JESSOP&CO. from Kolkata India, a duo known for their repertoire of jagged, distorted, post-noise electronic music are back with a new album, titled Manly Man. Released digitally as well on cassette, the sound of JESSOP&CO. has evolved since their vagrant premier three years ago. Though the 'Jessop spectrum' never adheres to convention, we do notice a certain change in musical sense and aspirations within their new compositions. At complete odds with the existing near 'singularity' of the Indian electronic music scene, JESSOP&CO. is far from timid to speak out via their music, imagery and online persona. Meeting the duo (Anupal Adhikary and Subho S) recently in Kolkata, was a hard reckoner into the existing chaos, noise, pollution, social decay and urban conundrum of the city - out which their aspirations and music stems forth. The city is going to fall apart any moment it seems, yet it never does...
What makes JESSOP&CO. such an interesting odd-ball is the fact their albums and improvisations have been released on five different labels based in the US, France, Spain, UK and Italy along-with a slew of reviews and features online : yet the duo has near zero bookings and or offers to perform within their own nation. So much for the existing lack of diversity ...
Manly Man, released on Tingo Tongo Tapes US, has received a fair number of raving reviews, some of it dabbled upon the same cliches which a western mindset adheres to when dealing with oriental noise and abstract art. Here is one from "In National Lampoon’s Calcutta Vacation, the hapless Griswold family". Previously JESSOP&CO. released 'A Perfect Example of Dislodging" on Czaszka Records from Edinburgh UK, in cassette form and digital. The tape has been included in The Quietus Top Tape 2017 Compilation by Tristan Bath alongside other emerging sonic artists from Japan, Germany, UK and Czech Republic. Manly Man is a steady departure from their previous flight into the blistering wall of noise, always edging beyond the 0 Db impositions. Their second cassette offering titled 'Skin Blade' was released by Craneal Fracture, an experimental sound label based in Spain. The new sound is violent as well as subtle in parts, built upon distinct atmospheres, passing melodies and even actual beats. There are way more transients here. A barrage of voices meshed together to project a sense of desperation and exhaustion, emitting from the warped cryings of bengali pot-boilers on TV. A Ghost of Bengal resides inside the cantankerous moody universe of Jessop & Co. We dare not ask who is "Manly Man" !? The album cover is a raging collage made of cut-outs from various vicious and titillating cinema posters in India. The B-grade reflection of a nation reeking with violence ?
JESSOP&CO. recently struck-out hard against the corporate vagrancy towards emerging music and musicians in India. A hitting message on facebook over an article appearing on Vice Magazine involving the Tuborg Beer Company Music Campaign in India. What seems a clear case of cultural misappropriation undertaken by Vice and Tuborg without the duo's consent and intimation, the blogs were quickly retracted and deleted. In the past years Vice has commissioned a few near-bogus hype based documentaries about emerging electronica in India while Tuborg as a brand is repeatedly known for underpaying local bands and artists in India, while having deep pockets for international stars. In response the duo put a message, starting out " HECK JESSOP&CO IS NOW A PART OF THIS PISS-JUICE MANUFACTURING CORPORATE FUNDED 'CULTURE' SCHLOCK FEST "
JESSOP&CO. recently struck-out hard against the corporate vagrancy towards emerging music and musicians in India. A hitting message on facebook over an article appearing on Vice Magazine involving the Tuborg Beer Company Music Campaign in India. What seems a clear case of cultural misappropriation undertaken by Vice and Tuborg without the duo's consent and intimation, the blogs were quickly retracted and deleted. In the past years Vice has commissioned a few near-bogus hype based documentaries about emerging electronica in India while Tuborg as a brand is repeatedly known for underpaying local bands and artists in India, while having deep pockets for international stars. In response the duo put a message, starting out " HECK JESSOP&CO IS NOW A PART OF THIS PISS-JUICE MANUFACTURING CORPORATE FUNDED 'CULTURE' SCHLOCK FEST "
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