Timeslave III by Only Now
The union between Indian sound system ballistics, Bay Area’s industrial resistance ethos, and feral soundscapes personifies “Timeslave III”. Only Now splits this hour long escapade into molten drum exercises and dripping melancholic instrumentals, littered with traditional Hindustani instruments and Punjabi synth gymnastics. Alternating fluidly between hyperkinetic drumwork and sweeping, contemplative electronic music, Arora produces an album which is vast and unremittingly abrasive yet deceptively intimate and inextricably tied to his origins.
With a nod to the current soundclash/dhol tasha phenomena throughout India, things come full circle with Kush’s forward vision from years past and current states of his homeland’s soundsystem obsessions. Built upon years of warped percussion workouts, punjabi drone swamps, and Arora’s legacy of taking his roots to extremes, 2025 celebrates 10 years since Only Now’s first EP. Guest appearances from Argentina’s Jaijiu, percussionist Dave Sharma, and Kolkata’s Shubho Sharma form center pieces in the different seasons of the record as it waxes from seething to withdrawn.
All the tracks were performed, road tested throughout a period of a year of shows in the US, UK, Japan, and then brought into the studio in the latter part of 2024 for mixing and arrangement.
Tracklist
| 1. | Power I | 5:20 |
| 2. | Only Now, Jaijiu - Rebel Cry | |
| 3. | Compromised Parasites | |
| 4. | Rivers of Despair | 2:47 |
| 5. | Only Now, Dave Sharma - Merciless III | |
| 6. | Eyes White, Vision Inside | |
| 7. | Only Now, Kush Arora - Tears of Blood | |
| 8. | Power II | |
| 9. | Fires, Bodies Part II | |
| 10. | Beyond Repair | |
| 11. | Only Now, Shubho S. Sharma - Merciless Destiny IV | |
Credits
Art: Kush Arora Logos: Karmazid, BMS Illustration
Mastering: Nahash
Mixed at: 25th Street Recording, Oakland and Slime Lord Studios, Berkeley
Additional Mixing: Gabriel Sheperd
Special Thanks: Dave Sharma, Michael Buchanen, Lucas Patzek, AK, Maneesh Kenia, Flore, Tash LC, Grey, Keito, Dj Moro.
