Satrang/ Dr Prakash Sontakke Group - popular Hindi music


By Narendra Kusnur

Album: Satrang
Artiste: Dr Prakash Sontakke Group
Genre: Popular Hindi music
Label: Self-released
Rating: ***1/2
After exploring Hindustani crossover music on their 2016 album Progressive Raga: Evolving Into The Future, the Dr Prakash Sontakke Group (DPSG) gets into more popular terrain on last year’s release Satrang.

As the title suggests, the band explores seven colours or moods. If the previous album had plenty of instrumental improvisation, the new venture focuses on catchy, pop-infused songs with emphasis on simple vocals. One finds many shades of retro film music and 1990s Indipop, besides doses of fusion and soft rock.

Group leader Sontakke, who sings and plays the slide guitar, is joined by bassist Kedar Nayak, keyboardist Shadrach Solomon and drummer/ percussionist Karthik Mani. Each contributes to give the album a balanced sound, with Sontakke writing lyrics of six songs.

The Sufi number ‘Ali Maula’ has a strong hook and an easy listening feel. Guest vocalist Chaitra Sontakke excels on the Uma Sudhindra-penned ‘Meri Talaash’, where she sings “Yahaan par log ginte hain dard aur dukh apne, Main pagli apne aap mein khushiyan talaash karti hoon.”

The theme of nostalgia dominates the Biddu-styled ‘Vidyarthi Bhavan Blues’, dedicated to a popular Bengaluru eatery, ‘Alvida Steam Train’, which talks of the ‘chuk chuk’ train. On ‘Musafir’, the lines “Badhta carvaan yeh, rukta hai kahaan, Manzil yeh safar hai, jaana hai kahaan” are followed by catchy sargams.

‘Bolo Ram’ is enhanced by smart slide guitar, a burst of keyboards and singalong chorus lines. ‘Panditji Mera Future Bata De’, which refers to how values have been transformed, has humorous lines like “Panditji mera future bata de, kitna kamaaoonga utna gina de.”

The good things about  are its simplicity and accessibility. It's an ideal album for those who wish to unwind.



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