Album Review: Bangalore Blues from Radha Thomas and Aman Mahajan
Album: Bangalore Blues
Artists: Radha Thomas and Aman Mahajan
Label: Subcontinental Records
Website: www.radhathomas.com
Based in Bangalore, India, vocalist Radha Thomas and keyboardist Aman Mahajan intertwine musical elements inherent in their native culture, offering their own brand of smooth ambient jazz. Intrinsically comparable to the charismatic vocalese of Nina Simone, Mahajan's delicate musings on the piano keys radiate a classical orchestral luster as the duo interlock blues, rap, and cool jazz on their latest effort Bangalore Blues.
The pair administer a personalized touch on their tracks, fusing Thomas's alto-bass register with Mahajan's sparsely kindled doodles. Melodies like "Load Shedding" and "Only Illusion" are led by Thomas's stark vocals, reflecting about life's circumstances and contemplating a course to take. The provocative lilt in Thomas's narrative vocals evoke the listener to join her in considering her quandary.
The cat-like strut of Thomas's vocals in the title track elicits a warm sentiment in the listener as she reflects, "I can't get up and go / cause i ain't got the dough / I'm stuck here in the sleet and the rain and the snow / I dream of purple trees / gardens filled with bees / I'm down with an awful case of the Bangalore Blues." The fluidity of her breathy vocals move in sync with the softly glinting keys in a hypnotic sway. Articulately, Mahajan's keys carpet "The Morning After" with downy creases, giving Thomas an opportunity to exercise the versatility in her vocal range, shifting between rapping the lyrics to delivering the verses in smooth bluesy wisps.
The duo produce smooth ambient jazz on their latest recording, making music that propagates an ethereal ambience conducive to evoking self-reflections. Blues, rap, and cool jazz are simmered to a smooth sheen, breeding music that is entrancing and elegantly strewn.
Musicians:
Radha Thomas: vocals, composition, lyrics
Aman Mahajan: piano, Fender Rhodes, composition
Artists: Radha Thomas and Aman Mahajan
Label: Subcontinental Records
Website: www.radhathomas.com
Based in Bangalore, India, vocalist Radha Thomas and keyboardist Aman Mahajan intertwine musical elements inherent in their native culture, offering their own brand of smooth ambient jazz. Intrinsically comparable to the charismatic vocalese of Nina Simone, Mahajan's delicate musings on the piano keys radiate a classical orchestral luster as the duo interlock blues, rap, and cool jazz on their latest effort Bangalore Blues.
The cat-like strut of Thomas's vocals in the title track elicits a warm sentiment in the listener as she reflects, "I can't get up and go / cause i ain't got the dough / I'm stuck here in the sleet and the rain and the snow / I dream of purple trees / gardens filled with bees / I'm down with an awful case of the Bangalore Blues." The fluidity of her breathy vocals move in sync with the softly glinting keys in a hypnotic sway. Articulately, Mahajan's keys carpet "The Morning After" with downy creases, giving Thomas an opportunity to exercise the versatility in her vocal range, shifting between rapping the lyrics to delivering the verses in smooth bluesy wisps.
The duo produce smooth ambient jazz on their latest recording, making music that propagates an ethereal ambience conducive to evoking self-reflections. Blues, rap, and cool jazz are simmered to a smooth sheen, breeding music that is entrancing and elegantly strewn.
Musicians:
Radha Thomas: vocals, composition, lyrics
Aman Mahajan: piano, Fender Rhodes, composition
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