The Epidemics is an album by Indian violinist L. Shankar and British vocalist, keyboardist and composer Caroline recorded in February 1985 and released on ECM the following year.[2][3][4]

The Epidemics
Studio album by
Shankar/Caroline
Released1986
RecordedFebruary 1985 (1985-02)
Genre
LabelECM 1308
Shankar chronology
Song for Everyone
(1985)
The Epidemics
(1986)
M.R.C.S.
(1989)

Reception

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic     [2]

Elsewhere's Graham Reid included the album in his list of "10 Unusual ECM Albums of the Eighties I Own," and remarked: "This is a kind of post-punk electro-pop outing... Synth pop with very little catchy pop, emotionally flat vocals by Caroline, widdly rock guitar by Vai and bassist Jones probably wondering why he was doing this."[1]

A writer for Black Country Rock commented: "Squalling heavy rock guitars, eighties booming drums, fretless electric bass and new wave vocals—there is literally nothing else like it in the ECM canon... It is a strange record but probably the most accessible in the ECM catalogue for non-jazz or classical fans, sounding like a traditional eighties rock album."[5]

Tyran Grillo, writing for ECM blog Between Sound and Space, acknowledged that "the musicianship is healthy and the record not without its charm," but stated: "it's difficult to gauge the artists' intentions. Tongue-in-cheek experiment? Worldly statement? Either way, I feel lost, and welcome anyone who knows better to help me find my way." He concluded: "An intriguing detour on the label's path through a sonic territory as vast as it is varied, it is the only ECM album I would never recommend."[6]

Track listing

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  1. "Never Take No for an Answer" (Caroline, Shankar) – 3:31
  2. "What Would I Do Without You" (Shankar) – 4:10
  3. "Situations" (Caroline, Shankar)- 5:23
  4. "You Don't Love Me Any More" (Shankar) – 3:36
  5. "You Can Be Anything" (Caroline, Shankar) – 3:56
  6. "No Cure" (Caroline, Shankar) – 3:38
  7. "Don't I Know You" (Caroline, Shankar) – 3:58
  8. "Give an Inch" (Shankar) – 3:24
  9. "Full Moon" (Shankar) – 3:20

Personnel

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References

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  1. ^ a b c d Reid, Graham (November 29, 2019). "10 Unusual ECM Albums of the Eighties I Own". Elsewhere. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  2. ^ a b "Caroline / Shankar: The Epidemics". AllMusic. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  3. ^ "Shankar, Caroline: The Epidemics". ECM Records. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  4. ^ "ECM Records Catalog: 1300 series: ECM 1308 Shankar, Caroline - The Epidemics". JazzDisco.org. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  5. ^ "Shankar's 'The Epidemics' – Is This the Strangest LP on ECM or a Public Image Limited Offhoot?". Black Country Rock. February 10, 2018. Retrieved September 14, 2022.
  6. ^ Grillo, Tyran (January 15, 2012). "Shankar/Caroline: The Epidemics". Between Sound and Space. Retrieved September 14, 2022.