Josiah Ranpal is a guitarist from Gangtok, Sikkim, who runs a jazz fusion and jazzcore project called That’s Not Self Help. His music is inspired from a wide pool of influences including Mahavishnu Orchestra, John Zorn, The Dillinger Escape Plan, Mr Bungle, King Crimson and Miles Davis. He started the project with a self-titled three-track demo built on dissonance, improvisation and hardcore-informed riffing.
His latest EP, The Mist Feeds on Waiting, is about time and the act of waiting. The longer you wait, the more the strangeness of life reveals itself. Philosophically, it draws from that uneasy, familiar-yet-unsettling feeling you’d associate with David Lynch. Sounds interesting isn’t it? Keep reading to know more about his new EP.
The first track, “Mirrored Event” opens with a rushing jazz pulse that pulls you straight into a smoky, funky underground bar. There’s an uncanny quality to the atmosphere that sticks. The guitar lead cuts through with a distorted edge, held together by a tight rhythmic foundation from the drums and bass. What’s impressive is how listenable it all is. Complex as the composition is, it never alienates. You can simply sink into it. Josiah clearly put serious thought into how each part sits against the other. Towards the end, you hear a duet with Mathew Dowie and it’s nothing short of masterful.
“The Disappearing Man” has a late 80s energy that makes it the most party-ready track on the EP. The arrangement swings and grooves with a lightness that feels effortless. The guitars are mindblowing. Josiah has this distinct way of making complex music feel approachable, stripping away the intimidation without losing any of the sophistication. The track keeps you guessing at every turn, and that unpredictability is exactly the fun of it. Multiple instruments lock together into one comprehensive sound without ever overwhelming you. Fast, uncanny, and deeply jazz in the best experimental sense.
“Dawn Brings a New Veil” is where Ranpal’s command over the guitar feels most complete. The track has a late night vibe to it, the kind you’d imagine in a dimly lit jazz bar somewhere in New York or Tokyo. He slows things down mid-track then lifts the atmosphere back up with total confidence. This three minute track holds a lot of emotional weight. The entire EP actually, at just under ten minutes never feels short, which says everything about how well the music holds your attention.
Josiah Ranpal is an artist worth following closely. That’s Not Self Help is a project with a genuine voice, and with this EP, Joshiah has made a strong case for being one of India’s most interesting musical voices right now.
