Gangsta TV (The Fanculos):
I distinctly remember that when
Gangsta TV came on, I was sipping
tea. The tea caught in my throat
because I had to ask (and choke a
bit) "Oh, what is this magic?" The
last time that happened to me, it
was Parvaaz's Marika that came on.
This Mumbai based band plays Ska, a
genre that was born when Caribbean
calypso met American jazz, rhythm
and blues, and had a baby. The
Fanculos fit themselves effortlessly into the history of this
delectable sounding genre. Their music is shaped on crisp,
addictive beats that easily ricochet into jazz rock territory. I
am talking about three infinitely energetic tracks that make
for exceptionally good listening when you need to wake up (and
not hate the world) or need a little pick-me-up between client
meetings (or something equally boring).
relevance. Unfortunately, they do not really excel in 3 or 4
minute music videos, most of which are littered with cliches. It
is entirely possible that I am missing the point, and I wouldn’t
discourage anyone from checking them out on Youtube. But
I’m not sold. Not just yet, at least.
Synapses at Work (Layer Music Project):
The point of EDM is to get people
to dance. Chaitanya Bulusu has
no problem with that. His one-
man project is real good with the
hooks, the beats, the loops and those
unpredictable rushes of alternate
sounds which keeps you from getting bored.
But for someone like me who doesn’t
dance except when…well, never,
Layer Music Project doesn’t come
empty handed either. State of Ganapati sprinkles devotional
chants amidst techno and gets away with it. Optical Armour
does something similar with a few brushes of a classically
Vocalist Ramon Ibrahim has this larger than life, old-time-
bent voice. Code of Enigma refers to genius cryptographer
hype-man inflection that works extremely well in our time of
and mathematician Alan Turing who cracked the Nazis’
minimal, Alt-J-loving, soft rock dominated playlists. Instead
notoriously obtuse Enigma code and helped the Allies win. I’m
of keeping up with the heady, rushing rhythms, he leads it.
not entirely sure this track represents his neural impulses, but
The eponymous track, which emerged out of a Breaking Bad
it is skilfully made and again, supremely helpful for some tipsy
marathon, makes several points about our slavish adoration
dancing. Ghost Train of Zanetti references an unsubstantiated
of bad TV. It does so to the tune of some mouth-watering, lust
and almost arousing strings and tenor sax by Ryan Sadri (who story about some Italian train that disappears into a tunnel,
should do this more often). The sax shows up solo in each song, though that seems to have very little to do with the actual
song. Its not ominous or indicative of any mystery. The song
and does not disappoint. Nothing To Say ruminates on the
absurdity of corruption that average Joes must swallow to get does have the potential to turn creepy, thanks to those muted,
split-second moans that underlie the upbeat primaries. But it
through every single day. Again, Ibrahim's voice is perfectly
suited to direct a sardonic, cynical laughter to how bad things doesn’t actually go there.
can get. These guys make satire sound pretty good, which
Layer keeps the sounds simple without becoming monotonous,
means that even while you are raging at the lyrics, you'll be
and there can be no questions about the clarity or production.
entertained. The Fabulous Fanculos paints a musical picture
He is clearly trying to tell stories with his sound, which isn’t
of freakshow performers in a sordid tent somewhere in a 1954
always the easiest thing to do with EDM. For a fan of the genre,
winter. The lyricism and part-bop, part-grimace soundtrack
he is an eager addition to the playlist. For a non-fan, its not
has been perfectly crafted, bringing to memory Tod Browning's
that bad either.
193 2 teeth clenching masterpiece, Freaks or even 1993's weirdo
freak farm in Freaked. The music would feel familiar to
Trash Talk:
anyone who might have watched circus-based horror or likes
Let me begin this with a resounding
Diablo Swing Orchestra (The Fanculos aren't as good, but will
recommendation. Trash Talk is
probably get there).
voraciously engaging. The makers
In conclusion, buy and/or stream their EP.
like to call it experimental metal,
and even though they might not be
Umeed (The Overseas Project):
doing anything entirely new, they
are following the beaten path in
So, here’s the thing. Umeed is…nice.
entirely novel ways. With both Junkie
The songs are decently written, well
See Junkie Do and Faceless in the
produced and clearly effort was not
Masquerade, you don’t have a minute
spared in putting the EP together.
of monotony. The heaviness of sound
However, none of it truly stands out.
Everything sounds like its been done is offset with its fluid movement from riff to hook to jump to a
second, equally exciting riff. The progression is clearly defined,
before. There is no perceptible flaw,
but neither is there exhilaration. The and easily unpredictable. There is little time to recover from
songs are pleasing, but do not inspire awe. the excellence of one musical moment before venturing into
the next.
The point of Umeed is obvious. Hope,
renewal, progress. It has been created
with noble intent, and the songs would probably do better
fit in better with a film. A larger context might offer greater
The
Score Magazine
highonscore.com
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