Desert Rain
{{for|the song by Edward Maya|Desert Rain (song)}}
{{Infobox album
| name = Desert Rain
| type = live
| artist = Indian Ocean
| cover = IndianOcean_desertRain.jpg
| alt =
| released = 1997
| recorded =
| venue =
| studio =
| length =
| label = Kosmic
| producer =
| prev_title = Indian Ocean
| prev_year = 1993
| next_title = Kandisa
| next_year = 2000
}}
Desert Rain is the second album of Indian Ocean and the first live album ever to be released by any Indian band recorded by Vikram Mishra.{{cite web | title = Indian Ocean co-founder Susmit Sen quits band |work= NDTV | url = http://movies.ndtv.com/music/indian-ocean-co-founder-susmit-sen-quits-band-612287 |date=June 12, 2013| accessdate = 2014-11-17 }} It was recorded completely by accident from a concert played at the annual SAHMAT show at Mandi House, New Delhi on 1 January 1997. After waiting 7 hours to get on stage, Indian Ocean played an inspired concert that was well received by the crowd. Quite fortuitously, the band noticed a DAT recorder, bought a tape and recorded the concert. No major record label was willing to take the risk of releasing a live album, and so a record company label called 'Independent Music' was formed to release the album. Naresh Bhatia was the person instrumental behind the release of Desert Rain.
The album was released as a limited-edition copy in 1997 for circulation around Delhi. it was re-released in 2002 given the increasingly massive popularity of the band.
Track listing
- "Desert Rain"
- "Village Damsel"
- "Boll Weevil"
- "Going To ITO"
- "Euphoria"
- "From The Ruins"
- "Melancholic Ecstasy"
Reception
Released on cassettes and CDs, Desert Rain was a landmark album for its time and today. It was recorded and mixed live by sound engineer Vikram Mishra on a DAT tape. The quality was so impressive that almost a decade later, it still continues to sell. In 2006, it was no. 2 on the iTunes UK World Music Charts.
Bhaskar Gupta of Allmusic.com gave the album a favourable review and considers it a vital link to the development of the band's music and their early inspirations.{{cite web |first=Bhasker |last=Gupta |title=Review: Desert Rain: Indian Ocean Live|url={{AllMusic|class=album|id=r846123|pure_url=yes}} |publisher=Allmusic |accessdate=2011-07-26}}