https://www.high-endrolex.com/18

The Earth Below Premiere “Brave Noise” Video; Nothing Works Vol. 2: Hymns for Useless Gods out Now

the-earth-below

As one might be inclined to do, drummer Deepak Raghu of bands like Shepherd and Bevar Sea has explored numerous different styles across the varied releases from his solo outfit, The Earth Below, but the cohesion of songwriting and purpose the Mumbai-based songwriter/vocalist/drummer brings to the project’s latest offering, Nothing Works Vol. 2: Hymns for Useless Gods, speaks to an evolving identity for The Earth Below as a full band. To wit, it’s a full band. With three players, as Ramanan Chandramouli and Leslie Charles accompany Raghu on guitars and bass, respectively. Charles has contributed to The Earth Below‘s works before in one way or another, but Chandramouli would seem to be the newcomer, and the presence of tone he brings to songs like “Come to Me” and the later, quieter “Ceremony of Ash” as well as the initial and more rocking salvo of “Brave Noise” and “Crimson Gold” and the Queens of the Stone Age-esque “Perpetual Prayer” is no minor addition to the three-piece construction of the band.

And if the prior-issued video for “Abydos” didn’t get the earth below nothing works vol 2 hymns for useless godsthe point across of The Earth Below‘s band-manifestation, certainly the clip premiering for “Brave Noise” below gives suitable emphasis to the notion. As the leadoff cut from the release — which came out April 10 through Unherd Music, right in the midst of India’s billion-plus-people COVID-19 full lockdown; timing is everything — its underlying laid back sensibility sets a tone on which opens up across multiple avenues in the tracks themselves, but also renders clear the not just the foundation of songwriting that will be the core of the breadth that ensues, but the group dynamic through which that breadth is delivered. Whether this is something The Earth Below pursues further over subsequent albums and shorter releases, or if Raghu‘s penchant for experimentation leads him elsewhere is of course something only time will tell, but I’ve included the full stream of Nothing Works Vol. 2: Hymns for Useless Gods below, because once “Brave Noise” is done, you might find that you’re up for more. I know I certainly was.

Raghu also offers a quick quote below, and there’s some more PR wire background on the new release as well.

Please enjoy:

The Earth Below, “Brave Noise” official video premiere

Deepak Raghu on “Brave Noise”:

“‘Brave Noise’ is my dedication to Chris Cornell. Things are always falling apart within and around us and in a way, life can seem like it’s mostly maintenance work. There are always new lows people are willing to go to, just to stay alive. This song is about taking pride in not participating in life.”

Originally established in 2010 as a creative outlet for multi-instrumentalist, Deepak Raghu – best known locally as serial drummer for the likes of Shepherd and Bevar Sea – The Earth Below is perhaps one of Bangalore’s most captivating solo projects.

Grown from the seed of an idea found in ‘Vapour’, a song written and recorded by Raghu during his time spent as one-half of experimental outfit, Rat King, The Earth Below has since become all consuming; absorbing his time and imagination, and in doing so, has accommodated his most radical and brilliant ideas.

From his debut EP Aleph and resulting album, Window Lights for Wanderers, to 2018’s beautifully psychedelic yet strangely transmissionary, Dreams of A Thousand Stillness, Raghu has traversed a cornucopia of musical styles and movements over the past decade, treating listeners to shades and sounds akin to CSNY, Slint, Leonard Cohen and Chris Bell.

With Nothing Works Vol 2… Raghu explores jazz, post rock and the heavier side of a six string to pitch a weightier, more complex sound:

“While this album maintains the intensity in mood of my previous releases, I think that is enhanced by a denser musical arrangement this time,” explains Raghu. “The blood runs thick with Black Sabbath, but the heart needs a bit of Roy Orbison and this album covers more musical and lyrical landscapes than my earlier EPs.”

Nothing Works Vol 2: Hymns for Useless Gods by The Earth Below is released worldwide on 10th April on Unherd Music.

TRACK LISTING:
1. Brave Noise
2. Crimson Gold
3. Come to Me
4. Abydos
5. Rhythm of Pain
6. Ceremony of Ash
7. Perpetual Prayer
8. Strangers at Sea

Artist: The Earth Below
Album: Nothing Works Vol 2: Hymns for Useless Gods
Label: Unherd Music
Release Date: 10/04/2020
Formats: Digital/CD

CREDITS:
All music and lyrics by Deepak Raghu
Lyrics for ‘Come to Me’, ‘Strangers at Sea’ by Deepak Raghu and Gayatri Hariharan
Additional guitar arrangements by Ramanan Chandramouli
Additional instrumentation (electric piano, organ, tubular bells) by Leslie Charles
Recorded at Stained Class Productions, Bengaluru
Studio engineer – Mrinal Anand
Mixing Engineer – Leslie Charles
Mastering Engineer – Brad Boatright (Audiosiege)

The Earth Below are:
Deepak Raghu on vocals, drums and percussion.
Ramanan Chandramouli on guitars.
Leslie Charles on bass.

The Earth Below, Nothing Works Vol. 2: Hymns for Useless Gods (2020)

The Earth Below on Bandcamp

The Earth Below on Thee Facebooks

The Earth Below on Instagram

The Earth Below on YouTube

Unherd Music on Thee Facebooks

Unherd Music on Instagram

Unherd Music on Bandcamp

Tags: , , , , ,

Leave a Reply