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Album art for the EP Growing Suspicions

 As We Keep Searching EP Review

Post-rock is a genre that focuses a lot on repetition. Key motifs that are twisted around and played in numerous ways over the course of a track, along with very spaced out sounds, is typical of the genre. Ahmedabad, now rife with politics ahead of the elections, sees post-rockers As We Keep Searching release their debut 8-track EP, Growing Suspicions. Etymologically much like a post-rock act (As I Lay Dying, And So I Watch You From Afar), their release in February has showcased their sound in a unique style, setting themselves apart from the many other national bands of the same genre.

The original trio

The EP opener, “Tattva”, was released as a single in December. Clearly working with epic sounds that build up to restrained crescendos; it is an example of the whole record.  “In Circles”, the next number, sees some very God is an Astronaut style riff-age, with dreamy delay and heavy percussive crashing that builds up and down like waves. In keeping with firm post-rock ideals, “Shimmer of Light” is that ‘filler’ song. A short track, heavy in synths, that acts like an interlude between two songs. “When Will They Talk?”, the next song, is a dreamy/soft melody that drags on a little. With some heartfelt vocals, the entire album is sung in Hindi, but this song somewhat resembles what you might hear in Bollywood. Nonetheless, it is a powerful and emotive track. “Banshee” is an upbeat number. Interestingly arranged, the sound quality of the EP recording is brought out quite well, with no jarring whatsoever in the bass, drum and synth dynamics. With minimalist vocals, as if commonplace for the style of music, this song is our personal favourite. “Aakorxon”, the last original song of the record, is also well structured. With a whole minute of uplifting synth intro, the song moves into a melancholic groove that is tight and appealing. It is this sound that is now setting them apart in the music scene. The last two tracks, “The Tattva(LEROI Remix)” and “Aakorxon(LEROI Remix)“, honestly needn’t have featured on the EP, despite being remixed by London producer LEROI. With very minimal electronic percussion throughout the EP, the introduction of two remixed tracks at the end, that essentially, have powerful beats, might not have been the best choice.

Clocking in at over 40 minutes, their lyrical themes too, of depleting values and destructive processes, are innovative and stand complementary to the band name and dynamic. The band is Uddipan Sarmah – Vocals/Guitars/Production, Shubham Gurung – Keys/Samples, Tushar Verma – Bass, Ashwin Naidu – Drums. The EP Growing Suspicions was recorded at Bluetree Studios and produced by frontman Uddipan Sarmah. The EP is a great stepping stone for the band to start releasing more material into the national market. With avid interest in the experimental genres, audiences would be happy to hear more live shows from the band.

In retrospect, their own description is quite fitting:

“If the bee disappeared off the surface of the globe then man would only have four years of life left. No more bees, no more pollination, no more plants, no more animals, no more man – Albert Einstein” Isn’t this likely to happen? There are so many suspicions around us. Today, we humans are lost, deteriorating in values and responsibilities. We are destroying ourselves and the nature. The Album speaks about human values, our hidden urge to dare and dream of a better future.

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