The rough cuts are beginning to shine and how. Easy Riders, those ramblin’ men of emotive guitars and song, have, true to character, quietly dropped an EP in the streaming universe exemplifying a fruition of ideas that sparkle and excite, at times probe and lament, but all the while reach out with open arms to anyone willing to embrace their creative energy.
Virtual Lives comprises three songs from a sizeable catalogue of originals. Strange Land, Sweet Leaf Like Thing and Mr Mountain were recorded during a ticketed virtual concert put together in March at Woolala Studio in their hometown of Kolkata. Mixed and mastered at Major Mixing in Spain, these songs aptly showcase the journey of this jam band of the mid-’90s, their proficiency in playing their instruments, and most of all, a no-holds-barred honesty of approach that is raw and immediately infectious.
I’ve been walking a while now
Up the winding road
Hoping to lose the city
Hoping to shed my load
Mr Mountain, an ode to the hills and the traveller (Rider Sumit Bhattacharya, their primary songwriter, is known to be a regular trekker), could well be the story of the band, also comprising Soumyajit Dutta (bass, vocals), Arka Das (drums) and Rohan Ganguli (guitar, vocals). The song has a friendly opening hook that draws you in at hello, unspooling itself into an endearing homage. The neat guitar solo is a confident statement, a well thought-out exposition that adds to the song’s sentiment of a seeker.
It makes sense that it is the final song of the selection which is an apt snapshot of what Easy Riders stand for. Those who’ve had the opportunity of experiencing their live gigs will know they are a force of nature. Their music combines the reticence and effervescence of classic rock quite naturally, making their songs fiercely original but always respectful of the musical traditions they swear by.
They are also an Indian band with Kolkata roots. Hence, Strange Land is a meditative yarn about solitude, the intensity of the guitar encompassing a spirit of contemplation. The piercing notes are explanatory in nature, as if dwelling at length on the emotions the words may have failed to elucidate. It’s a delicate opening track that helps the following song, the propulsive Sweet Leaf Like Thing, bloom. The Riders are in their elements in this steady rocker of a tune. Sumit and Rohan play off each other on guitars splendidly, riffing and harmonizing with finesse, while Soumyajit’s bass is sturdy and emphatic in the manner in which he is able to add some cool fill-ins just as Arka lets his drums hug the backbeat with love and care. Gradually though the tune spreads its wings and soars, and before signing off, breaks into an almost symphonic flourish, referencing that evergreen ‘Song of the Road’ we have been nurturing in our hearts for generations. If the road is about the life we lead, then this soul-stirring, feet tapping instrumental tells us how to live it: free, unafraid, respectful.
The Easy Riders EP of over 20 minutes of play time captures the spontaneity of a live concert sans decorative frills. They keep themselves in a tight leash, which bestows in their music a certain strength of character exuding a take-it-or-leave-it chutzpah. Their songs are what they set out to be, leaving you yearning for more. The question, therefore, is: Will there be a Virtual Lives 2?
· Easy Riders play at Someplace Else on July 8
(From left) Soumyajit Dutta, Arka Das, Rohan Ganguli and Sumit Bhattacharya of the Easy Riders at Woolala Studio in Kolkata