CD review: H Om

Let's get the cliches out of the way. Yes, she's fun to dance with. She's bubbly, bouncy but relaxing and serene too, and much more. She's endearing and meandering too. She's Laxmi Bomb.

Poster of the album

Laxmi (Bomb, we're guessing, it's her second name) is the ‘local love-child' of drummer Levin Mendes. She's got a ‘brother-from-another-mother', or Keegan Pereira, who raps, sings, talks, and whispers ideas over keys, synths and samples laid down by her ‘baby-sitter' Joaqim Fernandes. There's also extra thump driven by the controlled, fluid precision of bassist Ruell Baretto. They create tunes that are clear, coherent, simple, and best described as ‘Electro-Pop'.

But here's what piqued us. She's very, Indian. She's got Bollywood in her blood, but it's not over-the-top. Each track is reminiscent of the 1970s and 80s, but crafted in a clever, futuristic, new-age manner. She adheres to simple songwriting, and melody is the key. The beats don't overpower, but play a guide, while additional samples, and the bass, serve as the icing on this delicious cake. Keegan shares ideas of individual identity, with a hint of love, sorrow and longing.

However, the production leaves much to be desired. But we are nitpicking. After all, she does seem comfortable with her identity. A breath of fresh air in a city with its fair share of imitators. Give her a listen.