Culture Code Landscape (2014) - Adi & Suhail
Aditya Balani (former Advaita member) and Suhail Yusuf Khan (Sarangi and Vocals, Advaita) form this very unconventional duo of "Adi and Suhail". We'd been seeing some videos and internet presence of Adi & Suhail since 2012, perhaps. The album floats between Jazz, Rock, Blues, Sufi and Indian Classical. Aditya Balani packs some amazing guitar solos. The orchestrations around lead instruments and vocals are no short of epic. Suhail Yusuf Khan, as always doesn't cease to surprise us every time with completely maverick, yet deeply rooted and canon Sarangi parts. One'd then ask what's the difference between Advaita and Adi & Suhail? In their hearts, both bands employ Indian Classical, and western elements. But that happens to be the only similarity in the two groups. Advaita is more Indian-sounding, not only through their lyrics, but also through the musical arrangements. Adi & Suhail, on the contrary, are more Sufi-inspired. If you consider a same raag, that is seen in Indian Classical and Sufi arrangements, though it is technically the same set of rules to play / sing notes, there is a huge difference in the aesthetic that these two forms of music achieve. That, according to me is the prime melodic difference. Sufism tends to focus more on aesthete and feeling of a composition, while Indian Classical relies solely on technical clarity in order to achieve a certain feeling. That's the difference between Adi & Suhail and Advaita. To me, Culture Code Landscape sounded eccentric at the first go. In the end, all music is using proper technical expertise in playing an instrument / singing in order to create an aesthetic effect. So better you are technically, more mature your music will be. Adi & Suhail have come up with a very deep and intricate sound at a very young age. Suhail's Sarangi, as I said before conforms strictly with Indian Classical raags, but at the same time plays riffs and hooklines that sound quite different and unique. He can play a blues solo in an Indian Classical Raag, or sometimes even an epic ballad climax. He can play raggae riffs and almost electonic-sounding loops. His sound can have the wisdom of ancient raags, and still fit in neo-style of songs.
Favourite picks: Naina - Quite a nice opening track (which also sounded eccentric to me in the beginning), but what an epic climax to the track! It has sufi lyrics given a new tune, and amazing western orchestration. Dil Tere - Oh the Sarangi riff! And the solos. And Suhail's vocals. Beautifully done! Quite an unusual but amazing track. Zindagi - My top favourite from the lot. This song is downright amazing. It builds on you and seeps in deep. Aditya Balani has played upbeat solo parts, and Suhail's Sarangi harmonies which linger around catchy vocal lines are nothing short of awesome. This song takes the album to a whole new level! The percussion is quick and flamboyant. For some reason, this track always elates me to a level where I feel I there's loads to do in life, and I should get going. Laage Re - Perhaps the most classical-sounding track from the lot. This ballad, based around Raag Marubihag, is very introspective and seems to delve deep. The lyrics are sufi-inspired and Suhail is absolutely brilliant on vocals. The percussions are slow and give you the feeling that you should stop running around other things, and introspect within, but at the same time - the lyrics seek an external beloved. What depth! This again complies with the sufi feeling of singing out to an external beloved, but the song is actually meant for the one holy entity - which is one, which is all. Jogiya - Starts with a kickass bassline. Suhail floats his vocals effortlessly over an electronic riff. This makes the song very groovy. Sorta reminds me of Mofunk from Advaita's "Silent Sea", but not a lot. Suhail has outdone himself with his vocals here! I love the layering of this song - how each element - the bass, percussions, Sarangi, guitar, electronica and vocals have their own identity, but still gel with the overall mood of the song. Brilliant! Qalandar - Though we saw this song in Coke Studio @ MTV - Season 3, before it's release in the album, the album version tends to be edgier and better. It is extremely upbeat in it's percussion, and the drummer's ever-so-flamboyant parts stand out. The more you listen to this song, the more you want to. This electro-rock song is a really cool way to close off the album. All in all, I think this is a crazy album. Unique. Unconventional. Neo. Do give it a listen. Adi & Suhail and their work can be found here:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=l5CgKyOMOUE (Qalandar - Coke Studio @ MTV Season 3)
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