Padmini Records Includes Monophonik, Shantam, Chhabb & More On 'Yaar–Dost | vol. 2'

Padmini Records, the label by Nikhil Kaul aka Frame/Frame and Sahil Mendiratta aka Inspector Maal, has just put out its sophomore release in the form of the second edition of their compilation 'Yaar–Dost'.

With the self-asserted role of "tracing the strange, trippy currents that run underneath India’s dancefloors", the compilation favours selections where a visceral rhythm anchors the body while everything else is constructed to unanchor the mind. Any tangible melody or motif to hold onto is buried and subdued in the guttural layers, while the more piercing ends of the arrangement are decorated with fever dream collages of voices, like on Sid Praja's 'Ishq', 'Pamela's Workout' by Monophonik or Rajah Betta's 'But...', by synth artefacts disguising as chirps of critters on Chhabb's 'Mystical Notes from a Swamp', or by the more usual washes of pads and reverb.

Zequenx and label-head Inspector Maal lean further into the psychedelic nature of the compilation with the whirring acid squelches on their tracks 'Con Summe' and 'Saare Nashe' respectively, as Nikhil Kaul's alternate moniker Angus 12 focuses on the sound design of his bassline to do most of the heavy lifting, taking a cue from the likes of Joy Orbison and joining Monophonik's 'Pamela's Workout' in its approach. As each of the 12 tracks leans on a relentless intensity, Shantam's 'Speedy' stands out as he highlights the underlying swagger of the breakbeat, taking it from a hip-hop pulse to the funk of UK garage while offering the compilation's least dark outing.

Listen to 'Yaar–Dost | vol. 2' below and follow Padmini Records for more.