Asif Khan Inc.

Mantis – Shaa’ir & Func

All that the world needs is a little more love. And even if there is more, there can always be some more. The New York – Mumbai duo of Shaa’ir + Func embarked on a journey of spreading, like we said, some more love, and creating a lot more music. Two albums under their belt already, they released their third album “Mantis” recently, and we must say it covers a lot of terra amour. Much on the lines of its predecessors. Randolph in his avatar as Func is as formidable as ever behind the programming of the music. The random electronic blips, the mellifluous progression of the melody and the well timed percussive machines almost make you forget that the man is actually one of the finest wielders of the six strings we’ve known too. Monica aka Shaa’ir caresses with her soulful voice as she waxes eloquent with her poetic verses. The aptly titled “My Roots” opens the album with a pronounced electronic rendering of Marathi folk (‘Koli’ dance, if we are correct). “Hyperbole” carves out a parabola of energy; “Love Love Love” oscillates in innocent elliptical orbits; “Every Time Your Around” shudders in spheres of trepidation. This is sufficient ammo to fall prey – willingly – to some more love, and some more of their music.