Parasiva seems like the perfect candidate for a arena-folk anthem – with incredibly catchy percussion and superb vocals and acoustic guitar by Raghu, this is a fabulous opener! The package is so ebullient that the language, or it sounding alien to a large segment in India, hardly seems to be matter. Rain Song‘s possibly Gambheera Nattai/Thilang raga base is absolutely enticing, with Raghu’s guitar and Soumik Dutta’s sarod adding a lovely layer. Jag changa is a mighty enthusiastic package of addictive chorus, hammerclaw and plain banjos, flute and violin – the result is stunningly heady! Ankur Tewari’s lyrics stand out as much as ukulele, mandolin and melodica-driven sound and gorgeous tune, in Yaadon ki kyari.
Sajana, on the other hand is a phenomenal combination of so many beautiful elements, starting with the deeply soulful tune, Manoj George-arranged strings, Suhail Khan’s sarangi, Bhutto’s flute, to name just a few! Amma, penned with incredible flourish by Madan Karky, is brought to life by Bhaskar’s violin, lively and effecting percussion, with Raghu Dixit’s fabulous rendition towering above all!
The already fantastic albums closes with two songs that showcase Raghu Dixit at his experimental best. One is Lokada kaalaji, where Raghu goes back to Shishunala Sharif’s verses (much like the two songs in his debut album), is a hugely entertaining affair with infectitious enthusiasm powered by Brendan Kelly’s sax and Abigail Washburn’s hammerclaw banjo among others! The other, the album’s pièce de résistance, is Kodagana koli nungita, again featuring Shishunala Sharif’s words, based on the tantalizing Vakulabharanam raaga, complete with a hyper-imaginative orchestration highlighted by Bhaskar’s violin. Jag changa is proof that everything is changa with the Indipop scene. The album, with its multilingual approach, strong focus on tunes and overall sound, is almost a text-book guide to the future of Indian pop music!
Keywords: Raghu Dixit, Jag Changa, The Raghu Dixit Project, 300, #300
