Indian Ocean -- Asheem, Sushmit, Amit and RahulBoss, I have a great story, says the hack. Asks the editor, what is the provocation? News is all about timing.
Try doing a story about Obama's chances in 2006 and try doing it now. On the other hand, if it was Osama in 2001, it's Obama in 2008 (may be, therein -- in the name, that is -- lies the reason why methinks Hillary is going to eventually prevail. Americans are ready to forgive a Clinton, Monica Lewinsky and rest of the warts and all, rather than a name that rhymes alarmingly similar to the most hated name in the western world.)
Poor bloke, that Shakespeare, he got it all wrong, about the Rose by any other name being a Rose thingy. Names matter. Or so at least one of, if not both, the Clintons think (as per prevalent Patel Nagar wisdom). Besides, it's not fair to hold Obama responsible for Osama. To confuse Obama with Osama would be as unfair as confusing Hillary Clinton with Fellatio.
Heck, this is not about Clinton or Obama. Or even about fellatio. Far from it.
This is about stories and wrong timings. Or lets say about there being no timings for at least some stories. Some things are about instinct. And this one is about instinct, alright. You go with the flow, just as I am doing right now.
In my two decades in journalism, I have written about politics, done food reviews, film reviews and even the odd book review. But I have -- to my credit -- a single music review that I wrote sometime in 1991. Lack of opportunity combined splendidly with lack of knowledge of music to ensure my infinite wisdom on music remained limited to a solitary piece on what was then a young music group. I am referring to Indian Ocean.
An ode after a gap of almost two decades follows an hour on my newly acquired I-pod of listening to Indian Ocean's best works over the past decade and a half. The rum and coke were perfect accompaniments.
Not just perfect, even faithful. First time I ever went to Rana's house, and witnessed first hand the magic that the man weaves with his guitar, I distinctly remember the rum was there that night too. At some point of time we ran out of coke, but there was enough rum and music to make that evening rather special.
Rana is Sushmit. Sushmit Sen. A friend, a serious rum drinker and a guitarist extraordinaire. When we first met, he was already a famous rum drinker, and his reputation as a guitarist of considerable talent was only growing. Now his impressive CV has another highlight -- a friend of yours truly for almost close to two decades.
That first evening at his house in Mayur Vihar, he first fiddled with, then fine tuned his guitar as we settled down with rather generous measures of Old Monk. As he started playing a few compositions, conversation ceased, and for the next hour or so, all those lucky to be there were transported to a world of Melancholic Ecstasy. Melancholic Ecstasy is one of the earliest compositions of Indian Ocean, it remains among one of their finest.
During the period I have known Sushmit and his group, Indian Ocean has become a household name in India amidst the more discerning music lovers, and a name to reckon with in the western music world. Sadly though, rum-soaked nights have become increasingly rare, the addas unfortunately held hostage by Indian Ocean's hectic international schedule.
All through these years, and the success they have brought, Sushmit has not changed much.He remains as bashful as ever, still preferring his guitar (he is notoriously reluctant to lend his vocals to any of the songs) to do his talking for him. He still remains more lucid at 11 pm than he is at 11 am.
Impressive as he is, Sushmit is just one of the four excellent reasons why one likes, nay loves, Indian Ocean. The other three being (not necessarily in that order) Asheem Chakravarty, Rahul Ram and Amit Kilam .The beauty of Indian Ocean's music is, and has always been, that the sum of these parts is far greater than the impressive individual parts.
I don't quite remember what exactly I had written all those years ago in that piece I had penned for Delhi Mid Day on Indian Ocean. I do remember quite clearly though that i had stated it is difficult to define, or label, a music that seduces your ears, charms your senses and then goes on to stir your soul. To the lasting credit of Indian Ocean, they continue to do the same even today.
As I listen to Maa Reva, I can't help but think how, like good rum, the music of Indian Ocean makes you feel much better at the end of each composition than you did at the beginning.
How do you describe Indian Ocean's music? When I don my music reviwer's hat, I come up with profound expressions like "when genius meets sublime". But a description closer to my heart, and one that I suspect would meet the approval of Sushmit and his band members, would be "when rum meets rhythm".
Try doing a story about Obama's chances in 2006 and try doing it now. On the other hand, if it was Osama in 2001, it's Obama in 2008 (may be, therein -- in the name, that is -- lies the reason why methinks Hillary is going to eventually prevail. Americans are ready to forgive a Clinton, Monica Lewinsky and rest of the warts and all, rather than a name that rhymes alarmingly similar to the most hated name in the western world.)
Poor bloke, that Shakespeare, he got it all wrong, about the Rose by any other name being a Rose thingy. Names matter. Or so at least one of, if not both, the Clintons think (as per prevalent Patel Nagar wisdom). Besides, it's not fair to hold Obama responsible for Osama. To confuse Obama with Osama would be as unfair as confusing Hillary Clinton with Fellatio.
Heck, this is not about Clinton or Obama. Or even about fellatio. Far from it.
This is about stories and wrong timings. Or lets say about there being no timings for at least some stories. Some things are about instinct. And this one is about instinct, alright. You go with the flow, just as I am doing right now.
In my two decades in journalism, I have written about politics, done food reviews, film reviews and even the odd book review. But I have -- to my credit -- a single music review that I wrote sometime in 1991. Lack of opportunity combined splendidly with lack of knowledge of music to ensure my infinite wisdom on music remained limited to a solitary piece on what was then a young music group. I am referring to Indian Ocean.
An ode after a gap of almost two decades follows an hour on my newly acquired I-pod of listening to Indian Ocean's best works over the past decade and a half. The rum and coke were perfect accompaniments.
Not just perfect, even faithful. First time I ever went to Rana's house, and witnessed first hand the magic that the man weaves with his guitar, I distinctly remember the rum was there that night too. At some point of time we ran out of coke, but there was enough rum and music to make that evening rather special.
Rana is Sushmit. Sushmit Sen. A friend, a serious rum drinker and a guitarist extraordinaire. When we first met, he was already a famous rum drinker, and his reputation as a guitarist of considerable talent was only growing. Now his impressive CV has another highlight -- a friend of yours truly for almost close to two decades.
That first evening at his house in Mayur Vihar, he first fiddled with, then fine tuned his guitar as we settled down with rather generous measures of Old Monk. As he started playing a few compositions, conversation ceased, and for the next hour or so, all those lucky to be there were transported to a world of Melancholic Ecstasy. Melancholic Ecstasy is one of the earliest compositions of Indian Ocean, it remains among one of their finest.
During the period I have known Sushmit and his group, Indian Ocean has become a household name in India amidst the more discerning music lovers, and a name to reckon with in the western music world. Sadly though, rum-soaked nights have become increasingly rare, the addas unfortunately held hostage by Indian Ocean's hectic international schedule.
All through these years, and the success they have brought, Sushmit has not changed much.He remains as bashful as ever, still preferring his guitar (he is notoriously reluctant to lend his vocals to any of the songs) to do his talking for him. He still remains more lucid at 11 pm than he is at 11 am.
Impressive as he is, Sushmit is just one of the four excellent reasons why one likes, nay loves, Indian Ocean. The other three being (not necessarily in that order) Asheem Chakravarty, Rahul Ram and Amit Kilam .The beauty of Indian Ocean's music is, and has always been, that the sum of these parts is far greater than the impressive individual parts.
I don't quite remember what exactly I had written all those years ago in that piece I had penned for Delhi Mid Day on Indian Ocean. I do remember quite clearly though that i had stated it is difficult to define, or label, a music that seduces your ears, charms your senses and then goes on to stir your soul. To the lasting credit of Indian Ocean, they continue to do the same even today.
As I listen to Maa Reva, I can't help but think how, like good rum, the music of Indian Ocean makes you feel much better at the end of each composition than you did at the beginning.
How do you describe Indian Ocean's music? When I don my music reviwer's hat, I come up with profound expressions like "when genius meets sublime". But a description closer to my heart, and one that I suspect would meet the approval of Sushmit and his band members, would be "when rum meets rhythm".
1 comment:
An Indian friend had gifted me a CD of Indian Ocean about three years ago. Since then I have been hooked on to their music. They are so very good. My only wish is one day I can get to hear them live.
Post a Comment