Music Reviews

Exceptional melodies

Some of the most well-known names in the alternative music scene come together in Carlsberg Exceptionals. There’s the Delhi band, Menwhopause, to start with, singing Can't we be dreaming.

A number that’s bound to stay with you, for its guitar bits and lyrics. This is followed by Puppet and paupers, a soft, soothing number, and Lost, another dreamy number. Then, there is Advaita’s  number, Suspended, a real treat, especially for its Hindustani vocals that blend so well with Western musical accompaniments. The collection also has bands such as Them Clones, Swarathma with their two Hindi numbers, Pyar ke rang and Patte saare.

There are also two numbers by Something Relevant, Aha and Mr Invisible. Aha has the same effect on me as the Alabama Song by Jim Morrison. Aha is a peppy, fun number that you’ll want to sing along. Arko & Dev, the Kolkata band of Arkapravo Mukherjee and Bishwadev Bhaumik, have two numbers in this album, Aazadi De Waqt Se and Yeh Haq Hamara Hai.

Aazado De Waqt Se is an angsty number, with some soul-stirring lyrics. The album ends with two pieces by The Supersonics and Midival Punditz each.
Savitha Karthik

Foot-tapping numbers
All the time I thought about you
I saw your eyes and they were so blue
I could read there just one name
My name, my name, my name.... crooned Akcent and gained a whole lot of followers right from their native Romania to India. When you listen to this song from the title song of their album, Akcent That’s My Name, you’ll know just why.

The music is groovy, and the lyrics, romantic and sentimental. With 17 tracks, the album features some foot-tapping numbers such as Love Stoned, My passion, Stay with me, Happy people, Spanish lover, Lovers cry, Tears feat, I turn around the world, Runaway, next to me, True believer, Delight and Make me shiver. The bonus tracks include a Yves Larock’s remix of That’s my name, Fred Lilla’s remix of My passion and Eric Chase’s remix of Love stoned.

However, for their fans, their most popular single, Kylie,  has no place in the album.
While there is a certain similarity in their beats, it is the lyrics that will keep playing in your head, long after you’ve switched off your music system. ...And you will stay in my heart as I knew from the start, And you will stay in my heart never keep you apart.
Veena Pradeep