
Songs For A Tired City - In Plain Sight [Subcontinental - 2022]" /> |
The second in a series of intimate, sonic looks at life in New Delhi, Songs For A Tired City (Shiv Ahuja and Jayant Manchanda) have taken a more inward approach to the people and places with In Plain Sight. An engaging mix of minimal electronic soundscape, field recordings, hindustani vocals, bansuri, and found sounds, the album acts as an electronic travelogue. Bringing forth an inner mystique to imagine an alternative future, the duo says the album "invokes longing for a past [we] never actually experienced and a sense of disquiet for a future [we] don't want to experience." Spread over ten tracks of very varied length, In Plain Sight is an expertly unpredictable album. Like life in a massive, heavily populated city, the myriad factors of each person's existence are compounded upon each other leaving chance to play out in millions of ways each second. Despite the global city of New Delhi's influence as genesis of this album, their inward approach keeps it more isolated and personal, not only for the artist but for the listener. While field recordings and samples add to the atmosphere and help to flesh out the scale of the recording, the soft, minimalist soundscapes are what really captures the listener. Bringing forth the human element of a city allows Songs to focus more on the emotions that are involved and this is shown in the evocative, quiet synthesizers. Letting the listener subconsciously connect with the people and places, the mind is allowed to roam and explore, imagine and connect. This approach gives for a highly organic experience.
Soon to be released on Subcontinental Records, Songs For A Tired City's sophomore effort, In Plain Sight is an engaging trip through the people, activities, and emotions of New Delhi. As a companion piece to their first record, Songs For A Tired City, this second album eschews the outside hustle and bustle and focuses on inward journeys. Built around minimalism, field recordings, and even some classic Indian instruments, this album allows the listener to sit back and take a trip, both across the globe and across their subconscious. To find out more     Paul Casey
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