One such expatriate musician is Ditio, who once was involved in the Dhaka rock scene in the company of band Sweet Venom but presently dwells in London. His most recent project is Dark Syed--a band having Eastern Jibon Mukhi influenced vocals backed by music that focuses heavily on rhythm guitar. He has that Baul dhong in his choral lines, which he tries to blend with western style music making his own authentic venture.

Born to eminent authors of the country Syed Shamsul Haq and Anwara Syed Haq, Ditio's songs are heavily influenced by the likes of Bob Dylan. The theme-based songs are lyrically powerful in an effort to explore various socio-political themes and that talk about life having folk influences.

One might find the tunes monotonous on first hearing, but it gradually swings to a more composed array of compositions. The compilation is launched from CMV record label.

The album Prothom has a diverse outlook as the first track--Rasta'r Chele--releases with a rockish type song being very nostalgic about the past childhood of the singer. Followed by rather a more contemporary song--Chabbishe, it articulates about our struggle for freedom even after we won our liberation in 1971. Two songs Othocho and Irsha sound like emblematic Ditio-type music with catchy tunes and guitar strumming.

Shohor is like 'one of those divisive songs whose video was withdrawn from airing minutes before transmission as the censors regarded the starkness of the lyrics to be unsuitable for national broadcast,' remarked the artist. The way the song was performed in a Dhaka concert raised the same atmosphere as if the audiences felt a message of social consciousness. Bishal is a song dedicated to a late talented fellow musician. The album is itself a remembrance of Bishal Khaer.

The compilation nearly closes with a sophisticated song Bichar. It reminds one how the final judgement always rests in the hands of God.

Ditio feels the need for international record labels to commence operation in Bangladesh. 'Our local record labels should sign up with International Association of Record Labels for our music to be recognised. It is the entry point factor, which still is not letting our music videos to be aired in international music channels like MTV,' he opines. All the songs reflect aspects of life, from happiness to sadness and the dark tinge of melancholy giving rise to the band name.

A special mention here for the band:

Ditio Syed-Haq: Vocals, Lyrics, Guitars and everything else with strings

Max Zastiera: Drums and percussion

Brian Bogdanovic: Keyboards and programming

Readers can know more about the band logging on to www.darksyed.com.