#ReviewRundown: June 2023

Tsumyoki – A Message From the Moon

★★★★

If Indian hip-hop was waiting for a formidable flip to the pop side, Goa artist Tsumyoki delivers it resoundingly on his full-length album A Message From the Moon. It’s not like Tsumyoki hasn’t broken out – he’s signed to Gully Gang and released this album via Mass Appeal India – but this 13-track, relationship-centric album is leveling up. There’s a confessional tone throughout and the on-theme metaphors keep it a cohesive listening experience as an album. “Falling Down” has radio earworm potential, with Prophet Joegus, Yoki gives up on love with “It’s Aight” but then he turns the story arch to a different plane with the summery bops “Perfect Life” and “Feel Okay.” Singer-songwriter Jaden Maskie adds to the fun, while Tsumyoki offers catchy lines like, “Please stop talking cuz you sound like my alarm.”

There’s groovy beats that drive songs like “On My Way” with his Goa Trap Culture crewmate Elttwo and Tsumyoki dives right into dramatic pop-punk and rock energy (not too far from the likes of Machine Gun Kelly) on “Fonkey Monkey” with Kidd Mange and the mosh-ready “Figure Out.” There are ballads (“Baphomet”) and icy jams like “Blazing Over” but Tsumyoki signs off on a fun note with “Chicken Wings.” AMFTM is that heartfelt love letter that’s full of party anthems, grudges and everything in between.

The Indica Project – Aum

★★★½

The Indica Project brings together seasoned artists D. Wood aka Robert Giannetti and Storms aka Sanjay Swamy. Their album Aum has all the makings of an effortless jam that prominently features guitar, violin, bass and let’s with a helping of dexterous drum, percussion and rhythm on to enhance things. On the surface, while both Storms and Wood are aces of basses, there’s a lot more at play on Aum. From the delightful opening title track, to the moody “Vimana” and the spacey, trippy centerpiece “Dream Within A Dream” that keeps you hooked, it’s always an open sonic conversation between the main duo and guest artists from all over the world. “Mumbai Tracks,” though, puts the mridangam at the center and “Where Rivers Meet” is cinematic in it’s intent. Aum is a fusion album that tells us exactly what’s golden about Carnatic and jazz music.

Moral Collapse – Divine Prosthetics

★★★½

The follow-up to their 2020 self-titled album, Bengaluru/Germany act Moral Collapse – the brainchild of guitarist, bassist,  producer and vocalist Arun Natarajan with drummer Hannes Grossmann and guitarist Sudarshan Mankad – continue to slice their way through mind-bending metal on their second full-length Divine Prosthetics. It’s unsettling (“Disintegration”) as it is punishing (“Precise Incision”) and ridiculously overwhelming death metal that indulges the founder’s love for the old-school as well as modern tech-death acts. “Calamitous” makes a crater-sized impression, with a solo by guitarist Moiz Mustafa (from Hyderabad act Godless) and the concept-forming “NORDescendant” flips the script to showcase more avant-garde intentions, helped by violinist Mia Zabelka. The two-part finale that’s the title track then transports the listener into a blend of both experimental and brutal, bringing back guitarist Bobby Koelble into the fold and saxophonist Julius Gabriel. Divine Prosthetics a downward spiral into madness and we’re here for it.

Ruata Renthlei – Blue

★★★½

Hailing from Aizawl and a part of indie rockers Avora Records, there’s a brightness and pensiveness in some measure on guitarist-producer Ruata Renthlei’s album Blue. At 26 minutes, the instrumental guitar-centric album is not at all about virtuoso vibes more than it’s about connecting. Balancing modern and classic instrumental guitar music, “Bloom” starts off the album gleefully, while songs like “Do Androids Dream of Electric Sheep” and “Ember” have a math-rock influence, reminiscent of acts like Adebisi Shank, Plini and CHON. It’s not at all about complexity for Renthlei – even though he can definitely do it, if he wanted – because songs like “Drift” and the blues, country-western signaling “Feather Dance” pull in different directions. He speaks soulfully without words and more with melodies on “For My Father” and “We’re In Love,” playing guitar like his heart was full. Renthlei slowly unfolds his own blend of all influences, best heard on the calming yet spirited title track, making it a home run of a record.

Inasmuch – Inasmuch EP

★★★

Gangtok, Sikkim-based Josiah Ranpal might drop listeners into unpredictable jazz-fusion territory with his project That’s Not Self Help, but his new emo project Inasmuch is kind of the opposite. With a self-titled debut EP, there’s an influence of math/emo acts like American Football and Owen that’s very much evident but the artist also leans into simpler singer-songwriter territory. The three-track EP starts with “Glare,” which comes across as a comfortable way to sing about and perhaps accept something deeply uncomfortable. Reverb-drenched guitars add to the atmosphere on “At Ease” which has a clear vocal influence from Mike Kinsella. Ranpal carries that forward into “To Be Found,” where clarity of thought is given the highest importance, even as he gently builds layers on keys, guitars and vocals.