Asha Puthli

Be it the world of disco, rare groove or hip hop, Space Talk is one of those rare tracks that transcends time, genre and place.

A track equally at home in David Mancuso’s The Loft as in the hands of afro cosmic pioneers Beppe Loda and Daniele Baldelli. A track that has been sampled by The Notorious B.I.G and P Diddy, 50 Cent, and Redman.

Asha Puthli is a Mumbai-born vocalist whose better-late-than-never story found her being discovered in the United States, at last, more than three decades after relocating there with just that goal in mind. During the 1970s, Puthli enjoyed some success in Europe with her blend of jazz, soul, funk, disco, pop, rock, electronics, and just a trace of the Indian classical tradition she studied.

Once in America, she was noticed by the legendary talent scout John Hammond, who put her with free jazz trailblazer Ornette Coleman - she contributes vocals to the latter's 1971 Science Fiction album.

Never issued in the United States, Asha Puthli's second album, Devil Is Loose, is a masterpiece of snakey, spaced-out soul and pre-mainstream disco.

Produced and recorded by Euro soul kings Dieter Zimmermann and Dave Virgin King (who, along with Puthli, wrote all the tracks here), this title stands head and shoulders over her debut for its consistently deep soulful groove and lush arrangements.

That's not to say there isn't any funk here; the five-and-a-half minute "Space Walk" is a classic break track and showcases Puthli's vocals in the same class and range of Sylvia Robinson or Minnie Ripperton.

The Devil Is Loose is one of the more enduring pieces of Euro soul from the '70s, and despite its dated production techniques, its songs and Puthli's voice stand the test of time very well.