Catch the video track of any album on the telly and you've seen it all, heard it all. But with Chennai-based Agosh's debut album, there's more than just the witty, spoofy title-video track Paisa. In fact, if you've heard only Paisa, you've only heard one aspect of this band that justly prides itself in being a band `To the people - by the people.' That of an aspiration that's making the world go round and round. Agosh, comprising guitarist Anandh, vocalist Gopal and lyricist-drummer Shaleen, besides aspiring for an affluent life, are also a thinking, sensitive and reactive band.

What gives these three musicians an edge over most Indipop artistes is their sound grounding in classical music. While Shaleen Sharma studied the tabla and Hindustani classical vocal, Gopal Rao learnt Carnatic vocal from an early age and R Anandh studied the veena for 10 years. Besides training in classical music, the three also have eclectic and folk inspirations as is evident from the Gopal's opening vocals on Paisa. This vocal style is the traditional Andhra (Telugu) story telling form called Harikatha, quite similar to the Baul in Bengal. Paisa, incidentally, was conceived on the beach with a guitar and a bunch of bye-standers for an audience. It was written and composed simultaneously in one sitting. The other tracks on the album include Jaane Do, an aptly titled happy tune. Sayaana has an interesting attempt at Carnatic on sax. Aaj Karle Pyaar is a mellow tune, followed by the folksy Baba Ki Baaten which has an exquisite mandolin and khol (a percussion instrument used mostly in the eastern parts of the country) opening and Achchi Lagti Ho -- a naughty lilting tune.

While most of the album reflects a happy and positive attitude towards life, two songs showcase the band's sensitivity. The track titled Jo Hua was written with politicians in mind. The tone is not of anger but more of resignation to the fact that, as Shaleen reveals, "You (politicians) have been taking me for a ride...cool, but how much longer?" The song is set in Bhimpilasi, a mellow raga. Another track that reflects the band's reactive approach in creating music is Nazar Lag Gayi. Though the song paints a picture of a lovelorn person aching with longing and loneliness, it was written as a reaction to the Lahore bus ride, rock band Junoon`s prosecution by the mullahs in Pakistan and exponent of the Sufiana kalam, Abida Parveen`s statement: "Na jane hamare mulkon ko kis ki nazar lag gayee." The lyrics, Shaleen revealed in an interview were much more explicit to start with but then the Kargil conflict happened. "Suddenly I was talking sacrilege if I was talking peace - happened to a lot of people earlier, so why not us? The lyrics were made more cryptic."

Agosh and their debut album, at the cost of sounding biased and cliched, we must say have come as a whiff of fresh air at a time when Indipop is sounding rather dull. Paisa has appeal for both the mass and class. A must buy.