Picture this: a dimly lit room, guitars leaning against the wall, a jumble of wires snaking across the floor, and a young musician, eyes closed, strumming away like his life depends on it. Fast forward a few years, and that same musician, Sai Sanjit, is no longer just dreaming in his bedroom. He’s crafted Retrograde, a 12-track album that doesn’t just play—it pulsates, breathes, and occasionally, throws you a curveball when you least expect it.
Retrograde is an album that feels like a sonic rollercoaster through the Chennai-based bassist’s musical mind. This isn’t just a collection of songs; it’s a well-thought-out narrative that merges the past with the present, the familiar with the unfamiliar. Each of the six main tracks is paired with its instrumental counterpart, offering listeners a chance to immerse themselves fully in the intricate soundscapes Sai has crafted. And what makes this debut truly remarkable is not just the music, but the company Sai keeps. The list of collaborators reads like a who’s who of the indie and rock scenes—Grammy-nominated producer Tim Palmer (you know, the guy who worked with Pearl Jam, U2 and Porcupine Tree), the ever-melodic Rex Vijayan of Avial, and Uday Benegal from Indus Creed. These are artists who typically don’t just hop on board any project, but something about Sai’s demos clearly spoke to them.
Take the first track, Hypodermic Needle. It’s like Sai decided to dip his brush into the pool of Tool’s moody intensity, but with his own splash of electronic spice. The moment the riff drops, you know you’re in for a ride, but just when you think you’ve got the track figured out, in comes Aussie-prog guitar maestro Rohan Stevenson aka I Built The Sky with a guitar solo that feels like it’s soaring through space and time. Then there’s Qualms of the Sheep, a track that feels like it was built to be a headbanger’s anthem. It’s heavy, it’s loud, and it’s unapologetically dramatic. Uday Benegal’s vocals are the cherry on top, adding that extra layer of grit and emotion that turns the song into something you’ll find yourself humming long after it’s over. Sai’s got a knack for blending genres and pulling sounds from different corners of the musical universe. From Under is a prime example. This track feels like a nostalgic nod to the early 2000s, where echoes of Incubus and Linkin Park swirl around like ghosts of teenage angst. Yet, it’s not just a throwback—it’s a fresh take on those sounds, reimagined and reinterpreted through Sai’s lens. And let’s talk about Ruminate, the track where a saxophone solo just appears out of nowhere. But instead of feeling out of place, it fits so perfectly that you wonder why more rock songs don’t feature saxophones.
It’s these unexpected moments that make Retrograde so intriguing. Sai doesn’t just stick to the rules; he bends them, breaks them, and then pieces them back together in a way that feels organic. Lyrically, Retrograde is as deep as its soundscapes. The album delves into themes of disillusionment with modern life, the overwhelming presence of technology, and the societal pressures that shape us all. These aren’t just songs; they’re reflections on the world we live in, and each listen peels back another layer of meaning.
And the production? It’s lush, rich, and adroitly crafted. Much of the credit goes to Sai’s bandmate and co-producer, Sujith Valiyaveettil, who clearly put his heart and soul into shaping the final sound. The album doesn’t just play out—it flows, with each track leading seamlessly into the next, creating a continuum that feels like a journey from start to finish.
Retrograde is a reminder that independent music is alive and well, and that artists like Sai Sanjit are here to push boundaries and challenge expectations. So, plug in your headphones, crank up the volume, and get ready to be transported into Sai’s world—a world where the unexpected is always just around the corner.
