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Nikhil is the band fronted by guitarist/songwriter Nikhil
Korula. Korula and his six sidemen have released an EP that
shows promise on many levels, yet fails to follow through on the
promise that the great moments lay out for the listener. What
we end up with is a CD that borrows from the same vein that Dave
Matthews Band has capitalized on, while failing to capitalize
on its own promises. This is not meant to be a slam or a genrefication,
as Korula composes solid songs that tend to be a bit uplifting
in lyrical content. The statement that best sums up this release
is unfulfilled.
The opening track "Love Will Make Your Day" comes out
of the box full of promise taking a firm pop/rock foundation while
coloring it with African soukous styled guitar lines punctuated
with saxophone blasts and bubbling percussion. It definitely sounds
fresh and grabs your attention with is uniqueness. Unfortunately,
by the time the song is half over the theme has been deemphasized
a tad and the focus shifts to mirror a Neville Brothers
style. It would have been interesting to develop the guitar work
a bit more. "Freedom" has the band bringing in a guest
harmonica player to stick the melody line into your head. Korula's
vocal delivery is steady and emotive, but could benefit from just
a tick more conviction as he addresses more of a "personal
freedom" than a "political freedom." As alluded
to earlier, Korula presents more of a positivity and slight spirituality
in his lyrics; kind of an "it's gonna be all right"
sort of vibe. "When I Look In Her Eyes" is your standard
meditation for a loved one. It's solid stuff, it just doesn't
provide me with much inspiration. The tenor sax fills add a moody
quality to it; but the jury's still out on how well the quote
from The Police's "Every Breath You Take" works
in there. Again, where it doesn't reach its full potential is
in the final execution…I can feel it, but I just don't feel
it. The song that really lets me down is the upbeat "Till
We Dance." It has nothing to do with the musical work: the
guitar stuff flows nicely, and the bass emphasizes the point and
rolls along. It's just way too Matthews Band for me. The feel,
the vibe and the vocal delivery just recall it too much. The closing
"If I Could" Ends the EP on a solid, if very standard,
note. I enjoy the way that the saxophones play in and out of the
verse passages, and Korula's vocals on the pre-choruses are some
of his best. Maybe do I detect a bit of Joe Cocker or Van
Morrison influence here and there? Could be…but as solidly
entertaining it may be, it just doesn't knock me out of my chair.
This EP is not a wash or a bomb by any stretch of the imagination,
and with some airplay, would do well in many AAA formats and play
lists. Slipping it in the five disk changer with some other records
is just where it belongs. This allows the songs to catch your
ear and draw your attention, but in the end and upon further inspection,
it doesn't quite "have me." It's a valiant attempt,
and the musicians are fantastic, but it just seems a bit, as I
said, unfulfilled.
-tom topkoff
Track Listing:
1. Love Will Make Your Day
2. Freedom
3. When I Look In Her Eyes
4. Till We Dance
5. If I Could
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