November 25, 2008
Rahman is back and so am I! was busy with exams and stuff.. anyways, coming to the point... I got hold of Ghajini yesterday and was blown away by its music! Here's my take on Rahman's latest work :)
Ghajini
The movie is based on revenge and Rahman kicks a** with this album especially after yuvraaj!
There are 6 songs in the album:
1. Guzarish Mushy.. mellow.. subtle.. soothing track with rahman's golden touch. Has been sung by Javed ali of Jash-e-bahara fame and the humming has been done by Sonu nigam. Its the best track of the album and is going to be on loop for long :)
2. Aye Bachchu Sung by Suzanne... is a different song. It must be a background song I feel, overall an average track by Rahman's standards.
3. Kaise Mujhe Haunting, ambient and touching. After "tu hi meri dost hain" benny dayal hits the right chords once again with this song. Lyrics could have been better though. Shreya ghoshal does an awesome job! Reminds me of banjar hai from saathiya though this one is more spiritual in feel.
4. BEHKA There is a simple reason I wrote this in caps and bold... GO LISTEN TO THIS SONG!! Its a masterpiece.. no less!! Rahman experiments in his own style... listen to the antara and you will understand what I mean. Its a fairly complex tune to hum but its catchy. The second best song of the album... actually on a second thought, guzaarish and behka have an equal footing on the podium. This song will grow on u, trust me!
5. Latoo A typical item number, though sung by shreya ghoshal and not by sunidhi chauhan. Rahman wraps the song in his own style and the song does sound different. This song too grows as you listen. Complex rhythm but definitely magic. ( i don't like listening to item no.s though)
The last song is an instrumental version of kaise mujhe. I wish there was a Karaoke version too.
Verdict Rahman is back with vengeance after yuvraaj and he does it with style. Its difficult to be different and experiment in a completely commercial movie like Ghajini but Rahman does it in style. Go ahead, recommend it and listen without prejudice :)
Regards
Talvinder
-listen without prejudice
November 1, 2008
Finally!! Apologies for being away from the scene for so long.
Wanted to talk about this artist for so long. The Guardian, London describes him "It is easier to put down what this man can't do than what he can do".
Nitin Sawhney is a pure genius period. That is the most apt and brief description about him. He is an Indian - British musician who has adorned various roles like Producer, Songwriter, Multi-instrumentalist, DJ, Orchestral Composer at times and without any doubt, have excelled in all of them. His music has influences of Jazz, Drum-n-bass, Rock, western and indian classical, electronica to say the least. Broadly his works have good dosage of asian and world music with hint of electronica. On the theme front his music has cultural influences along with spirituality and politics most of the times.
His versatility knows no bounds. He has composed for bollywood movies, orchestras, TV Ads (nike etc), PS3 games, silent movies, TV serials to say the least. He has won more than 15 major international music awards. I wont list the details about his achievements(refer to nitinsawhney.com for that) because that is not what I am here to.
Some of the recommended tracks(by recommended, I mean a must listen!!) are:
Nadia ft reena bhardwaj
Eastern eyes
Mausam
Koyal
Nothing
Rainfall
-Listen without prejudice :)
October 9, 2008
Its that time of the year again :)
Listen to Daniel Raymer from Lockheed, Tomonari Furukawa from Virginia Tech, Nathan Chronister from Ornithopter.org and Tessy Thomas, the Missile Woman, the project director of AGNIII missile at Zephyr08.
Visit http://www.aero.iitb.ac.in/zephyr
September 28, 2008
Phew, It has been hectic all these days.
I am back with another unique artist, Paban Das Baul. Before telling anything about their music, its utmost important to know a little more about Bauls. The word "Baul" means divinely possessed, without limits, simply mad; the Bauls address each other as khepa meaning furious. They have a mode of life entirely determined by a fundamental choice and bring chaos and disorder wherever they go - attracting people towards them, inviting intimacy, breaking the rhythm of daily life.
Their wild behavior and repetitive rhythms make them seem strange and manic; so it's not surprising that in traditional Bengali society, where strict caste and class distinctions are rigidly maintained, they are chastised and despised. Through their songs, dances, gestures, through silences, through postures and looks, the Bauls tell stories of the earth, of the body, of lovers uniting - subtly revealing the mystery of life and the laws of nature. Submission to the divine is the tightrope to wisdom; Baul knowledge is transmitted through songs. This early apprenticeship gives Paban's music a unique quality. His unconventional nature and versatile talents, drawing and inspiring him from old and new sources, make him a controversial figure in Bengal.
Paban comes from Mohammedpur, Murshidabad district in West Bengal, India - land of a population incarnating the spirit of syncretism between Tantric, Vaishnava, Muslim and Buddhist traditions through music, dance and song. And his music is the most iconic of all as he derives inspirations from his roots. He is well known for his genius of improvisation on the dubki (a small tambourine) and the inspired lyrical beauty of his songs, which give him the power to create trance-like states in his listeners. Most of his music is made on instruments made by himself - the dubki, khamak and do tara.
He has been involved in collaborative projects since a long time, the most notable being with Sam Mills. I cannot understand his lyrics but his music does invoke certain feelings which can be best felt. Below is his career details:
Discography
- Paban Das Baul - Inner Knowledge (Womad Select - 1997)
- Paban Das Baul & Sam Mills - Real Sugar (Real World - 1997)
- Paban Das Baul, Gour Khepa, Nimai Goswani & Mimlu Sen - Manouche O Ratan (Fonti Musicali, Brussels - 2002)
- Paban Das baul & Jonny Wartel (Gravitation - 2003)
- Paban Das Baul & State of Bengal - Tana Tani (Real World - 2004)
- Paban Das Baul - 'live' At Satellit Cafe Paris (2008)
on Compilations
- Chants des Fous: Bengale (Chants du Monde - 1979)
- Le Chant Mystique des Bauls (Sonodisc ESP)
- Les Musiciens Bauls “ Fous de Dieu” (Disques Arion - 1983)
- Bauls Des Fous de l’Absolu (Sonodisc - 1989)
- Chants d'initiation Bauls (Buda Musique - 1992)
Collaborations
- Marque Gilmore /Drum-FM - Creation Step (Tribal Broadcast - 2003)
- The Katia Labèque Band - Unspoken (KLM - 2003)
- Cheick-Tidiane Seck - MandinGroove (Sunnyside Records - 2004)
- Paul Mills - The Other Side Of The Glass (IUS - 2006)
Filmography
- Le Chant des Fous (Doc. Georges Luneau Antenne Deux - 1979)
- Vagabunden Karawane (Doc. Embryo (german band) - 1979)
- Nagmoti (fiction: Gautam Chatterjee, Kolkata - 1972)
- La Nuit Bengali (Nicolas Klotz France - 1988)
- Egaro Miles (doc Ruchir Joshi – Channel Four / prix Joris Ivans Centre Pompidou in France - 1992)
- Bhalobasha O Andhokar (Gautam Chatterjee - 1995)
- Faut pas rêver (Doc.FR 3 - Frederic Zoltan/ Dominique Rabotteau - 1999)
Recommended:
I havent been able to find a lot of songs but still all his songs have become my favourites. They are listed below:
- Dil ki doya ( a must listen!!!)
- Mon Fakira
- Manush key
ps. Can someone translate his tracks for me, plzzzz :)
Regards,
Talvinder
Listen Without Prejudice
September 15, 2008
September 9, 2008
Disclaimer: No kids and animals were hurt during the testing of this album.
September 8, 2008
Creator of an innovative fusion of Indian bhangra music and drum'n'bass electronica, Talvin Singh was classically trained on the tabla but rejected most of his learning when he founded the Anokha club-night at East London's Blue Note.
Singh founded Anokha, the club night where drum'n'bass DJs and Asian punk bands went head to head with the amped-up sounds of his tabla and percussion. Guest spots by LTJ Bukem and others made Anokha a Monday-night hotspot in London, and Singh signed to Island for an Anokha compilation including several of his own productions.
He also worked as a remixer before issuing his proper solo debut, OK. in late 1998
My Space: Talvin Singh
September 6, 2008
Song: Govinda
Year: 1996
Band: Kula Shaker
Album: K
Lyrics: Govinda
Summary: Govinda belongs to the genre of Raga Rock and that defines the sound of the song to a great extent. After George Harrison, perhaps kula shaker is the only band to produce such a track.
My Take: One of the best fusion tracks I have heard till date. Oriental, spiritual and mystic vocals paint a picture wonderfully soothing and relaxing. Ethnic lyrics elegantly blended with rock sounds, give the song an amazing aura and volume, compelling you to test your sound system's limit.
The usage of peacock's sound in the beginning, alaap in the later half of the song and tabla in different sections are amazing improvisations.
Song: Namami nanda
Year: 1999
Band: Kula Shaker
Album: Peasants, Pigs & Astronauts
Lyrics: Namami Nanda
Summary: A soulful Sanskrit song. I don't know the meaning of the song yet.
My Take: Very few songs can give you a state of bliss; eyelids close automatically, a smile on the face appears instantly and you feel enchanted. Again the magical usage of alaap and sound of birds along with flute and traditional Indian instruments, makes this song one of my favourites.
Song: Radhe Radhe
Year: 1999
Band: Kula Shaker
Album: Peasants, Pigs & Astronauts
Lyrics: Radhe Radhe
Summary: The famous Radhe Radhe chant with guitar riffs and drums.
My Take: The song starts as a typical bhajan, but wait for a minute and let electronica and drums join in, because with them the experience gets a new high. Its not soothing or surreal like the other songs I mentioned but deserves a listen for its uniqueness.
September 4, 2008
Well, I was planning to start this blog since long and what better song to start with, than Afterglow
Song: After Glow
Year:1996
Album: Switch
Band: INXS
Lyrics: Afterglow
Summary: Its a beautiful breakup song by a rather unknown australian band INXS, sung from the perspective of a lover who wants to stay in the past, who wants to sacrifice and wants to live in her afterglow.
My take: The song starts with guitar notes and indian traditional beats and slowly grows into a surreal experience which made me believe in the singer. The song is definitely an experience, a dream wave which threw me in a different world, a world which is moving slowly in the negative time frame. I can see scenes of my past happening in the reverse order.
The delicate guitar riffs and the indian harmony thrown in the end along with the lyrical imagery makes this song a must for everyone.
Recommendation: Must listen for all and specifically for those suffering from a break up :)
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