A Music Blog

Band Box!

Who? - Wehem
Genre - Hindi Rock
Members - Rohit, Sourabh, Mihir, Amit
Based - Pune
Best Tracks - Wehem, Aasma, Jab talak, Khwaabon mein, Manzeel

"My favorite of the underground hindi rock bands"

A review -
Amazing composition. Lyrics are touching and flow beautifully, like poetry, almost making you feel the sadness yourself. Passion is evident in the works, though the recording is amateurish and sound could be better. Good guitaring, the vocals in the softer tracks could do with some improvement. A little more synchronization is needed. They sure have talent and could easily become among the fastest rising bands in India.

Web Presence -
http://www.muziboo.com/wehem
http://kroomsa.com/bands/wehem.htm
http://www.gimmesound.com/Rohit/ (Solo Instrumentals)

Just heard the songs of the movie Anjaan - Gumshuda Chayn (Kailash Kher), Bas Ek Zara. Definitely worth listening to. There's also Chandni Raaton Mein, Awaara Baadal, Yeh Zindagi and Sunle Mere O Rabba.

Some of the best violin performances -

Andreea Bălănean (violin) and Gabi Daia (piano) performing Requiem for a Dream


Fusion of Violins and Drums


Andre Rieu (Orchestra) - Love Theme


Riverdance And Lord Of The Dance

Mood Indigo simply killed all competition by inviting Porcupine Tree to perform at their rock concert. A progressive rock band from England, they offer mesmerizing vocals, mindblowing guitaring and powerful drumming, works in extreme metal. The music of Porcupine Tree is a way to channel negative feelings and an exorcism of the elements within. The founder Steven Wilson believes that "the saddest music is often the most beautiful."



The musical range of Porcupine Tree can be split into 3 phases, from long psychedelic and space rock pieces in early works, to shorter pop rock songs in the late 90s, and then darker more metal-oriented songs. Noticeable influence comes from krautrock and electronic music, a likening to bands such as Can, Neu!, Tangerine Dream, Squarepusher, Aphex Twin and artists like Klaus Schulze and Conrad Schnitzler, Trent Reznor. All of their songs have a unique sound world they inhabit. A texture or a drum rhythm sets you off on a musical path, or flavor.



Recordings have used instruments like the mellotron, banjo, hammered dulcimer and guimbri. Porcupine Tree has maintained a strong textural and experimental quality, often fusing many genres in a single track. The band's work is noted for Barbieri's keyboard style and sound processing abilities and cinematic scope. Wilson is a declared fan of American filmmaker David Lynch, whose films are renowned for their sonic content.

My favorite tracks -

Synesthesia
Blackfield
Blackest Eyes
Halo
Lazarus
Sound Of Muzak
Pure Narcotic
The Rest Will Flow
The Creator Has A Mastertape
Drown With Me
Mellotron Scratch
Novak
Piano Lessons
Ambulance Chasing
Dead Can Dance
Collapse The Light Into Earth

Another promising band in the Indian rock circuit, you might have heard these guys in Channel [V] LaunchPad. Having covered bands like Junoon and opened for Jal, Euphoria among others, they achieved immense popularity with their OCs. Blank Noize reserved holds the record for being the first independent hindi rock band to sell over 2000 copies in the first 2 months of their 1st album release. Check them out on MySpace.

Recommended tracks -

Nasha
Pareshan
Pukaar

25th Dec, 2009 - A legend passed away. Asheem Chakravarty, percussionist and vocalist for Indian Ocean, undoubtedly the country's most acclaimed classical fusion band. They snared music fans with tracks such as Bandeh, Kandisa, Ma rewa, Jhini, Kaun and Hille le. A band best known for their live performances, their music was lovely, rhythmic, spellbinding, orgasmic. Asheem was a man who made music come alive at the touch of his hands and the softness of his voice. He was an endless inspiration for musicians, a honest performer who gave a new dimension to music through his passion. A small tribute as this is, this man remains unforgettable in the hearts of millions of his fans.

A Romanian song,

Cleopatra Stratan - Ghita

If you haven't already been here, http://www.itwofs.com/ is a site that links Bollywood tracks to their original counterparts in Turkey, Spain, Arabia, Indonesia, Japan, Mexico, France, Africa. Seeking to expose plagiarism in Bollywood music which sure abounds in plenty, its always worth a read.

An underground band from Goa, they have had little exposure even in the fledgling Indian rock scene. But if anything can come close to the hugely popular pop rock bands of Pakistan, these guys are surely among them. Delicate vocals backed by mature guitaring which blend together beautifully. The music is soothing and addictive, lyrics are better than average. You have to hear them!

2 of their OCs -

Ek subah
Download here
Lyrics here

Bekhudi
Download here
Lyrics here

After years of compulsively listening to songs and yet not playing any instrument, I decided to learn the guitar. High time, they said! You can get into the mind and soul of a guitarist playing those myriad rock and other songs.

The reason for learning?

Madhulika

A song composed in IIT-D; catchy lyrics, hypnotic tune, great for singing at a campfire.

One among many recordings -



The lyrics -

Pichle garmiyon ki baat hai
main aur mere kuch dost calcuta ki ek choti si basti mein
apne din guzarte thhe
ek kholi thi apni kuch 6 foot by 6 foot

ek din kisine bahar darwaza khatkhataya
kholke dekhta hun toh samne ek 6 saal ki chhoti si bachhi khadi thi
thoda muskrakar ke thoda jhijhak karke usne mujhse poocha
dheeme se boli wo gaana gaane wala kaku ghar mein hai kya
isi basti mein rehti hun naam madhulika
mere dil ko lubhane wala kaku koi gana suna
isi basti mein rehti hun naam madhulika

boli kaku suna tum kuch gaate bajate ho
socha ki mil karke aaoon
thoda tumse gana sunoo aur kuch basti ki nayi nayi baatein bataoon
toh kone mein pada maine apna purana sa local guitar uthaya
aur phir wahi ghisa pita paaji wala gana sunaya

arrey aye paaj border pe daaru peene chal
nahi paaji apun ka gre hai kal
arrey aye paaj border pe daaru peene chal

boli ye bhi koi gana hai aada angrezi mein aur kya hota hai yeh gre
maine kaha gre vre chhod
aur yeh bata teri basti mein ladki kaun hai sabse pyari
boli samne ki kholi mein rehti hai
subah subah baal sukhane chhat par aati hai
baju ki gali mein kaisi bheed lag jati hai
dhunn jab koi gun gunati hai
lalalalalalalalaaaa

boli kaku bata tu itna frustu kyun hai teri girlfriend wageira nahi hai kya
maine kaha thi ek rajkumari
roz kehti thi chhod kyun nahi deta yeh chai aur sutta
bas isi baat par ek na ek din panga ho gaya
aur apni love story ka the end ho gaya

senti mat ho kaku main basti mein dilati hun sundar si sutte wali bandi
sutta peene degi woh chaaye bhi banayegi
kahega toh layegi beer thandi
isi basti mein rehti hun naam madhulika
mere dil ko lubhane wala kaku koi gana suna
isi basti mein rehti hun naam madhulika

raat ko mujhe farsh par akela chhodkar madhulika chali gayi
baki bacha jo din woh kata chai ke dukaan par aur sutte ke sahare

raat kati yun hi din mein subah subah gehri neend se jagaya
samne ki kholi ki khidki se kisine khatkhataya
maine poocha kaun toh awaaz aayi
kaku main hun madhulika
boli samne ki basti ki ladki aayi hai sunne ko tera woh gana
toh kaku woh border woh paaji gre wala gana phir se sunaisi basti mein rehti hai naam

madhulika
mere dil ko lubhane wala kaku koi gana suna
isi basti mein rehti hun naam madhulika

- by Subodh Singh

On a similar note, you could check out "Aye Paaji" (the gre song) here.

A promising movie no doubt, Bollywood is experimenting with alternative forms of music.
"Now this is what a song should be like."

Ishqiya - Dil toh baccha hai ji