Bengal Chemicals Channels Deteriorating Cityscapes On Sophomore EP 'তারক' Via Biswa Bangla Noise
9 May 2023
One of the hotbeds of experimental, noise and leftfield music in India, Kolkata's latest standout work in the style has come through Pritam Das, who goes by the moniker Bengal Chemicals. The producer has released his sophomore EP 'তারক' through the noise imprint Biswa Bangla Noise.
After the dramatic Boards Of Canada-like nostalgic string harmonies placating the grit of the noisy textures into emotional ambiences on the opening number, the 6-track release moves on to marry the noise with samples from sounds of the urban cities. Street noises and religious chants (the Islamic call to prayer making repeated appearances) become central characters of the subsequent numbers.
Das' juxtaposition of the samples with the dissonant layers augments the cacophony of urban noises while also seeming to comment on the cacophony as a musical presence. Ultimately, the combinations feel like sonic montages of a city that's deteriorating, rusting and breaking apart mercurially.
Listen to 'তারক' below and follow Biswa Bangla Noise for more information.
Artwork by Revant Dasgupta