Ankur Tewari/ Akela

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR 

Ankur Tewari/ Akela

Genre: Indie

Label: Tiger Baby Records

Rating: ***

Last week, singer-songwriter Ankur Tewari did a short gig at the Apple store in Bandra Kurla Complex to promote his latest album Akela. Using only an acoustic guitar to accompany his voice, he ensured that the small audiencebof invitees and store customers had a patient and involved listening experience. Most of them were, of course, familiar with his old hit 'Dil Bekhabar', played at the end.

While that was a stripped-down rendition, the album versions of the songs are fuller, using smart arrangements in a dream-poppish, ambient setting. Five songs are produced by Rohan Rammna, with Sidd Coutto chipping in on 'Doobay'.

The songs were written during the Pandemic, though the record ends with a reprise of his earlier 'Hum' and the track 'Sawaal' from the soundtrack of the 2021 film Dug Dug, featuring the Salvage Audio Collective. As such, the main theme is of loneliness and the desire to be with one's partner.

It's the kind of album that takes a few listens to grow. On initial hearing, one senses a certain sameness in the tracks, making it difficult to go beyond two or three songs at a stretch. But the gems slowly get noticed after a few repeats.

In fact, 'Doobay' is the stand-out track, with use of melodica, steel and acoustic guitar, and perhaps an Amit Trivedi influence. Here, Tewari sings, "Lehron ka kinaron se, rishta hai zamaanon se: behke aaye toofanon se, tere baahon ke kinaron mein, kinare baithe baithe hi wahaan, hum doobay.."

The title track is an ode to loneliness, as Tewari sings, "Hoon akela, bilkul akela, shaayad akela, akela hoon main", before continuing, "Reh jaaye baahon mein baahein teri, yeh zaroori nahin: reh jaaye honthon pe honth tere, yeh zaroori nahin". The groovy back-up chant adds to the effect, and the video featuring costumed dancer Hari Krishnan is a treat.

Other goodies are the opening track 'Parwaana', with its vocal modulations and driving percussion, and 'Gunjaayish Hai', with its reflective opening "Aati hai yaadein aksar bhulane se hi, aakar reh jaati hai chhipkar zehan mein kahin" and hopeful "Par abhi gunjaayish hai".

On the other hand, the spoken word piece 'Iss Dil Ka Aisa Hi Hai' could have done away with the flanging and echo effects. 'Ik Dooje Ke Liye' seems like a filler, without much melodic punch, and sadly sandwiched between the wonderful 'Gunjaayish Hai' and 'Doobay'.

Despite the weak spots, the album works because of its simplicity in songwriting and rendition. You'll probably end up humming, "Hum doobay, tere khayaalon mein doobay, hum doobay, teri baahon mein doobay, doobay doobay, haan hum doobay yaahan".