In the eye of the storm that is the isolation, which was handed to us so generously by the pandemic, we often felt like we were left to row our own boat without a fellow seafarer in sight. Perhaps, this is why compilations and label launches have been all the rage in the last year. It is hearty to see the openness with which the community has banded together to keep going.
The latest label on the horizon is Regenerate, the Mumbai promoter, which has hosted parties with the likes of Aurora Halal, DJ Nobu and Mike Servito since getting started in 2013. Earlier last year, they released another compilation under their property “Far Out Left”, which is also the festival they dedicate to left field and experimental techno. With their Regenerate label, they seem to continue along the same road.
The compilation “Point of View” brings together some of the rising stars on the underground techno scene in India. Kohra and Chhabb, regulars on the techno scene, bring their usual magic with the four to the floor done intensely. Fr4ctal and Rafiki, two names that are popping on our radar more and more and that seem to get better with every release, bring their Acid House magic. We see zequenx with her usual laid back and leaning towards psychill. Y4rk and Tyrell Dub Corp, bring the bangers to the compilation with their own signature styles of techno and dub respectively. The compilation ends with a bass heavy banger by Pooja B, a perfect ending to what can only be described a very experimental album.
Like all their events and previous releases under FOL, Regenerate continues the good work of promoting left field music to the Indian market. As Bhishma Sagar, the head of Regenerate puts it, “Musically and professionally, we’ve all wanted an outlet, a channel to stream our emotions and thoughts into the unpredictable reality that is slowly coming back to normal. Looking ahead, the second and third Regenerate releases will be an album by Fr4ctal and an EP from Vladimihir.” Their continued promotion of this alternative side of the scene serves as a signifier for those who persevere to make music not for the masses OR the classes, but make the music they like.
