The Item Number

The band’s music does not fall under any accepted genre,but Euphoria,which is one of the oldest band from the Capital,has always breathed Hindi rock — a genre they have pioneered. Now,after a gap of five years,the band has released its fifth album. “It has been five years since our last album,Mehfooz ,was released. Five years of happiness and strife,concerts and travel,music and tears. In the times when only film music is released and heard,here we are with the non-film music retort,” says Sen,who was busy with a slew of gigs across the world all this while.

The nine-track album named Item (Universal,Rs 150),which has been produced minus Benjamine Pinto and Hitesh Madan,and with two new additions in the line-up — Vinayak Gupta and Amborish Saikia — opens with Ram Ali,which has a dhol back beat playing with some electronic guitar and interesting lyrics. This is followed by CU Later — a song with The Strings (Pakistani band) kind of feel to it. But it is Sajna that has the typical Euphoria sound. The track is slightly predictable but it has a lovely tinge to it. This is followed by Kabootar and Dukeli. Item,the title track is the last on the list,but it is definitely a treat. With a brass band playing along with rustic folk lyrics and interesting beats,this one is a winner.

But a title like Item is not expected from a band like Euphoria,that has come up with albums like Dhoom and Mehfooz in the past. “Well,it is essentially the same sound and melody. We have come a long way and have matured in terms of writing a song. The sound of it is slightly more modern and youthful,but we have tried to pack that signature Euphoria punch in it,” says DJ,the band’s bass guitarist.