Early Indian electronic music compilation set for vinyl

Hear the sounds of the National Institute of Design in Ahmedabad

The state51 Conspiracy is releasing a collection of early Indian electronic music on vinyl this September.

The NID Tapes: Electronic Music From India 1969​-​1972 compiles 19 tracks discovered at the archives of the National Institute of Design (NID) in Ahmedabad.

The compilation featuring previously unheard recordings from composers Gita Sarabhai, I.S. Mathur, Atul Desai, S.C. Shama and Jinraj Joshipura, all of whom worked at India’s first electronic music studio in the National Institute of Design.

Hear the first single from the release, “After the War”, below.

The NID Tapes were curated by artist and electronic musician Paul Purgas throughout a long-term research project to explore the origins of electronic music in India. Music from the NID was first heard worldwide in his 2020 BBC radio documentary Electronic India.

You can pre-order The NID Tapes: Electronic Music From India 1969​-​1972 as a double LP release ahead of its September 27 release.

Tracklist: 

Side A:
1. S.C. Sharma – After the War
2. Atul Desai – Compostitions
3. S.C. Sharma – Dance Music I
4. Gita Sarabhai – Gitaben’s Composition I
5. David Tudor – Tape Feedback with Moog
6. Jinraj Joshipura – Space Liner 2001 I
7. S.C. Sharma – Electronic Sounds Created on Moog I

Side B:
1. S.C. Sharma – Dance Music II
2. I.S. Mathur – My Birds
3. I.S. Mathur – Moogsical Forms
4. Gita Sarabhai – Gitaben’s Composition II
5. I.S. Mathur – Once I Played a Tanpura

Side C:
1. S.C. Sharma – Electronic Sounds Created on Moog II
2. Atul Desai – Recordings for Osaka Expo 70
3. S.C. Sharma – Wind & Bubbles
4. S.C. Sharma – Dance Music III
5. Jinraj Joshipura – Space Liner 2001 II
6. I.S. Mathur – Shadows of the Show
7. I.S. Mathur – Sou