Soulmate - Shillong

When I first heard of the band Soulmate, I looked them up on google and got linked to their homepage. Over there I heard some demos which I didn't like much. But little did I know then that I'd be blown away completely when I was to hear the whole album. Soulmate, the band from Shillong, has come a long way since starting off in 2001. Playing an eclectic mixture of blues and rock, their sound is completely original in the Indian rock circuit. Their debut album, Shillong was released in 2005 on the OML record label. The artwork has to be one of the best things in the package which is of a single open window of a house in Shillong (homage to the album title). The inaly contains lyrics to the songs on the album and is a delight to read while listening to the songs.

The album starts of "Love You". A guitar riff marks the opening of the song. The song is about how a lover misses his love. Aptly titled "Love You" and with Rudy on vocals, it's a catchy start to the album. The album then moves onto "The Price". Vocal duties get taken over by Tipriti. The song describes what a lover feels for her love. This song makes you want to sing along with Tips. Then we move onto 'If You Were My Guitar". A long track with an improvised jam in the middle reminds of true blues of the 70's.

Good arrangement on songs such as "I Am", "My Baby" make an interesting middle half of the album. "I Am" is all about being yourself and accepting the way you are, vocals again done by Tipriti. "My Baby" is vocals with a guitar and has a good feel to it. The gemsof the album has to be "St. Valentine's Day Blues" and "Shillong (Sier Lapalang)". St. Valentine's Day Blues" is an instrumental piece, which reminds you of the bluegrass and country movement of the 60's. "Shillong (Sier Lapalang)" is another instrumental piece which is based on an improvised jam. A solid trip of 7 minutes. Guitar solos, keyboard passages, the works. A ideal single off the album would either be "The Price" or "Love You". The arrangement on both tracks has to be close to superb, with justice done with the vocals department.

A thing that bothered me was that the songs sound very similar. Songs such as "I Am", "If You See My Baby" have very similar progressions and passages. But then, I'm not complaining at all. All in all, this album is a worth buy. Any blues lover would love to have it in his collection because of the sound on the album which is reminiscent of the 60's and 70's blues movement. And not just any blues lover, a music lover in general would love it too. Kudos to Soulmate. I'm a fan for life.

(Read and comment @ Split-magazine website)