Ornob's latest album Doob - Diving in a pool of thoughts

Diving in a pool of thoughts

Faizul Khan Tanim reviews Ornob’s latest album Doob

Ornob’s latest offering, Doob, is likely to evoke a range of responses, from disappointment to adoration, from his most ardent fans depending on the conclusions they reach after carefully delving into the emotions and sentiments layered in this album. That is what Ornob does best - he makes us think about his music.
As usual, Ornob’s music is saturated with allusions. This deeply personal album, which lyrically depicts his reflections on the past six months, might be one of the most interesting contemporary musical diaries of feelings and thoughts. Because Ornob touches on an array of themes, Doob should provide a companion for those seeking comfort in difficult times.
The album cover design encourages introspection and the questioning of one’s own mindset. Answers are immediately offered by the mind blowing track, Adhkhana. Starting with the intro guitar riffs and atmospheric composition and complemented by powerful lyrics and vocals by both Sahana and Ornob, the song speaks to my own frustration.
The album continues to present strong tracks. Chai starts with catchy guitar strumming and plucking and then tosses to a beautiful saxophone solo by Andrew Morris, reminiscent of the heyday of acoustic rock. Songs like Dikbidik, Ghum and Akash kalo also present themselves with great punch and individual identity.
The production is nothing less than brilliant and the album never sounds like a single era product, with glimpses of melancholy sounds and flamboyant fusions shouting creativity, a product of Ornob’s foray into more modern sounds while remembering his signature tunes. It is reminiscent of the transformation of Daniel Johns’ sound as he went from Silverchair to The Dissociatives.
The lyrics in this album incorporate a lot of rhyme. As the 14-track compilation comes to an end, Noyon Tomarey – the very Ornob-ish rendition with his own vocal style and the breathtaking use of clarinet by Idris Rahman - actually casts Tagore in a new light and encourages young listeners to explore their roots.
Expectations for this album were high given Ornob’s past success and for some, including myself, this album falls short of his other work. It lacks the sophistication that made his first album, Chaina Bhabish, special. Nonetheless, it stands by itself as a good album and worthy entry onto the contemporary scene.
Doob was released on Pahela Baishakh. Ornob, a member of the bands Bangla and Prayer Hall, has used his experience and style to create a different sound and has released two solo studio albums before Doob. This compilation was released by Bengal Music Company Ltd and is sponsored by Nokia.