SMG – Let’s Create The Time EP
★★★½
Mumbai-based, Punjabi-origin hip-hop artists SMG have seen a meteoric rise with singles like “C.R.E.A.M. Posse” and “Bexley .Street”. They’re now fast to observe up their February EP Sidewalk to Stardom with a brand new set of six songs, on Let’s Create The Time EP through Mass Enchantment. The trio, comprising Farmaan, Massive Kay and Baggh-e, are clearly eager on retaining their type sturdy, and so they just do that. SMG are verbose and confident of their Punjabi rap, and their Mumbai upbringing slips in simply lengthy sufficient to convey a definite trendy vibe that places them a lower above the remainder, not less than language-wise. The rappers all take activates the mic, hitting hardest on resolute songs like “LMK,” although their distinctive stream and cadence is equally evident on tracks like “It’s Laborious.” Luxurious meets rage-fueled bars on “Method Up” with its staccato, gun shot-like beats, whereas “Velvet Rage” shifts gears with a quicker tempo, proving that they’re effectively on their option to changing into a formidable identify in Punjabi hip-hop.
KR$NA – Yours Really
★★★★
New Delhi hip-hop star KR$NA is known as a veteran within the opening skit to his mixtape Yours Really, and it’s a tag he wears with equal doses of unassuming humility and earned knowledge throughout 15 tracks. Mixtapes are at all times a flex of versatility, and few can carry that off like KR$NA, although the rapper hasn’t given us a undertaking of this scale shortly. Teaming up with everybody from producers Phenom, Karan Kanchan in addition to rap kings Raftaar, Badshah, Seedhe Maut, Yashraj, Awich and Aitch, KR$NA goes from power to power. He attracts from all the things in his orbit, from addressing criticism round his irregular releases on the openhearted, gratitude-bearing “Nothing To Show” to difficult performative political correctness within the raucous “Delicate” with Seedhe Maut. KR$NA’s songs are effectively on their option to by no means having an expiration date, from the conversational Japanese-Hindi hook in “Hi there” that includes Awich and Karan Kanchan, tothe buoyant, increase bap-styled “Discuss My Shit/Assure.” He’s humorous, he’s weak and he’s indefatigable. That’s Yours Really for you.
Seedhe Maut – DL91 FM
★★★★
Between KR$NA, Rawal and several other extra, it’s secure to say it’s mixtape season. With the launch of the brand new label DL91, Seedhe Maut and buddies take issues a notch increased with a large 30-track mixtape. 2023’s Lunch Break additionally gave the desi hip-hop scene 30 tracks to lap up, so now you realize what quantity Calm and Encore ABJ cease at. However that is amount and high quality in good measure. Nobody can say Seedhe Maut don’t give their followers sufficient, and with DL91 FM it’s much more various and collab-heavy.
Encore ABJ references their scathing 2019 “Scalp Dem” straight off within the opening observe “Capital Rap,” which additionally options an understated, pulsing home beat from their protégé Hurricane. There’s the micro mosh pit-ready “Maar Kaat” with Lil Bhavi, melodic strains on “Pancake” and introspective storytelling on “Madira.” In the event you weren’t already acquainted, the likes of OG Lucifer, Ab 17 and extra let you know why they’re price your time. Hurricane is the polished gem right here, along with his auto-tuned manufacturing type in “Akela” with Ghaatak taking Seedhe Maut into new sonic terrain. The online game, synth-fueled beats of “Aadat” is additional proof that the extra Seedhe Maut broaden their sonic palette, the extra they’re staying rooted.
The Anirudh Varma Collective – Sabr
★★★½
New Delhi composer, producer and pianist Anirudh Varma brings large band conductor vitality on the subject of his initiatives on stage and within the studio. How else do you clarify over 50 artists assembled to carry out on the Anirudh Varma Collective’s third album Sabr? The riffs, trumpet and tabla amalgamation on “Sadde Naal” ignites the 12-track album into motion. Vocalist Saptak Chatterjee lights up renditions just like the flute-fed “Gavati” splendidly. The ensemble’s prior single “Mausam” pairs Divyam Sodhi and Kavya Singh (who handed away earlier than the discharge of Sabr) in a soothing reminder of transience. Whereas mainly involved with Indian classical, the trendy digital thrives on songs like “Raas Rachat” point out that Varma is usually about subtlety. However generally it helps to be loud and highly effective, and perhaps Varma might do with extra touches just like the built-up electrical guitar solo on “Raas Rachat.” A Carnatic taste (“Saraswati”), lush sarod (“Kuchh Doori”) and Kabir’s mystic poetry (Pavithra Chari on “Saadho”) put Varma among the many most versatile Indian fusion artists proper now.
Gauley Bhai – Sunbari
★★★½
Kalimpong-origin, Nepali folk-rock band Gauley Bhai‘s second album Sunbari interprets into “a area the place gold grows.” So it begs the query going into the 9 tracks: have they struck gold once more after their 2019 album Joro? We’re completely happy to report that they, in actual fact, have. Tales of house, rural life and extra are fed over flittering grooves and guitar melodies which might be seemingly Tinariwen-informed. The album floats by easily on songs like “Dara Pahara” and “Pakyo Hai,” whereas tracks like”Kaalo Saap” actually convey that stomp and groove. However issues get actually wild on “Sadiyantra” with pressing drumming and impassioned vocals driving the vitality full throttle. You’re actually strapped in for the experience by the point vocalist-violinist Veecheet Dhakal’s steely violin work meets fuzzy riffs by Siddhant Mani Chettri on “Abhagi.” From dissonant jazz/blues (“Bhok”) to people tales and psychedelia, Gauley Bhai dig deeper and emerge with a stronger sonic id on Sunbari.
Alva Kuuto – Alva Kuuto
★★★½
Tulu singer-songwriter Praveen Alva has been proudly owning phases in South India) along with his storytelling chops. Now, with the band Alva Kuuto’s debut self-titled album, they appear to be tapping right into a extra various sonic and emotional depth. The eight-track album has a rollercoaster-like arc, from playful (“Ashana”) to wistful (“Ee”) to funky (“Gongey” to pumped up (“Pukkele”). Alva’s throaty shouts on songs like “Pukkele” and hovering guitar solos on “Pageyta Pugey” pull them into Rage Towards The Machine territory, and producer Varun Murali’s fingerprints are throughout this— drawing from being producer-guitarist for folk-rockers Swarathma, which simply appears to suit. Better of all, Alva Kuuto paint a sonic image that doesn’t essentially want a translated lyrics sheet to get the vibe, and that’s a win.
Bebhumika – Uyir Ponaalum
★★★½
Tamil pop goes locations and it has the likes of Bebhumika to thank. Whereas large label-backed forces like Sai Abhyankkar are shining, the singer-songwriter is making her personal strikes with Uyir Ponaalum, inserting futuristic pop over flowery Tamil lyrics. She vouches for taking on area like your favourite film hero on “Thalapathi,” traverses a Tamil-Hindi jam with Samad Khan on “Megham” and has an acoustic ballad straight out of a Tamil movie with “Uyire.” Pixlpxl does plenty of the manufacturing heavy lifting, whereas Flameboi can also be a part of the combo on “Thalapathi.” Artist Shiv Paul provides a definite people beat taste to “Unnul Naan,” however Bebhumika’s elegant R&B vocal sport is the true famous person, with a fast rap detour on the house-inspired title observe. It’s not straightforward bridging worlds when making an attempt to convey extra nationwide highlight to Tamil music, however Bebhumika breathes unimaginable vitality into this motion.