Naren's indie round-up/ Jan 2023, Ep 1

 

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR 

Submarine In Space/ Offshore

Label: Self-released 

Rating: *****

Submarine In Space are a Delhi-based outfit that take you back to the ultra-creative jazz-rock sound of the 1970s. The tune 'Offshore' is from their live recording F5, released late last year, and the video shows them in performance.

The very line-up gives an indication of what sound to expect. There are guitar by Abhishek Mittal, bass by Madhur Chaudhary, keyboards by Vatsal Bakhda, violin by Sayan Sinha, drums by Vasudev Singh and Latin percussion by Fidel Dely Murillo.

The group has the right blend of melody, energy and improvisation, besides a rocking bass intro and some marvellous solos and transitions. The influence of Weather Report, Return To Forever and Chick Corea is felt sporadically but the guys have their own sound.

5

Doctor Rock/ Promised Land

Label: Self-released 

Rating: *** 1/2

Last year, Mumbai-based trio Doctor Rock released 'Promised Land', a song about cutting old ties to build new ones, or just being on one's own. They have now released the official video.

Comprising vocalist Steele, guitarist Rugy and drummer Wulf, the band has a raw, hard rocking sound. The opening riff and the lead guitar solo complement the vocal lines, and the drumming is tight.

The video blends concert footage with shots of bikes, car rides and friends hanging out. It matches the energy of the song. Perfect for metalheads.

Souparna Biswas/ White Noise 

Label: Self-released 

Rating: ****

Sometimes a simple acoustic guitar piece can do wonders. Kolkata-based guitarist Souparna Biswas was just playing with a few chord movements and one thing led to another to create 'White Noise'.

The video was recorded at home with plants and props for company. The most obvious thing is that the tune has a simple but effective melody line, and some neat thematic changes. 

Soupanna had earlier released the prog instrumental 'Pale Hate'. He surely has strong potential both as a player and as a tunesmith.

Nishant Singh feat. Utkarsh Sharma & Subheccha Mohanty/ Kesar

Label: Suno!

Rating: *** 1/2

Composer Nishant Singh is ready with a series called Love Letters To Em, themed around various shades of love. He has just released the first single 'Kesar', which he's written himself.

Sung by Utkarsh Sharma and Subheccha Mohanty, the song has music by Rawnak. It has a pleasant melody, and talks of love as a celebration.

Simple lines like, "Khwabon mein mere kyon tum rehte ho, ishq kahoon hai yeh toh haste ho" are sung with flair. The tune has a certain lilt that makes you hum along.

Shipra Goyal/ Aambran De Taare

Label: Blue Beat Studios

Rating: *** 1/2

Unlike many break-up sings that brood over the past or wallow in self-pity, this one is upbeat and positive, telling you the solution is to head to a bar, dance and move on.

Shipra Goyal's voice is vibrant on 'Ambraan De Taare', and the music by Bled & Enzo has an uptempo, dancehall vibe. The lyrics are by Shipra in association with Khan Bhaini.

The video has been shot by I Can Films in a Chandigarh bar and Kashmiri locales. Model Prince Narula of reality shows fame adds some extra glam quotient. The song's hook and driving rhythms act as assets.