical identity evident here."[10] The Washington Informer thought that "this Indian West Indian brother has a smooth dancehall sound that is as refreshing as a cool Ginger Beer."[17] The Orange County Register deemed the album "a stylish mix of reggae, hip-hop and Indian lyrical consciousness, especially on the title track and 'Ansa Dat'."[6]

AllMusic wrote that "'Boba' is one of the most explicitly bhangra-based songs he has recorded, and it's one of the best things on the album."[12]

Track listing

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No.TitleLength
1."Make Way for the Indian" 
2."Armagideon Time" 
3."Boba" 
4."Raggamuffin Girl" 
5."I Pray" 
6."Ansa Dat" 
7."Born for a Purpose" 
8."Back Up" 
9."Right There" 
10."Who Say?" 
11."Boomshackalak" 

References

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  1. ^ Warwick, Jacqueline (Summer 2000). "'Make way for the Indian': Bhangra music and South Asian presence in Toronto". Popular Music and Society. 24 (2): 25–44. doi:10.1080/03007760008591766.
  2. ^ Lien, James (Jun 1995). "Reviews". CMJ New Music Monthly. No. 22. p. 27.
  3. ^ Jennings, David (Mar 4, 1995). "A boy named Sioux — Make Way for the Indian by Apache Indian". Melody Maker. Vol. 72, no. 9. p. 37.
  4. ^ "Apache Indian Full Official Chart History". Official Charts.
  5. ^ "Apache Indian Biography, Songs, & Albums". AllMusic.
  6. ^ a b Darling, Cary (April 23, 1995). "Brit-India mix spawns style all its own". Orange County Register. p. F41.
  7. ^ Zuberi, Nabeel (March 4, 2001). Sounds English: Transnational Popular Music. University of Illinois Press. ISBN 978-0-252-02620-1.
  8. ^ a b Gill, Andy (24 Mar 1995). "Apache Indian Make Way for the Indian". Music/Pop. The Independent. p. 27.
  9. ^ "Apache Indian 'Make Way for the Indian'". Newsday. 24 Apr 1995. p. B2.
  10. ^ a b "Make Way for the Indian". The Guardian. 10 Mar 1995. p. T12.
  11. ^ Asher, Nina (1999). "Apache Indian's Syncretic Music and the Re-presentation of South Asian Identities: A Case Study of a Minority Artist". Counterpoints. 96: 195–213.
  12. ^ a b "Make Way for the Indian". AllMusic.
  13. ^ Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 1. MUZE. pp. 215–216.
  14. ^ MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 2000. p. 35.
  15. ^ "Apache Indian". Trouser Press. Retrieved 4 March 2022.
  16. ^ Sinclair, David (March 3, 1995). "Apache Indian Make Way for the Indian". Features. The Times.
  17. ^ Walton, Brian M. (3 May 1995). "New Music: Hits and Misses". The Washington Informer. No. 28. p. 20.