Music

'Shurjo'
for the Ever Young

Sarah Z H

When you look at the album cover of Bohemian's Shurjo you see a group of four who look too modest to be rockstars, and you find them so familiar to your neighbourhood music rookie (in a more positive manner) that you immediately share the comfort of knowing them. Young and ready to rock the country with their music, Bohemian entered the music scene in 2008 and is known to preach alternative rock, mellow rock and also a few heavy numbers. Their first album, “Babodhan” came out on July 28, 2008. Their lyrics are based on themes from real life experiences of the band members. The line up for the band is Shams Quader on vocals and guitars, Mahbub Hasanat Farhan on guitars, Farshid Alam on vocals and bass guitar and Rafatul Bari Labib on drums.

Released on January 10, 2011 under the banner of G-series and Agniveena, “Shurjo” is an attempt to dodge the gloom that boredom brings in a city of frenzy. The album can be referred to as a collection of happy, optimistic songs that talks of undying hope even in times of distress. “Meghla Din e”, the opening track is a bittersweet melodious number that somehow ushers in new hope where the guitar is wonderfully executed. “Mohajon” the second track is one of the more serious presentations in the album. It talks about a soldier choosing between love of life and love for the country; the song is a detailed account of the emotions felt by the soldier as he faces death. “Ondho”, another serious track in the list blurts out the hatred for any form of fundamentalism and its power to destroy.

The song “Dukkho” takes the listener back to the days of '71 and is a tribute to the assaulted women freedom fighters who were later ostracised by the heartless society. Though it may sound nothing like what it is about but once you hear it again and again and move deeper into the root of the song, you realise that it is a homage to our women martyrs. “Firey Jai”, “Tomai Niye” and “Jantri” will work better if played live with basic drums and bass adding to the depthness of the sounds.

The title track “Shurjo'” is accompanied by a warmer acoustic, and it plays the source of 'inspiration' in the album. However, 'the best song' in the album is absent and there is a general lack of musical finesse throughout. The album leaves you wanting for more.

The band claims that their influences are U2, Guns n Roses, Coldplay and Breaking Benjamin.What I say is let the listeners decide. If it is more defined than their last album? Yes,certainly.