Ranjha is the second album by the Israeli composer Shye Ben Tzur, the English composer Jonny Greenwood, and the Indian ensemble the Rajasthan Express, released on 8 May 2026 via World Circuit and BMG.
Background Ben Tzur, Greenwood and the Rajasthan Express recorded their first album together, Junun (2015), at Mehrangarh Fort in Rajasthan, India. They began writing Ranjha while supporting Greenwood's band Radiohead on the tour for Radiohead's 2016 album A Moon Shaped Pool, but work was delayed by the COVID-19 pandemic. The writing sessions concluded in Italy. One of the qawwali singers, Zaki Sahib, died suddenly after a rehearsal in India, which Greenwood said was "devastating".
Recording Recording took place in Greenwood's Oxfordshire studio with the producer Sam Petts-Davies. The album involved 21 musicians, including the Rajasthan Express providing rhythm and brass, and Tom Skinner, the drummer for the Radiohead side project the Smile. According to Pitchfork, Skinner does not emphasise the downbeats and his cymbal work emphasises texture over rhythm.
The group decided to use a more conventional recording studio to create a different mood from Junun. Additionally, Greenwood wanted to give the Indian musicians the experience of living and working in the UK, and said: "If a project is going to be collaborative, it felt like there should be a straight exchange of experience for all the musicians." Acquiring work visas for the Indian musicians proved difficult, as many of them did not have addresses or did not know their date of birth. The group recorded for "two or three weeks ... playing all day every day".
Release
In early March 2026, Greenwood announced Ranjha and released the lead single, "Ranjha", with a music video directed by Ian Patrick. Ranjha was on 8 May 2026 via World Circuit and BMG via streaming, download, CD, and a red and coral splatter vinyl record.
Reception The Financial Times gave Ranjha four out of five, writing: "The music is bustling and cosmopolitan, less contemplative in tone than Junun. It goes where it wants to go, and we follow, however far that might be from the world as it is outside the recording studio." Pitchfork wrote that the qawwali singers were the album's "emotional core" and that "once you give in to their performance, it's hard to focus on anything else".
Track listing
Personnel Credits are adapted from Tidal.
Shye Ben Tzur – flute ; vocals, guitars Jonny Greenwood – production, bass guitar, guitars ; drum machine, keyboards, ondes Martenot Sam Petts-Davies – production, mixing Oliver Middleton – engineering Matt Colton – mastering Zakir Ali – pump organ , vocals Nathu Lal Solanki – nagara Aamir Bhiyani – trumpet Ehtisham Khan Ajmeri – chorus vocals Nafees Khan Ajmeri – vocals Raish Naimee – chorus vocals Shabbir Khan – chorus vocals Shazeeb Khan – chorus vocals Sitab Khan – chorus vocals Sohrab Khan – chorus vocals Tom Skinner – drums, percussion Ateeq Hussain Khan – vocals Kashif Hussain Khan – chorus vocals Mohammed Shafi Ullah Khan – chorus vocals Salman Hussain Khan – chorus vocals Jyotsna Srikanth – violin Robert Stillman – bass clarinet
References