We have seen bands create some really interesting expressions off late, under the tag of indie music. Not only is the uniqueness of each instrument, sound and band vastly prominent, but also some tastefully innovative ideas and scenarios that have emerged from this new wave of independent and expressive music. We’ ve picked out two albums for this month’ s issue that exemplify exactly this.
ALBUMS TO LOOK OUT FOR!
We have seen bands create some really interesting expressions off late, under the tag of indie music. Not only is the uniqueness of each instrument, sound and band vastly prominent, but also some tastefully innovative ideas and scenarios that have emerged from this new wave of independent and expressive music. We’ ve picked out two albums for this month’ s issue that exemplify exactly this.
The Family Cheese’ s Self Titled Album
The Family Cheese has had a long-standing history of being different, on literally every possible musical level. Each instrument has its own defining style that binds and holds the band together regardless of how many tonal, dynamic, meter and even genre changes their tracks go through. As if to say this weren’ t unique enough, their drummer also sings and raps for the band.
This multitude of ideas and musicality was always prevalent in their live shows, but is especially visible in their new selftitled LP.
The Rap Song hits it off with a story of a Parsi boy in his teens, but what grabs your attention more than the hilarious plot is the internal pop influence trying to cut through conventional rap. You can probably never go back to your quintessential drum machine rap songs after experiencing the musicality in this track.
B. O. O. B’ s intro and feel definitely gave me a Dream Theater / Rush vibe with the phrasings and odd meter styles used. The main interest though, is the subtle Carnatic influence that makes itself felt despite all the fancy rhythm work across a span of eight minutes.
UNIR dials it down with a mellow tone, with a hint of classic rock that occasionally bleeds in. While the vocals don’ t seem striking in the album, it would definitely be a joy to watch the drummer pull it off live.
Sometimes All U Need drops the mood further down the lazy bar, not just with respect to the tempo, but also the textures used across the song. The sarangi taking over in a folk / gospel track was an unexpectedly brilliant and ridiculously tasteful concept, which doesn’ t cease to give me goosebumps even on repeat.
Lala definitely changes the previous mood though, rushing and pacing heavily through with simple and powerful Carnatic phrasings and pleasingly chaotic drums. The length of the track doesn’ t go too well with the pace of the song, and although it may seem stretched out to some, you can never get tired of odd time licks.
Stories Of The Places You’ ve Never Been seems to be influenced by the band’ s extensive travel across India over the years and how it has come to shape them. The acoustic layer and harmonies hit you hard with a Pink Floyd-ish vibe, and that can pretty much never be a bad thing.
Blue and Pissed Off brings you a new age Nickelback vocal feel, but is very well handled across the track with regular yet subtle ideas popping through the rock vibe.
The album is pretty much summed up conceptually and stylistically with the last track, Cheese. Although you’ re left with a want for a more vocal finale, this instrumental track brilliantly weaves together all the musician’ s iconic sounds and leaves you wanting more. For an audience that yearns for expressive music, this album is a must have.
The Score Magazine
36 www. thescoremagazine. com