EWS
Apocalypse (Adido):
A revolution has come
about in our countries
Chango Tales (Jatayu):
For crimes caused by
your hunger and need
To build what you’ve come to
call The American Dream”
The hilarity of seeking a new
world (which is no longer a
metaphor, since Elon Musk
actually intends to colonize
Mars) is also addressed.
We’re living through
a dark time, and it has
broken Adido’s heart.
This Goanese wordmaker
introduces himself with a
debut single that attempts
to engender introspection
from the first beat.
The crux of the matter is an
accusation. Humanity has
driven itself dangerously
close to devastation. Now,
that’s not news. Our world is
playing with the possibility
of annihilation, all directed
towards the dream of a “first
world”. This is a particular
target of Adido’s ire, and
understandably so.
“I see what you’ve done
with your industries
“Not realising the irreversible
damage you bring
And now you’re looking
for a new world?”
Adido’s ideology is impeccable,
and his verbiage is admirable.
While his wordplay can be
considered unpolished, it
resonates with authentic
anguish. At key moments,
however, his delivery is more
akin to the auspices of slam
poetry than hip-hop. For one
thing, his breathplay is still
nascent, in the midst of taking
form. The rage characteristic of
street rhymes is not noticeable,
and one will have to revisit his
subsequent works to seek the
catharsis of spitfire poesy.
Interpretation is an
exhausting exercise. Why
else would millions of
seemingly free will-laden
people around the world
agree with obviously awful
ideas? Because paying close
attention, formulating
relatively unbiased opinion
and going against the grain of
popular agreement can be, if
not fatal, distinctly tedious.
Why bring this up? Because
to language-driven,
communication-hungry
humans, instrumental
music can be simultaneously
liberating and baffling. On the
one hand, you are free to chip
out your own tales around
the sound. Conversely, if you
are anything like me, you are
obsessed with trying to figure
out the artist’s intention,
thereby googling too much
and eventually bewildering
yourself. Jatayu’s Chango
Tales engenders this conflict,
and keeps it going until
the last minute of the EP.
Chango Tales is cunning
craft, it's story vacillating
between somber ominosity
and sprightly skill. Like all
good jazz, this Chennai-based
quartet creates music that is
deeply visual and redolent
with story. Clearly, the
band is aware of the history
of the genre, as they take
hold of their storytelling
and expand it to slightly
surreal proportions.
To quote Jatayu,
“Who Is Chango?
Chango is I.
Chango is You.
Chango is the crimson fire
that burns bright within.”
The promise of inclusiveness
is delivered on throughout.
Through the lens of expertly
woven jazz-rock offerings
that are laden with Carnatic
whiplash, they impart sonic
tales that could range from
Sunday morning stimulation
to strange musings on a
Thursday evening commute.
Basically, their music can be
transposed to innumerable
lives, and would fit with equal
ease into each. Whatever
the story playing in your
head, it will find a pertinent
soundtrack somewhere
between Shingara and Pazhi.
The
Score Magazine
highonscore.com
23