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Half Step Down

Overture to Outerspace

[Three and a half stars]

Independent release

Key Tracks: ‘Overtures,’ ‘Knocking on the Back of My Head’

Jun 25, 2009

This band has been around for quite some time now, and this full-length debut was a long time coming. This one simply encapsulates the journey of one of India’s better bands when regarding ingenuity on originals. Listening to Overture to Outerspace, the songwriting is what exhibits supremacy over all else. Many of the bands older songs re-engage a fetching retrospective ”“ the sprightly refrain of the popular ”˜Overture,’ the unforgettable bassline which introduces the manic overdrive on ”˜Knocking on the Back of My Head’ and the blithe comprehension of the blues on ”˜Girl not Guitar.’ The lesser known ”˜Roll Over,’ whipping up a frenzy on guitars and ”˜Circles’ with the faintest suggest of guitar-stylings a la Dave Matthews Band, fairly follow through. Dhaval Mudgal’s mellifluous vocals bind this well-rounded album, which exposes a sonically proficient bunch, from Shiv Lumba’s untiring solos on the keys to Karan Dutta’s frenetic guitar work. The track ”˜Working Hour,’ though, is quite a disappointment on record, with its bare bones recording and the grating tone on the rhythm guitar. Lyrically Overture doesn’t subscribe to any underscoring theme or mood, spanning subjects from infidelity (”˜Roll Over’) to revolutionary optimism (”˜Overtures’). Versatility seems key to this band as it is explored on every level to render a multifaceted piece of work, though the production of this album could’ve been better.

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