The Third Eye

For some, it’s a religious experience, and for others, it’s a mystical experience. It’s as if the veil parted, and we, the high priests, saw the divine nature at work. In a blend of classic Indian and classic Western, “Summerfield Raga” by Elkhorn and Mike Gangloff is an all-American tune with a Hindu twist. By blending both classic Hindu and classic Western, it’s as if Elkhorn and Mike Gangloff were saying that the counterculture has always been this way. 

This musical piece features repeating loops. Raga is a Hindu term meaning a framework of improvisation in Indian classical music. In bringing this piece of culture to the Western world and making it blend so seamlessly with classic Western music, it’s as if Elkhorn and Mike Gangloff were creating a timelessness with their music. It’s as if they are saying this linear path of progression that we’re on looks more like a great open field in which we get to explore. 

So where does this leave us as far as exploration of consciousness goes? Is society progressing? It might be, but this style of music has always sat apart from the scope of the status quo. It’s found to be more at home in a commune than on a pop music station. So would that be a statement too? Maybe the message is that they’ve always been here, but they just haven’t always been seen or taken seriously. But I think they’re okay with the ability to just be. The song’s length, repeated loops, and improvisation would be a testament to that. 

“Summerfield Raga” takes you on a trip to a vast and open place with no clear linear path. There’s just no progression—just an open and repeating melody. But rather than growing stagnant and lukewarm, the song holds the listener’s attention in a beautiful way. It holds the listener’s attention the whole time as if the melody and the mindset they are exploring are worthy of their attention. 

With its fluidity, circular structure, and openness, it portrays the counterculture in all its glory. Repeatedly, the tension builds, then opens up in an improvisational way. It is a timeless masterpiece for a timeless culture. The idea of timelessness began in Indian culture, but the blending of cultures happens seamlessly. 

It’s interesting how the song holds the listener’s attention just as the shamanistic ways of the counterculture has held the American people. It’s a culture that is here without it actually stealing the show. Just as the shamans sat apart from their societies, this culture has done so. It’s a beautiful thing to experience their music and to have it take us on trips through the culture as they see it. It’s a timeless path with no beginning or end, and it all flows together in a beautiful cacophonous release.

Check out Shackamaxon Concert by Elkhorn & Mike Gangloff on Bandcamp.

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This article was written by Bryan Montijo, who primarily focuses on music, spirituality, and psychedelics. Bryan has written a few novels, which can be found at wattpad@CraftedTales. He also has a blog that discusses everything he loves, from music to nature and writing. You can find it here at medium@bmontijo555.