Biswa Bangla Noise’s ‘o’ compilation presents 10 open-ended interpretations of ambient

Online record label and archive Biswa Bangla Noise have gathered ten producers and asked them to contribute an ambient composition for the ‘o’ compilation.

Giving the musicians the choice to interpret the genre however they want, the result is — described by the label itself — a “difficult, moody, calming, abrasive, strange" collection of compositions by talents mostly from the West Bengal region.

“This is also the first time we are featuring an artist from Bangladesh, which used to be one with Bengal before India gained independence from British rule,” adds the label, which sees this project as providing the perfect context for reaching out to artists from outside their initial scope, while still shining the spotlight on experimental and alternative sounds.

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Founded in 2020, Biswa Bangla Noise has released over 10 artists and continue to further explore the depths of contemporary Bengali music and culture, which, by means of this compilation, they showcase can be found in neighbouring countries as well. In the case of this particular compilation, the artist in question is Debopam Ghosh Must Be Killed, a key player in the noise and black metal scene in Bangladesh.

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From the eerily calming spoken words that glide across the atmospheric composition of opening track ‘Gin Talk’ by Hungry Thoughts, the gurgling drone music melodies of Human Harmonics’ ‘Reflections in a Sirens Call’, to the ethereal instrumentation of closing track ‘दो 60 एक 30’ by Ritwik Mishra, the release takes you through the myriad of expressions from each artist.

“Almost every person in Bengal either knows how to draw, write, or play a musical instrument. With the advent of technology, and everything being more accessible due to the internet, a lot of people are exploring new styles and mediums and finding ways to put it out there into the world,” Biswa Bangla Noise underlines.

Purchase the ‘o’ compilation here.

Amira Waworuntu is Mixmag Asia’s Managing Editor, follow her on Instagram.