Fab Five - Rock & Roll in My Town

Tapta | Rewben Mashangva | Eastern Dark | Imphal Talkies & the Howlers | The Koi

[Note: Images used in this post, except the last one, are for representation only.]

Without music life would be a mistake. 
- Friedrich Nietzsche

Some people dive into the game with the same intensity and passion as always, while others shake things up and really change the game. This is all about those who have the guts to switch things up. We’ve got five bands and artists from Imphal here, each with their own unique vibe that has completely transformed what music means.

Everyone has their own take on music, and there are endless options when it comes to genres, but in my town, our playlists wouldn’t feel right without these artists. Some of them are all about reconnecting us with our roots, while others are ready to challenge even the toughest forces out there. This is just a rundown of my top five favorite bands and musicians, so don’t expect a textbook analysis of music theory or lyrics here.

Here it goes.

Tapta’s Master’s Voice

Tapta is the real star of Manipur. The group arrived on the scene with a bang, with the Power of Attraction, around the mid 90s. Since then, as we say, there has been no looking back. If there is any singer who croons with the ethos, pathos and logos, that’s Tapta and if there is anyone who can come closer to its position, it’s only the man behind the shows — Loukrakpam Jayenta, one of the greatest entertainers of all time and the first musician to introduce concept albums in the region. Though, sometimes, Tapta gets too much with its ‘dhol-dhulki’ music and male chauvinism I cannot help but love its songs. Of late, it has run out of experiments but I do believe, somehow, they will come out with something new, as always.

Rewben Mashangva – the Folksy Gentleman

“Blues had a baby, and they called it rock ‘n’ roll” and all the people rushed in to cuddle the baby. There is one man who has nurtured not the baby but the mother with soulful Tangkhul folk tunes—and here he is, the father of Naga folk blues: Rewben Mashangva. His music comes from conviction, innovation and love, not necessarily in that order. In our town, a band covering a Led Zep or a Lamb of God makes a more popular style statement, but Rewben has made it clear that music is more than making a statement. His name has been prefixed with a ‘Guru’ officially, but he can do much better than that.

Lights On for Eastern Dark

When the news last came in, Eastern Dark has become Eastern Doc with a new line-up but its legacy continues to exist. The band has members who are old timers in the local rock ‘n’ roll scene but apart from their experience the band is well known for its political music. According to the Eastern Dark, our leaders have mortgaged the land while the rebels are hurling grenade in private residences. The sentiments of our lived experience are captured succinctly in its songs. I love its anarchist standpoint and outspokenness, in addition to the world-class compositions but not its sporadic music releases.      

First Day, First Show with the Imphal Talkies

Imphal Talkies N’ the Howlers was made in India, in New Delhi, many a year before PM Modi initiated the Make-in-India crap. With their thought-provoking lyrics—that are indistinct from free verse poetry, punctuated by folksy compositions and that generate songs of the Real: the bleakness that we are so accustomed to—the band has made quite a fan base. Fronted by Dr Ronid Chingangbam aka Akhu, who has a PhD in physics, the band has so far released two albums and a score of singles. Despite its monotonous music, no one can miss a beat from Imphal Talkies, which is currently based in Imphal and has craftily used its music as a weapon to show that art has utilitarian values.

The Poets, the Koi

Even if it is the youngest of the lot in the list, The Koi has shown us that age is just relative when it comes to producing high-fidelity music. In an approach not so different from that of western music, the band has a trace of the alternative-music mode—which has prompted me to experiment with this genre that I had little regard in the past. However, their strength lies in composing original melodies that are heart-wrenching and technically very sound. If I’m not wrong most of their songs are poems written by Arambam Somorendro, the legendary revolutionary and litterateur from Manipur. Original and hi-fi doubtlessly, yet I believe they will produce more high-quality recordings in the days to come. 

PS: I had written this piece in 2011 with just four bands as Fab Four. The Koi was not around that time. Now with a little tweaking here and there, plus a new collection of full B&W graphics, I have decided to post it.