Shonar Bangla Circus Unveils Psychedelic Double Album

After a hiatus of nearly three years following the release of Hyena Express in 2020, the acclaimed indie rock ensemble Shonar Bangla Circus has returned with a bold new double studio album, featuring a total of 17 tracks released last month.

The albums, titled Mohashoshan 1 and Mohashoshan 2, present a rich sonic landscape that is simultaneously soothing and thought-provoking, staying true to the band’s signature ethos—lyrics that unsettle, challenge, and invite reflection. During a recent conversation with The Daily Star, three of the four band members—Probar Ripon, Shakil Haque, and Saad Chowdhury—delved beyond the albums themselves, discussing how a band cultivates its sound from both cultural roots and artistic restlessness, why they intentionally resist conventional Bangladeshi rock frameworks, and the significance of creating what they term “Bangla funk.”

Joining the discussion remotely from California, electric guitarist Seth Panduranga Blumberg, affectionately known as Pandu, provided unique insights into the cross-continental collaboration. Despite the physical distance, Pandu’s presence enriched the conversation, highlighting the global dimension of the band’s creative process.

Probar Ripon elaborated on the genesis of the albums and the extensive effort required. “If you ask why it took us nearly three years to prepare this album, the answer is simple—it contains 17 songs, each with elaborate arrangements,” he said. Unlike Hyena Express, which largely adhered to the traditional rock quartet setup of guitar, keyboard, bass, and drums, Mohashoshan explores a far more expansive musical canvas. “We employed an ensemble of instruments—carefully layered dhol, violin, and other textures—each contributing to a richer auditory experience.”

Ripon contrasted the production timelines of the two projects: “Hyena Express came together in just four days, and mixing and mastering took only two months. In comparison, this double album demanded much more time and meticulous attention to detail.”

Pandu emphasised his immersion in the music of Bangladesh: “The grooves and cosmic rhythms here run as deep as the country’s rivers. The sounds, philosophies, and performers I’ve encountered are treasures of humanity. The funk, the layered textures, and the embodied storytelling of the music have profoundly influenced my arrangements on this album.”

Key Album Details

With Mohashoshan 1 and 2, Shonar Bangla Circus demonstrates an evolution in sound that merges psychedelic textures with deeply local rhythms, reaffirming their position as one of Bangladesh’s most adventurous and innovative indie acts.