Mermaid by Silk Route

The Boondein album has several strong tracks, but Mermaid is the one most listeners come back to first. Behind the melody is the work of Mohit Chauhan, Kem Trivedi, Atul Mittal, whose composition choices give Mermaid its distinctive texture.

Silk Route brings a warmth to Mermaid that no production choice could manufacture — it has to be felt, and here it is. The chemistry of a talented ensemble cast is embedded in every moment of Mermaid, making it as much a performance as a song.

The 2016 release gave fans something to hold onto — a track built for repeated listening rather than a single play. It is the kind of track that works at full volume with friends and equally well in a quiet room alone — the mood adjusts without the song changing.

Running to 4:42, the song is exactly as long as it needs to be, which is the hardest length for a songwriter to find. For anyone yet to hear Mermaid, the experience ahead is a good one. For those returning, it will be as good as they remember.