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In The Studio: TAAQ Begin Work on Fifth Album

Bengaluru rockers’ next record might be a multi- CD package

May 14, 2012

Three Of A Kind: Thermal And A Quarter call their sound 'Bangalore Rock'

“We have so many songs that have been piling up over the last few years. Right now, we’re just putting everything down and haven’t even decided if the eventual product is going to be a bunch of CDs,” says Bruce Lee Mani, vocalist and guitarist of Bengaluru rock trio Thermal and a Quarter about the band’s fifth album. “It might even be something more creative.

Just back from a multi-city tour of the U.S. ”“ their first ”“ and Singapore, TAAQ is working on the as-yet-unnamed record, scheduled for release later this year. While at this stage, the band is unsure as to what makes it to the final package it will most likely contain new and unreleased songs alongside live cuts from the band’s recent jaunt. Once the album is released, TAAQ hopes to take the 3 Wheels 9 Lives tour, as the trek to Singapore and USA was called, on to the UK, Australia and China.

The new record will be TAAQ’s first with bass player, Prakash K.N. who stepped into Rzhude David’s shoes in May 2010. Drummer Rajeev Rajagopal says that the new bassist has changed the TAAQ sound.

What one can be sure of, though, is that the essence of TAAQ’s music ”“ the band calls it Bangalore Rock ”“ will remain unchanged. “Our stories are all very ”˜Bangalore’ in some sense, and in a larger view, present a slice of modern, urban Indian reality that recognizes its roots whilst aspiring for a global connect,” says Mani, trying to explain the concept.

Since their last full-length release, 2009’s This Is It, TAAQ have released seven singles online ”“ most of them accompanied by videos. But if you were expecting them to stop producing albums, you’re mistaken. “We’ve always been album people. I still like to listen to albums in their entirety,” says Mani. But he feels there is scope for a new kind of album in this digital MP3 age. “I think a new paradigm is coming ”“ if it’s not already here. This will be the ability to release an ”˜album’ that carries a concept and a story, while comprising individual tracks that have the strength to stand on their own and be accepted. Physical CDs are mainly for the fans.” As Rajagopal, the more vocal champion of the physical medium, says, “It is fun handing out CDs. Can’t put your autograph on people’s iPods, can you?”

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