The new album ‘Red River’ from Kolkata-based musician Nilotpal Das aka Bios Contrast, arrives as the narrative sequel to his ‘Dragon Rising’ LP on Hong Kong DIY label Mouhoi. The record uses recordings of Bell 407, a civil utility helicopter as the main body of the record together with a 47-year-old harmonium, field recordings at Chandraketugarh, custom built woodwind prototype instruments together with guitar, violin & vocal improvisations.
‘Red River’ follows a story that takes place over a Century around 340 BCE to 232 BCE during the rise of the Mauryan Empire. Following Siddhartha Gautama’s death for over 140 years the region rapidly transitioned from a Dynastic rule to an Empire sprawling with cities, trade, art and education. The partly fictitious story follows the fabricated assassination of Ashoka by a blacksmith from the Mauryan Empire whose entire family fell victim to The Kalinga War. The legend says 100,000 people were lost in the war which turned Daya River into a red bloodwater. Regardless of Ashoka’s plans to promote peace, the aftermath of the war caused a never-ending rage towards the Empire by its own people which eventually led to the downfall of Mauryas.
