MUMBAI: Anoushka Shankar, daughter of sitar maestro Ravi Shankar, released her latest album ‘Land of Gold’ on 1 April 2016, for Deutsche Grammophon.

Extremely disturbed by the challenges being faced by refugees worldwide, Anoushka felt it was essential to create an innovative political stand against the outrageous discrimination of poor people who are fleeing violence and finding no homeland.

She says, “The seeds of 'Land of Gold' originated in the context of the humanitarian plight of refugees, it coincided with the time when I had recently given birth to my second child. I was deeply troubled by the intense contrast between my ability to provide for my baby, and others who desperately wanted to provide the same security for their children but were unable to do so.”

Strong sentiments stream throughout ‘Land of Gold’, expressed on sitar by Anoushka Shankar and reinforced in association with a group of exceptional instrumentalists and guest artists. The album features M.I.A., Alev Lenz, Vanessa Redgrave (actress and political activist) as well as the girls’ choir ‘Girls for Equality’. The blissful, expressive, intricate and soulful pieces of music are definitely worth her comeback.

Compelling and textured, the names of the tracks are, ‘Boat to Nowhere’, ‘Secret Heart’, ‘Jump In’, ‘Dissolving Boundaries’, ‘Land of Gold’, ‘Last Chance’, ‘Remain the Sea’, ‘Crossing the Rubicon’, ‘Say Your Prayers’, and ‘Reunion.’

Check out the title track of the album: