New Music: From Bengaluru Math Rock to Kolkata Djent

In Between Dreams by Deadstar

As we’ve noted before, Bengaluru has been producing a good amount of instrumental music in the post-rock space. Guitarist Nihal Anand, who is also part of Bengaluru math rock band Stuck in November, has released his new album In Between Dreams. From post-rock [“Blue Caribou”] to math [“A Dope Trailer Is No Place for a Kitty”] and a bit of ambient/electronic [“In Line at the Water Park,” Anand describes the album as “ten happy songs about being sad” on his Bandcamp page. Considering that he’s been writing solo music as Deadstar since 2012, this album is certainly one of his most polished, mature efforts.

 

Musings by Visita

The solo Acoustic/prog-leaning project of Hyderabad guitarist Vivek Venugopal is one of the best new examples of fingerstyle guitar work being impeccable and enchanting. His nine-track debut album, Musings, which released earlier this month, needs to be heard in one sitting, preferably as the sun sets, like the album art illustrates. Currently a student at Swarnabhoomi Academy of Music, we hope to Venugopal hits the stage soon with Musings, a great mix of everything from folk to acoustic, prog and fusion.

“Coming Home” by Soul’d Out

Don’t be put off by the fact that Delhi band Soul’d Out prefer to call themselves Blues/Jazz/Funk/Acoustic/Rock, because there’s more to them than the garden variety college competition rock band. Formed in 2011, they have just released their debut album Hurry Up, five-member band know how to start a party with songs like “Satin Girl” and “Boogie Down” but can hold a groovy jam together on the slightly mellow “Coming Home.”

 

“Intezaar” by Antariksh

 

Delhi pop rockers Antariksh are out with the first taste of new material since their 2013 album Khoj. While they’d enlisted the likes of Carnatic prog guitarist Baiju Dharmajan and Gaurav Chintamani from fusion act Advaita for Khoj, the new single “Intezaar” is a bonus outtake from the debut that features classical vocalist Rini Rajput singing over prog-leaning Hindi soft rock.

 

“The Truth of a Lie” by What Escapes Me

 

Kolkata experimental metallers What Escapes Me’s new single “The Truth of a Lie” has an impressive new lyric video that’s got all kinds of animation wizardry. Formed in 2009, this is just their third single, mastered by Forrester Savell, who has previously worked with the likes of Aussie prog rockers Karnivool and Delhi prog metal band Skyharbor. While there’s nothing new in terms of lyrics about how democracy is likened to slavery, “The Truth of a Lie” ”“ from their upcoming album Egress Point ”“ does have a catchy chorus and even catchier djent grooves.

“Wazey” by Kiran Gandhi

 

Gandhi, the drummer for Brit-Sri Lankan rapper M.I.A. and American electronic music collective Thievery Corporation, was completing her MBA at Harvard Business School when we spoke to her last year. Since then, the Indian American grabbed headlines for running the London Marathon on her period, but we’re glad she can still make a statement through her music as well. Her latest single “Wazey,” features Gandhi on vocals and drums with major electronic music elements.