Seldom has an Indian band made such strong an impact on me as this little known yet a very old band from Calcutta. Krosswindz is to bangla music what an umbrella is to a bongali babu!! Bangla folk music cannot have a better redeemer than the krosswindz. Many artists have made futile attempts at gaining popularity with singing folk; but krosswindz is diametric. Just like the gipsy kings, who when they sing, people; even if they don’t understand a syllable; get drenched in their melodic showers. I wonder how; when written on stave; the notations resist doing the ’’dance of mukti’’. For that is what their music makes you feel, Liberated !! It takes you to a different world.
To the purist their music may sound like threnody, but to them those not prepossessed,
Shall the beauty of it be realized.
Instrumentally the band is ok, I mean there is nothing worthwhile going gaga about, the drummer is pretty decent, so is the bassist, the electric guitar man tuki is also good, but what sets this band apart from the regular run of the mill bands is the lady of the band, her voice is so very velvety, before her the only female voice i relished was that of nazia hassan. The great thing is that despite singing in a rock band, she doesn’t bray, which; sadly; has become synonymous with rock singing these days.
While other bands have to depend intemperately on heavy instrumentalization, solos, to enshroud their vocal weakness (silk route, Indian ocean, etc.), Krosswindz’ lady totally takes over the band, her singing has a distinct classical touch to it whether she be singing pure rock or some Bengali folk. Believe me you too shall be hijacked by her voice.
The band has done a few foreign tours, they have worked with some big artists of the west, all that info you can find at www.krosswindz.com , for their songs you can visit www.amadergaan.com . I would personally recommend the songs one world, jhiko jhiko,Mahut bandhu, dog eat dog,shundori komola,(buy the album misiki misiki for a more fuller view) to have a fair idea of the girl’s vocal prowess.
I wish the band all the best for the future and hope things go well with them and they carve a niche for themselves in the WORLD music scene.
Oh... and a word of caution to the band,whatever you do never ever tread the bombay path,it kills the artist,i have lost many friends of music to that path of doom!
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