‘Alo Adhar’: A diamond in the rough

Ehsan Kaizer might not be a familiar name in the local music scene. However, if you dive a little deeper, you'll see that he was one of the original founding members of Level Five. He was also a core figure behind their debut album "Obosheshey".  

While he left the band in 2018, as he had to move abroad, he continued to help them by making some of their visuals as well as writing a song here or there. Alongside this, he also continued to make music on his own, with an EP coming to fruition this year, titled "Alo Adhar".

Containing just five songs, "Alo Adhar" truly felt like a breath of fresh air, particularly in terms of the EP format. Usually bands or musicians from Bangladesh tend to opt for either releasing singles or LPs, rather than opt for an EP, which contains fewer songs than the latter, but more than the former.

As a result, when an EP is released, it is hard to find one singular overall identity from it. However, "Alo Adhar" goes against that narrative. If you listen to it, you'll see (hear) what I mean.

In the EP release trailer, Kaizer narrates how we all have our own individualistic approaches to how we express ourselves. Some people use their words, other their brushes. Similarly, "Alo Adhar" is him expressing his feelings and experiences from certain points in his life. On that front, all of the songs adeptly capture the emotions of joy, sadness, love, etc. that Kaizer is expressing.

The use of soundscapes along with traditional instruments helps listeners experience the gravity of the story Kaizer is trying to tell. In particular the use of the third track, "90s love"—which is almost an interlude of sorts—to deliver a monologue about the past, almost referencing to how nostalgia changes our perception of things.

If you're a fan of Level Five, then you have to check this EP out. Even if you're not, give this EP a listen, because it truly is a diamond in the rough.