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MUSIC: MUSINGS
REVERBERATIONS
Music Beyond Borders
So what if India
can't play cricket with Pakistan? The two neighbours can still communicate
through music. Pakistani musicians have always appealed to Indian listeners
and Indian artistes are routinely feted across the border. The latest
musician to cross the Radcliffe Line is 35-year-old Junaid Jamshed from
Karachi. "My music is very emotional," says Jamshed, whose album
comprises 11 romantic tunes. The music has a strong subcontinental sound
with vocal improvisations and uses instruments like the tabla and the
flute. Even though Jamshed needs to strengthen his command on the melodic
structure, his music has the refreshing appeal of youth.
Magnasound too has a history of presenting new
musicians from Pakistan, including charttopper Adnan Sami and pop band
Strings. The latest to join the list is LA-based pop singer and songwriter
Mahmood Khan. In 1997, Khan released Only One featuring Nusrat Fateh Ali
Khan. This album too has a guest star, Pune-based singer Nandini. But
Khan takes centrestage-as the lyricist, performer and the producer. He
juxtaposes the sound of instruments recorded on different tracks with
his vocals and throws in a few electronic sequences. The influence of
Sufi, trance and Indian music is evident in tracks like Dhund Le whose
lyrics deal with the "search for shelter" or the eponymous Panah.
This music has to grow on you, but it's different so it just might work.
The third in this troika of thirtysomethings
is Sanjeev Abhayankar, a disciple of Pandit Jasraj. The six compositions
on his album feature ragas like Nayaki Kanhara, Bageshri and Bhairavi
that dominate the predominant mood of shringara, depicting Krishna as
a mischievous but romantic lover. Abhayankar's rendering, as expected,
is beautiful. So even if the chic-art packaging detracts from the content,
suggesting perhaps semi-classical music instead, it's simply a case of
"Never judge a book by its cover".
-S. Sahaya Ranjit
SCREEN N SURF
Novel Notes
 Log
on to www.carnatica.com for a one stop shop for music and dance. While
there, visit Dr Carnatica.com who's adept at finding remedies for all
music-related maladies. At www.mymusicalbum.com surfers can compile personal
CDs with songs unavailable in the brick 'n' mortar market. It's back to
school at Cyber Vidyalaya which offers courses on music from e-gurus.
And finally, share notes with other music buffs at Rasika, a chat forum.
-S. Sahaya Ranjit
Hot Track
EVERYTHING YOU WANT
(BMG Crescendo; Rs 125)
 It's
one of those albums you must listen to repeatedly. And when you do, a
strange thing happens: boredom gives way to grudging interest in many
of the songs, and their tunes start to grow on you. Vertical Horizon's
Everything You Want is an album of almost-rock with pop ambitions. And
that, it appears, is just the thing to be these days. Diehard rockers
may discard this collection at the word go, but it's the kind of fare
that's also digestible for those whose daily staple is Robbie Williams
or Westlife.
There's the slow yet rhythmic Best I ever had
(gray sky morning), a well-written number that's definitely the best in
the collection. Also worth tuning into are You say and Everything you
want.
Lyrics are a strong point with this youthful
band and they're earnest and touching for the most part. You might lose
yourself through Side 2, but that's no reason to avoid this album. It
may not reach out and grab you but if you give it time, it will get to
you all the same.
-Anna M.M. Vetticad
Arrivals
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Bachcha Party
(Tips Music;
Rs 35)
Fresh, faded children's songs including Re ma re and a medley of
nursery rhymes.
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Adaab Nusrat Sahib
(HMV; Rs 65)
Eight songs composed and sung by Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Ustad
Shazia Mansoor.
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Kya yehi pyar hai
(BMG Crescendo; CD: Rs 195)
R.D. Burman's romantic songs sung by Asha Bhosle, Lata Mangeshkar,
Kishore Kumar. |
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# 1s on One
(Sony Music; Rs 150)
Past charttoppers by crooners like Queen, Wham, Bangles and Cyndi
Lauper, among others. |
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