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MUSIC
Reverberations
Folks Score
The cover
of pehchan could easily be mistaken for a promo of a horror show with
the Silk Route crew wearing African voodoo masks. Those mukhotas can be
misleading. The group consists of Kem Trivedi, Mohit Chauhan and Kenny.
This is their second album after their debut with Boondein two years ago.
their first album was refreshing and had something new to offer listeners.
This one disappoints. The group has not been able to go a step further
in terms of their music. There are certain musical nuances or a combination
of notes a composer or singer falls in love with. But when he starts repeating
those nuances, he tries to be different only to fall flat. The use of
the mouth organ too fails to capture listeners. Morni, a traditional folk
number, is well arranged and very hummable. Are they trying to ape Simon
and Garfunkel? Listen to find out more.
Folk music
is the oldest form of Indian music. Heritage, an instrumental album, is
based on the folk melodies of various states of India but with a very
contemporary feel. The folk melodies include: Mand of Rajasthan, Prabhatiyu
and Bhajan of Gujarat, Pahadi from Kashmir, Kairi from Uttar Pradesh,
Mast Qalandar from Sindh, Baul of Bengal and Heer of Punjab. The instruments
used are santoor, flute, sitar, sarangi, shehnai, pakhawaj and tabla.
And the music has been arranged and conducted by Ashit Desai. The colours
of the states have been distinctively reproduced using folk instruments
with bass guitars and electronic keyboards. The popular number Mast qalandar
has beautiful orchestration. The song refers to mast qalandar (the drunken
dervish) and the tune is set to the hypnotic rhythm of the Dhamal dance
which has been performed in front of his tomb after the sunset (maghreb)
for hundreds of years. A good buy for those who cherish folk music.
-S.
Sahaya Ranjit
Screen
Surf
Festive Buzz
This December
through January, Carnatic music buffs can get a daily update during the
Kutcheri music season on happenings in Chennai. Log on to www.kutcheribuzz.com.
Set up by the husband-wife team of Vincent d'souza and Nitya, this site
gives information on new releases on classical music, list of dance and
music schools, profiles of artistes and calendar of events. Surfers could
also buy season tickets for sabhas online. For the connoisseurs, there
is a list of arangetrams and articles on dance. During the off-season,
this site is updated weekly.
-S.
Sahaya Ranjit
Hot Track
NATURAL WOMEN
Carole King
(Sony Music; Rs 125)
Singer/songwriter
Carole King, whose album Tapestry was a '70s legend, showcases the best
of her talent in Natural Woman. Melding the free spirited pre-rock classics
Up on the roof (live, with James Taylor) and Some kind of wonderful, with
a whispery Crying in the rain, King's music is a potent journey through
times when music was "sweet" and even a pop song wasn't complete
without a jazz accompaniment.
The very
thing that makes the album a success, however, is also that which makes
it a bit of a drag. The tone is equable, sometimes too mellow, and one
song could well be mistaken for the other. An album that can be safely
allowed to play out till the end, can also turn into bland elevator music.
But You make me feel like a natural woman, Will you love me tomorrow?
and Hard rock cafe are a brand of pop that is instantly recognisable.
As her tunes transcend genres and her words time and place, King is best
explained in her own words, as a "Nightingale".
-Sonia
Faleiro
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METRO TODAY
Among
the major spin-offs of developing the LCA is the mountain of confidence
that India's aeronautical engineers have gained. But there's still plenty
to do, writes INDIA TODAY Deputy Editor Raj Chengappa in
