Cactus is an Indian Bangla rock

Bangla rock

Bangla rock is a music genre in which the song is written in Bengali language. It was originated in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. The first known Bangla rock band was Moheener Ghoraguli and also India's first rock band...

 band from Kolkata

Kolkata

Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...

, West Bengal

West Bengal

West Bengal is a state in the eastern region of India and is the nation's fourth-most populous. It is also the seventh-most populous sub-national entity in the world, with over 91 million inhabitants. A major agricultural producer, West Bengal is the sixth-largest contributor to India's GDP...

, India

India

India , officially the Republic of India , is a country in South Asia. It is the seventh-largest country by geographical area, the second-most populous country with over 1.2 billion people, and the most populous democracy in the world...

. Since inception they have played on over 2500 stages.

History

Cactus was formed in 1992. Inspired by the likes of Deep Purple

Deep Purple

Deep Purple are an English rock band formed in Hertford in 1968. Along with Led Zeppelin and Black Sabbath, they are considered to be among the pioneers of heavy metal and modern hard rock, although some band members believe that their music cannot be categorised as belonging to any one genre...

, Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd

Pink Floyd were an English rock band that achieved worldwide success with their progressive and psychedelic rock music. Their work is marked by the use of philosophical lyrics, sonic experimentation, innovative album art, and elaborate live shows. Pink Floyd are one of the most commercially...

, Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin

Led Zeppelin were an English rock band, active in the late 1960s and throughout the 1970s. Formed in 1968, they consisted of guitarist Jimmy Page, singer Robert Plant, bassist/keyboardist John Paul Jones, and drummer John Bonham...

, Iron Maiden

Iron Maiden

Iron Maiden are an English heavy metal band from Leyton in east London, formed in 1975 by bassist and primary songwriter Steve Harris. Since their inception, the band's discography has grown to include a total of thirty-six albums: fifteen studio albums; eleven live albums; four EPs; and six...

 and many others, they started the journey with the purpose of doing rock n' roll in a language closer to their soil, thereby expanding the vistas and erasing all existing limitations. Cactus went on to become the first ever professional Bangla rock

Bangla rock

Bangla rock is a music genre in which the song is written in Bengali language. It was originated in Kolkata, West Bengal, India. The first known Bangla rock band was Moheener Ghoraguli and also India's first rock band...

 band.

The professional debut of the band saw the light of the day on March 6, 1993, at Aban Mahal (CLT), Kolkata

Kolkata

Kolkata , formerly known as Calcutta, is the capital of the Indian state of West Bengal. Located on the east bank of the Hooghly River, it was the commercial capital of East India...

.

1999-2002: Beginnings and self-titled album

The first self-titled album, released in 1999 from HMV, became a rage with a touch of blues and psychedelic rock. With numbers like Brishti, Icchamati and Oooh! ma this album portrayed psychedelia in Bengali music for the first time. Halud pakhi, on the other hand created a long lasting sensation in the contemporary Bengali music scene with its nostalgic feel being perfectly accompanied by Shudhu tumi ele na and Amra bhishon eka complimenting the overall mood of the album.

They tasted some success when our first self-titled album was released in 1999 by HMV.

In 2002, Cactus composed and performed the score for the Bengali movie Nil Nirjone.

Rajar Raja (2004)

The band released its second album titled 'Rajar Raja' in 2004. The band with this album moved ahead and incorporated new sounds. Different genres of music were experimented within the album. Buddho Heshechhen and Lash Kata Ghore being examples of classic rock, flirting with folk rock in Bodhu re while Rajar Raja portrays influences from funk rock. Though this album had new sounds, the nostalgic quotient was very much there with songs like Udaaner Gaan, Krishti, Ude Jete Chay and Kamalar Swami representing blues and the psychedelic facet of the band sound.

Tuchho (2008)

The band released its third album, Tuccho, in 2008. The band with this album moved ahead and has incorporated new sounds. Different genres of music were being experimented with in the album. Traces of hard rock

Hard rock

Hard rock is a loosely defined genre of rock music which has its earliest roots in mid-1960s garage rock, blues rock and psychedelic rock...

 was clearly visible. They were then featured in the Rock Street Journal

Rock Street Journal

Rock Street Journal or RSJ is a monthly magazine covering the rock scene in India and South Asia. It was started in January 1993 in Allahabad by Amit Saigal and Shena Gamat Saigal after they realized the lack of support system for Indian rock musicians. The magazine has grown in popularity ever...

's February 2009 issue.

Discography

Cactus (1999) (Saregama India Limited)
Tracks

• "Shudhu Tumi Ele Na" (শুধু তুমি এলে না)
• "Amra Bhishon Eka" (আমরা ভীষণ একা)
• "Halogen" (হ্যালোজেন)
• "Tumio Bojho Amio Bujhi" (তুমিও বোঝো আমিও বুঝি)
• "Icchamoti" (ইছামতী)
• "Brishti Oooh Ma" (বৃষ্টি উঃ মা)
• "Bhoy" (ভয়)
• "Chai Shudhu Tomay" (চাই শুধু তোমায়)
• "Holud Pakhi" (হলুদ পাখি)

Nil Nirjone (2002) (Sunnyo Media Pvt. Ltd)
Tracks

• "Nil Nirjane" (নীল নির্জনে)
• "Noah" (নোয়া)
• "Telephone" (টেলিফোন)
• "Mon" (মন)
• "Dukho Medley (1st)" (দুঃখ মেডলি)
• "Medley (2nd)" (মেডলি)
• "Nil Nirjane - Music Track" (নীল নির্জনে - সংগীত)
• "Dialogue - Cactus and Raima" (সংলাপ - ক্যাকটাস ও রাইমা)

Rajar Raja (2004) (Asha Audio Company)
Tracks

• "Buddho Heshechhen" (বুদ্ধ হেসেছেন)
• "Udaaner Gaan" (উড়ানের গান)
• "Bodhu Re" (বধু রে)
• "Ude Jete Chay" (উড়ে যেতে চায়)
• "Lash Kata Ghore" (লাশ কাটা ঘরে)
• "Krishti" (কৃষ্টি)
• "Kamalar Swami" (কমলার স্বামী)
• "Rajar Raja" (রাজার রাজা)

Tuccho (2008) (Asha Audio Company)
Tracks

• "Bhalo Theko" (ভালো থেকো)
• "Kobita Hobo - Kobi Dao" (কবি দাও)
• "Moshiha" (মসীহা)
• "Phire Chawa" (ফিরে চাওয়া)
• "Pokhiraaj" (পক্ষীরাজ)
• "Raater Pori" (রাতের পরী)
• "Tuccho Ami" (তুচ্ছ আমি)
• "Shabdhane Raasta Perio" (সাবধানে রাস্তা পেরিয়ো)

External links

• Official_Website
• Official_Twitter_Page
• Official_Myspace_Profile
• Official_Orkut_Community
• Official_Facebook_Fanclub