Midival Punditz - Hello Hello

Delhi- based Midival Punditz are back with their latest offering ‘Hello Hello’. Released on Six Degrees Records, this is their third album co-produced with Karsh Kale who also comes in as vocalist, multi-instrumentalist and songwriter. ‘Hello Hello’ is a beautifully distilled amalgamation of the Punditz’ varied influences, taking listeners to distinct worlds, intoxicating them with an aberrant fusion of styles. 

Pop melodies and Friday night dance beats, are infused with talk box vocals and inspired flute bits on the opening track ‘Electric Universe’, with lyrics calling out, “Turn on your mind/this is the night, turn on the lights/ to the universe”. The infectiously groovy ‘Tonic’ features haunting Sufi-style vocals and an improvised bilingual rap by actor/performance artist Ajay Naidu, one of the many pioneering artists the duo has collaborated with on this album. ‘Desolate’ is a very grungy, bass heavy track featuring impassioned vocals by Shahid, the song probes dark hues of abandonment and loneliness. The soulful and ambient ‘Naina Laagey’ is reminiscent of the Punditz’ earlier works, with vocals by Assamese singer/composer Papon.

 
The duo have experimented a lot more with techno and electronica on this album, songs like ‘The Lucky One’ and  ‘Atomizer’ have very minimal Indian sounds. The latter consisting of hard rock guitar riffs and thumping drums. ‘Four Sticks’, a Led Zeppelin cover in collaboration with Israeli electro-jazz band, J.Viewz is just plain brilliant. The two also bring back one of Mirza Ghalibs’s classics ‘Har Ek Baat’, giving it their signature treatment.

Every song in this album is unique in its own right, an inspired piece of work, this album has purity —  — it encompasses all the diverse genres that have influenced the Punditz’ journey as musicians and is sure to engage, entertain and illuminate its audiences.