There is a place where the Wild West meets eclectic vision. It is a place where an evil madman runs rampant enslaving people to fulfill his dastardly ways. If it walks like a Tarantino, talks like a Tarantino and sounds like a Tarantino then it is surely the latest release from the time-bending sound that is The Bombay Royale. The distinction that needs to be made however is, The Island of Dr Electrico is not trying to be a soundtrack to another film, but rather the filmmaker should take note of this band.
The album adventure that is the twelve new tracks is rich with what we came to love in You Me Bullets Love but expands to places I could only hope and transitions in ways I didn’t know were previously missing.
Cohesively, The Island of Dr Electrico paints a vibrant tale with strokes of retro tendencies articulated on beautiful vocals and tenacious instrumentals. Kicking off with a sharp solo, penetrating your eardrums, it doesn’t take long for us to be transported right back into the world of the Royale. Then, crafting a landscape that has just as much place in the video for “Knights of Cydonia” (but more disco) with “Wild Stallion Mountain,” the much more cinematic feel of this release becomes clear. And it is precisely this sensibility that keeps me hooked to not one, but all of the songs from this record. As great as I thought Bullets was, even that doesn’t hit this stride. The songs move seamlessly from one track to the next, with the occasional standout “Khubsoorat Bewafa” or “(Give Me Back My) Bunty Bunty,” and have me popping popcorn in my mouth like a summer blockbuster.
By the end of The Island of Dr Electrico a few facts become glaringly obvious. First, The Bombay Royale is without a doubt in my mind something special. There is nobody like them and for all the entertainment they exude, they deserve all the success in the world. Secondly, though I don’t speak the language, I don’t need to. The language of music conveys their breathtaking passion masterfully. Lastly, I have been less excited by good Tarantino films than I am this great record. Roll Credits:
Parvyn Singh (vocals) as The Mysterious Lady.
Shourov Bhattacharya (vocals) as The Tiger.
Andy Williamson (saxes, flute) as The Skipper.
Declan Jones (trumpet) as Doctor Electrico
Ed Fairlie (trumpet) as Chip Chase
Ros Jones (trombone) as The Kung Fu Dentist.
Matt Vehl (keys) as The Cowboy and The Bandit Priest (double role).
Tom Martin (guitar) as The Railways Mogol.
Josh Bennett (tabla, sitar, dilrooba) as the Jewel Thief.
Julian Goyma (drums) as The Leaping Shaman.
Greg is a regular contributor and co-founder at Nanobot. Quite obviously there is nothing quite like The Bombay Royale in Idaho. But he hopes to one day see them live.
