Bengaluru-based alternative rock band Blushing Satellite may have been laying low for the past two years, but the new nine-track album, The Union, marks a triumphant return to the scene. “The album is a reflection of my spiritual journey over the last two years. The songs are a result of a lot of self reflection,” reveals Ramanan Chandramouli, the vocalist and guitarist. The ‘union’ refers to the union of Shiva and Shakti, yin and yang, male and female and, vibration and silence. The sound of the album is progressive and introspective, but groovy. The album is being launched at Blue Frog this weekend.
Talking of inspirations, Ramanan says, “Conceptually, the inspirations are Eastern philosophy and spirituality. Musically, I’m very drawn to bands like Pink Floyd and Karnivool who explore concept album’s and treat the entire album as a single piece of music and not separate songs.”
The 15-minute track, Dream – Nightmare – Union meanders between ambient and peaceful to dark and ghastly. “Aurally, I’ve tried to create a palette for this saga which takes you through different moods and emotions from feeling like you’re floating in the clouds to being stuck in a very intense Alfred Hitchcock movie,” he tells us.
The album art, by artist Pia Meenakshi from Gumani is a modern-day interpretation of Shiva, Parvati, Ganesh and Muruga all coming together in a Mandala-like fashion. Talking about the gig, Ramanan says, “We have designed a complete psychedelic visual set that's going to provide a wholesome experience for the audience and in the process tune them inward.”
September 24, 7.30 pm. At Blue Frog, Church Street. Tickets (Rs. 249) on insider.in
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