“Love Conquers All” is a riveting collection of Eight intimate songs from Arapurakal, once a stalwart of the NYC Indi scene, now based in Goa, India. The title track opens the album with a Cat Stevens-like appeal for Love to prevail in our time. This song is pure Americana, and ends with a baroque minuet about Neuro-lingustic Programming that is sure to raise eyebrows.

Love Conquers All

With “Tennis Racquet,” the listener is taken on a tryst with love at first sight augmented by magical realism. In a country shuffle style, the song’s imagery evoces suburban New Jersey, where the singer grew up in the 80s and 90s.

Tennis Racquet

“Chocolate Ice Cream” is a playful love song sung from the point of view of a guy who is locked down with his folks and thinks that’s cute. Ranjit’s Mother does not find this song particularly amusing.

Chocolate Ice Cream

“Sorry I Crashed Your Car” combines Arapurakal’s penchant for Bossa Nova Guitar styles while sharing glimpses of his real life in Goa. His masterful vocal performance and unique melodies on this track are reminiscent of Michael Jackson and Stevie Wonder. He adds, “Driving on the Left side of the road is challenging for me and it was a really wide car.”

Sorry I Crashed Your Car

“Amanita Muscaria” is a trippy, folky ode to poisonous and psychedelic mushrooms, and Christmas time and its pagan origins; a shamanic interpretation of Santa Claus as a mushroom. It was written in Northern California on Thanksgiving 2019 and is reminiscent of Nick Drake’s “Pink Moon.”


Amanita Muscaria

With “The River Revisited,” Arapurakal shares his vision of the state of human globalisation and calls for a return to humanistic values and respect for the mysteries of nature. An ode to a maternal planet from a traveler who probably needs to check his own carbon footprint.


The River Revisited

The album closes with “Edinburgh,” a poppy acoustic love song that takes the listener from Scotland to New York City and back. Lovers of tight harmonies will love this one and play it on repeat.

Edinburgh

“Gokarna” is a timeless song for the traveler who searches the world to find something within. Evoking the vocal stylings of Cat Stevens in his prime, this song shows another dimension of Arapurakal’s voice, more Earthy and experienced than before.

Gokarna

Music and Lyrics by Ranjit Arapurakal
Recorded, Mixed, Mastered by Nick Afflitto at Sparrow Recording, USA
Slide Guitar on "Jesus Lived in India" and Horns and Horn Arrangements on "Holy Ground" by Nick Afflitto
All other instruments and Vocals by Ranjit Arapurakal

Ranjit Arapurakal

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