Take Five – Sachal Studios Orchestra (Jazz Interpretations of Jazz Standards & Bossa Nova)
I was made aware of Sachal’s existence when news of their album came out recently – that a Pakistani jazz album has become big in western charts! As I listened to the CD, I realized the ingenuity that has gone into creating something as audaciously original as this! Perhaps the best way to enjoy their music is not to start with their own CD, but to first listen to Dave Brubeck’s Take Five…and then listen to Sachal’s interpretation of the same classic! Enjoy!
You suck at love, Loser of the year – Get Your Heart On! (Simple Plan)
Like Green Day, I think I’ll like anything Simple Plan comes up with! Their brand new album, Get Your Heart On! is no exception – wonderful listen!
Deewali deepanni – Dhada (Telugu – Devi Sri Prasad)
Dhada’s soundtrack is a very competent commercial package by Devi. Deewali deepanni, in particular, has an interesting choice of singer – Andrea Jeremiah. Her husky voice and accent seems to start with some trouble, but goes on to become the USP of this rhythmic song.
Maalai mangum neram – Rowthiram (Tamil – Prakash Nikki)
Maalai neram’s highlight is definitely Ranina Reddy. I went on a search for her other songs and arrived at many songs from Harris Jeyaraj! But this song, with good picturization, could be her big ticket fame in Tamil! Ideally, I’d have imagined Bombay Jayashree in a song like this, but Ranina does superbly!
Na de na de, Naina more & Mora tum bin – Javed Bashir (Subrang)
This is an album that I didn’t get to review when it released a couple of months ago. But when I did, I was pleasantly surprised at the range of Javed Bashir. Some tracks don’t work entirely for me, but the ones that do are amazing. Na de is something that can get quite addictive, while Javed classical roots are demonstrated superbly in Naina more and Mora tum bin. It is sad that this album did not get the kind of attention it should have – India and non-film music…sad co-existence.
Kola kuthu & 24 mani neram – Yuvan Yuvathy (Tamil – Vijay Antony)
These 2 tracks have been played endlessly in my car all across July. I was addicted to them at one point and I think – given how well the film fares and is promoted – they have the chance of going really big!
Anjana Anjana & Nagarudhe – Vandhaan Vendraan (Tamil – Thaman S)
Vandhaan Vendraan is strictly a mixed bag, even as Thaman gets the sound of the soundtrack brilliantly. Anjana is perhaps the best of the lot in the way it builds the track, while Nagarudhe registers mainly because, personally, it reminds me of Thaman’s best, Paniye from Ayyanar!
Champakamala – Kandireega (Telugu – Thaman S)
This is one heck of a catchy song from Thaman. The entire package is rather simple and there’s nothing alarmingly different – but it works, and how!!
Rain rain beautiful rain – Ladysmith Black Mambazo
I was recently (about a month or two ago) introduced to the music of Ladysmith Black Mambazo. Considering they have been around since 1960, I realize that I’m really late! But, as usual, better late than never! Their 2 CD greatest hits collection is a wonderful showcase of their kind of music. As I listened to their music, I couldn’t help but assume that A R Rahman probably had their musical genre in mind while composing the mesmerizing ‘Rasathi’ from Maniratnam’s Thiruda Thiruda. Here’s one of their song – Rain rain beautiful rain (perfect for Indian monsoons – it is raining outside as I type this!)…and Rahman’s Rasathi, to compare and ponder on the beauty of how Rahman’s Indian imagination is so dramatically original and still falls within a similar sound!
Kolaikaaraa & Netru illai – Thambi Vettothi Sundaram (Tamil – Vidyasagar)
Vidyasagar continues to surprise and that too in little known films like this! He’s perhaps the only composer in Tamil who retains the focus on strong melodies like how Raja used to, at one point. But I have to add this – his choice and usage of ragas isn’t dramatically different – it may because these ragas have been used to the hilt by Ilayaraja. But even then, they do sound brilliant given the dearth of such songs in Tamil cinema these days.
Achha lagta hai & Mauka – Aarakshan (Hindi – Shankar Ehsaan Loy)
I quite like this soundtrack and have spent a lot of time listening to Achha lagta hai – it’s lovely! Mahalaxmi Iyer’s singing, in particular! Mauka, as I had mentioned below gains immensely because it doesn’t hand over the singing duties to the more popular Mahadevan – Shankar. Instead, with the lesser heard Mahadevan – Raman – it gets a fresh outlook! That ‘chanace’ hook is quite innovative too.
Runway Train – Soul Asylum
Back in the mid-90s, when MTV and Channel V were actually playing western music and shunning Hindi film music actively (I quite liked those days when there were multiple channels focused on specific kinds of music – the current bastardization of MTV into crass film music and reality shows is most depressing; it is just TV now, not MTV), Soul Asylum’s Runway Train got incredible air time. The song per se is amazing, but what adds depth to it is the video concept. If you haven’t seen it yet – take a look!
Senga soola kaara, Sara sara, Poraney – Vaagai Sooda Vaa (Tamil – Ghibran)
One of the best debuts in Tamil cinema and one of the best soundtracks from Tamil, in recent times. Anita’s vocals in Senga soola kaara is a revelation, as much as Neha Bhasin’s unconventional turn in Poraney. I was given to understand that Poraney is a 10+ year old tune composed by Ghibran for his own band that also consisted of playback singer Ranjith. Ranjith had even performed this song on TV. The song that warmed up a bit late is Sara sara – but I think this song overtook every other song in this soundtrack after warming up to it. Chinmayi’s fabulous singing and Vairamuthu’s lyrics that have you reminiscing on how beautiful they have been crafted (that ‘Modakathaan rasam vechu madakathaan paarthene’ is a killer!).
