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Showing posts from December, 2023

Naren's indie round-up/ Dec 2023, Ep 4

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BY NARENDRA KUSNUR  Trisha J/ Reality's A Bore Label: Self-released Rating; **** After releasing the single 'Killer Times' earlier this year, Pune artiste Trisha J comes out with 'Reality's A Bore'. Both songs are backed by the same team - arrangements by Penguin Perception and video by Astral Glitch Production. The song is about self-reflection and breaking away from the mundane. It's got a catchy hook and intelligent lines like "I was putting on my rose-coloured glasses when I saw the picture pretty clear; nobody gave me a handbook, so I fantasised a life for myself". A highlight is the video, with Trisha's screen presence matching her musicality. It's the kind of stuff MTV would have loved to play back in the day. Bulli Bainbridge/ Raghav Meattle City Life Remix Exclusive licensee: Universal Music India Rating: *** In his new project Indie Remixed , producer Zain Calcuttawala aka Bulli Bainbridge has reimagined some of his favourite ind

Naren's indie round-up/ Dec 2023, Ep 3

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BY NARENDRA KUSNUR Tabeer/ Tabeer Label: Self-released  Rating: **** Tabeer is the newest band on the Hindi-rock circuit. It's been formed by Hanez Patel, Vikram Godse and Vikas Tandon who do different things professionally but share similar tastes in music. Their debut single is also called 'Tabeer' - in fact, the band was named after the song. The theme is about hope and fulfilment of dreams, with the song ending with the line. "Har pal hastey guzaaroon, thodi khushiyaan, thode khwaab". All three musicians play the guitar, with Hanez  contributing on keys. A spoken-word stretch and a guitar coda give it an anthemic feel, with Cian Dias' video alternating shots of the trio with a parallel narrative and symbolic imagery. Aazaman Hoyvoy feat. Simran Duggal/ Tanhaa Label: Self-released  Rating; *** Singer Aazaman Hoyvoy teams up with Simran Duggal on his debut Hindi song 'Tanhaa'. As the title suggests, it's about two lonely people, with Alok Ranjan

Gig review/ Deep Purple in Bengaluru

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BY NARENDRA KUSNUR  Deep Purple at Bandland  Genre : Rock Details : Bandland rock festival, Embassy International Riding School, Bengaluru, December 17 Organisers : BookMyShow Live  Rating : **** 1/2 We all came out to Bandland, on a Bengaluru riding ground, to shoot videos on a mobile, yeah, capture the classic rock sound. Ian Gillan and the Purples, were at the best place around, space-truckin' on a black night, we danced on dusty ground.. singing, Smoke On The Water, drones in the sky, Smoke On The Water... taan taan taan, taan taan tadaan, taan taan tadaan, taan taan... Three days after British rockers Deep Purple enchanted the crowd at the Bandland rock festival in Bengaluru, the gooseflesh lingers like the whiff of cologne. For many, they have been college heroes, cocktail companions, the kings of melodic power, the epitome of hard rock. Older-generation fans or youngsters, they knew many of these songs by heart. Every word, every instrumental passage, every back-up vocal lin

Naren's indie round-up/ Dec 2023, Ep 2

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BY NARENDRA KUSNUR The Tapi Project/ Mehsoos Label: Self-released  Rating: **** Formed in 2014, The Tapi Project have a very eclectic and refreshing sound, driven by Yogendra Saniyawala's compositions and Swati Minaxi's distinct vocal delivery. Their new track 'Mehsoos' has a beautiful build-up and grows on repeat listening. Yogendra's guitars and Biju Nambiar's keyboards provide a cinematic layering, and Gaurav Kapadia's sudden bursts of drumming lend a twist. Written by Yogendra himself, the song talks about finding beauty and love in small things. The way the song changes direction is admirable. Towards the end, Swati's powerful line 'Mehsoos kiya kya' is followed by a great interaction between keyboards, drums, guitars and ambient textures, leaving the listener on a high. Prithviraj Singh Sisodiya feat. Nitisha Agrawal/ Manwa Promoted by: ForeVision Digital Rating: *** 1/2 Indore singer Prithviraj Singh Sisodiya's talent is evident once a

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

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BY NARENDRA KUSNUR  Abhijeet Hegdepatil feat. Khan Zeeshan/ Piya Label: Self-released  Rating: *** 1/2 Influenced by French duo Deep Forest and African sounds, composer-producer Abhijeet Hegdepatil decided to create the track 'Piya'. There's thus a mix of Afro vocals sung in Swahili, Hindustani classical and drum n' bass. Khan Zeeshan peppers the Indian part with sargam stretches, also singing 'Piya nahin aaye, jiya ghabraaye'. Lyrics are credited to Mahajabeen Khan. The video begins in black n' white to reflect the traditional African sounds, but quickly transitions into a colourful dancefloor segment. The song has a heady, loungey aura that builds up slowly. Kanoo Sahajwala feat. Chaitanya Deshpande; words by Premchand Sahajwala/ Jagmagaate Shahar  Label: Self-released  Rating: *** This is an ideal tribute by a son to a father. Kanoo Sahajwala has thus composed music to 'Jagmagaate Shahar', a ghazal written by Premchand Sahajwala. It has been sung