It’s Advaita Once More

The first time we heard the Delhi-based band,Advaita,it was in the year 2004. The band members were fresh out of college and the sound — a blend of Hindustani classical and rock — was concocted in such a way that it was difficult to put the music into a genre. The first album titled ‘Grounded in Space’,released in 2008,and was rustic yet groovy and,in some parts,meditative. The album opened to rave reviews. Three years later,the band is all set to release its second album,which is being recorded at the Yash Raj Studios in Mumbai. The untitled album will be released by EMI in October.

“We wanted to record this album right after the first one. But a lack of funds did not allow us to do so. Success of your first album is no guarantee for funds for your second one. This one is the

Advaita sound with a newness to it. It isn’t as raw as the first one,” says Chayan Adhikari,the vocalist of the band.

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Comprising 10 tracks,the new album reworks Advaita’s favourite theme — of going back home after a journey.

The album opens with Gorakh — a bandish-based,medium-paced track that is inspired from Raag Gorakh Kalyan. All members of the band — Abhishek Mathur on guitar,Anindo Bose on keyboard,Gaurav Chintamani on bass,Aman Singh on drums,Ujjwal Nigam on Hindustani vocals,Sohail Khan on sarangi,Mohit Lal on tabla and vocalist Adhikari — are a part of this song. The prog-rock number called Dust,breaks free of Adavaita’s penchant for Indian classical elements. Mofunk,on the other hand,gives Carnatic music a groovy feel.