Trove Of Tunes – Dark Sundae in Triplicane
A multi-genre sonic walk through Triplicane, led by Guitar Prasanna’s electric imagination.
We’re going back to the year 2006, to the temple streets of Triplicane — a neighborhood of Chennai (formerly Madras), India. It’s not a typical bustling morning, where the hustle is visible on the streets and there’s a rush in every step.
The day wears down, and there’s a little suspense in the air—a roaring silence engulfing the neighborhood. The night invades, and suddenly you hear a percussion instrument giving a beat to a lonely evening walk. In a little while, the bass kicks in, and then the guitar falls in step side by side. The night is young and isolated, and the conservative corners of Triplicane are about to get a multi-genre soundscape.
Tune in to ‘Dark Sundae in Triplicane’ by Prasanna (Guitar Prasanna), part of his 2006 album ‘Electric Ganesha Land’.
A Raga Date Of A Curious Engineer
What happens when you let an architect in close proximity to a fretboard with mounted strings?
You get Guitar Prasanna — and his lyrical notations overlaid with sonic imagination. Fusing genres by retaining their core essence. Making them distinct by surrendering to individual differences. Sounding synchronous while allowing room for personal brilliance.
Dark Sundae in Triplicane turns a lonely walk in the dark into a crescendo of happy company. There’s a harmony between the guitar and every beat and bass line in different sections — like someone timing their steps to be sure of where they’re headed, or afraid of going astray. Then there’s that section that sounds like a bass solo — like someone doing a happy dance after being released from captivity—free spirited and full of joy. And finally, the ending — when all of the sonic characters come together with vocal chants—the piece rests its respects to the night, leaving the oncoming morning with a new hope, and a new experiment.
Electric Ganesha Land comes across as a divine intervention — The Jimi Hendrix Experience wrapped in a melodic grasp of 27 ragas. Each song takes us to the edge of music’s malleable nature and the wild potential of human imagination.
I’ll be back soon with another number that pins my ear, finds my trove, and stays with me. Till then, you can continue to check out my Trove Of Tunes curated in a Spotify playlist by clicking here.
Cheers,
Shri