New Music: Ambient from Bengaluru, Jazz-Hop from New Delhi And More
This month we round up the latest from Carnatic rockers The Iyer Project, Nagaland’s Polar Lights, Mumbai instrumental rock band Across Seconds
Bengaluru-based ambient composer Eashwar Subramanian. Photo: Courtesy of the artist
Ambient Hamlet by Eashwar Subramanian
Trained in Carnatic music but also a lover of everything from Michael Jackson’s pop to producer-composer Nils Frahm, Bengaluru-based Eashwar Subramanian might in the middle of a music production course at the city’s Rainbow Bridge school, but he’s clearly earned his chops. With the keys and piano as his companion, Subramanian weaves an evocative world of lightheaded, laidback compositions with his new EP Ambient Hamlet, one that features “Psybient Dream” as a spot of brightness amidst cinematic sounds.
Listen to ‘Ambient Hamlet’Â here.
The Epiphany of Being Sane by The Iyer Project
New Delhi rockers The Iyer Project arrive at an interesting blend on their debut album The Epiphany of Being Sane. There’s Carnatic guitar fretplay that features prominently on all eight tracks, but set to English, Hindi and Tamil lyrics in a more familiar rock vein. In their pursuit of a fusion sort of space, there’s a tad bit of overindulgence that makes some of the album a labored listen ”“ considering the songs average at six or seven minutes in length ”“ but The Iyer Project still have memorable hooks to last.
Four Light Years From Home by Across Seconds
On their (somewhat) much-anticipated debut album, Mumbai instrumental rock band Across Seconds prove they’re worth every bit of acclaim that’s come their way since winning Parx Band Hunt 2017 and other competitions. Four Light Years From Home is about journeying through space, seeking familiarity in a new terrain. Working with producer Mangesh Gandhi (who fronts prog rock band Coshish), Across Seconds invoke prog and post-rock buildups that deftly move in and out of intensity in seven tracks.
Milk Bred EP by Fopchu
Funky and stoner-like artwork aside, New Delhi’s Fopchu are at their sublime, move-busting best on their new EP Milk Bred. Like the title that alludes to the basic breakfast starter kit, Milk Bred could just be the nutritious mood-changer that moves between hip-hop, electronic, jazz, funk and then some between just three members. It’s only slightly weird (like the way “The Undulating Brood Swing” opens and proceeds to psych out and the voices on the haunting-hectic “Beatz1”) but mostly hypnotic (“Roomie Blues”) and groovy (“Chapel O Fopalop”).
“Fallout” by Polar Lights
Dimapur-based brothers Mar and Temjen Jamir continue to dig into a slick, shimmering indie rock sound that has its root in pop-punk, post-hardcore and alt rock. On their latest single “Fallout,” Polar Lights start off a bit saccharine but show their fangs by leading into adrenaline-fueled guitars in a super-charged outro that stretches to two minutes.
