Anurag Mishra: Madness in Little Rooms
http://anurag.bandcamp.com/album/madness-in-little-rooms
In this day of incessant electronica, it is comforting to know that a single musician and an acoustic guitar are able to cut through the din of software madness.
Anurag Mishra, who hails from Mumbai, Maharashtra, India has produced a collection of wonderful vignettes that is a six-string diary of sorts. A commentary on life with melody and harmony that need no words. The words for Anurag, are in the notes.
The ability of the solo guitar to communicate is without question. It’s been doing that forever. In the hands of Anurag Mishra it becomes his very soul. Perfection? No. Anurag is not seeking that in this collection. Perfection is unattainable in life so why would the music reflect such unreality? This offering is different...his music is real. Sometimes dark, sometimes hopeful, sometimes jazzy, sometimes classical, it’s life in a descriptive display of notes and moods that will resonate with some aspect of your past, present, and future.
Anurag occasionally adds accompanying layers to his works. However, they are placed so perfectly in the mix that they literally become part of the guitar. They are swallowed up by the what I can only describe as a mystical soundscape of necessity. Without them the song would not hold up, with them the song is perfect.
One of the most gorgeous pieces of the 14 song collection is “Drawn to the Friction”. The work consists of a beautiful set of arpeggiated chords surrounded by a slow and melodic cello background. This work will leave your reminiscing about something you thought you left behind long ago.
The beauty in Anurag’s compositions is the way he controls his chord textures. Rarely does he strum full chords. It’s as though he finds no use for them in his search for the emotions he is describing. “Finding Hope” is a journey into what we all seek, a respite from the stress of life’s never ending assault on our search for peace.
Even more evocative is the background noise that many of the tracks contain. The noise of the street only adds to the incredible vibe Anurag has produced with this release. Only a confident and forward thinking musician would ever allow such sounds on a recording. Mix that with a raw acoustic guitar and a creative imagination and you have a place to go where the music understands you. This is a must have for all who appreciate great solo guitar music.
-Mark Jeffery Campayno
