Naren's indie round-up/ Sep 2024, Ep 3



BY NARENDRA KUSNUR 

Darshan Doshi & Mark Hartsuch/ Better Than Sax 2 (EP, 6 songs)

Label: Self-released 

Rating: ****

After releasing their album Better Than Sax last year, drummer Darshan Doshi and American saxophonist Mark Hartsuch come out with the sequel. It's a six-track EP that runs into 27 minutes.

The opening track 'Capetown Vibes' is inspired by their performance at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival in May, where they were joined by English bassist Tony Grey. The piece has some terrific improvisation on the sax, with Darshan tight on the rhythm section.

It's a consistent EP, and the tracks 'Doogooda', 'Work Isn't Worth' and 'Joyous Celebration', featuring Kolkata percussionist Bihu Mukherjee, are innovative. The key arrangements are well-done too. It's good, raw jazz all the way.

Bhrigu Sahni/ Awakening (EP, 6 songs)

Label: Self-released 

Rating: *** 1/2

Based in Pune, Bhrigu Sahni has studied performance and songwriting at Berklee. His new EP Awakening explores the new age genre, with reflective and spiritually uplifting songs.

There are some interesting collaborations too, with Annette Phillip singing on 'Higher', and Priyadarshini on backing vocals on 'To Be' and Gouri Ranjit guesting on 'Believe'.

Bhrigu has a calmness in his voice, and his fingerstyle acoustic guitar complements the main lines. The Marathi song 'Aye Bhava' and the title track, with its marvellous arrangements, lead up to 'Theme No 1', a piece inspired by jazz legend John Coltrane's Giant Steps.

The songs talk of the desire to be in a higher plane, the search for freedom or the presence of divinity. They make you feel relaxed peaceful.

Dindun/ Dindun Vol 3 (EP, 4 songs)

Label: Self-released 

Rating: *** 1/2

After releasing their self-titled debut EP in 2018, Kolkata-based synth-folk duo Dindun released their follow-up two years ago. The third volume was put out in late August.

Comprising songwriter-performer Sourjyo Sinha and producer-engineer Rohit Ganesh, the group produces tunes inspired by the urban lifestyles of Silchar and Kolkata, sung in Sylheti and Bengali.

Dindun Vol 3 has four tracks, blending folk roots with electronic flavours. 'Cotton Green', with its chill-out sound and smooth build-up, and 'Tungsten', with its melodic vocals and guitar solo, are the stand-out cuts. In comparison to the two earlier EPs, the rock element is stronger here. It's a short set of tunes lasting 17 minutes. Worth a check. 






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