World of Shiva Masala Coffee’s interpretation of Aalayal thara venam remains consistently enjoyable, with that lovely Anandhabhairavi-raaga base, Krishnaraj’s scintillating violin, and Sooraj Santhosh and Varun Sunil’s vocals. The reprise...
Continue reading...Prashant Pillai
Sakhavu (Music review), Malayalam – Prashant Pillai
Madhumatiye is quite an earworm, with its reggae-meets-retro charm, and sung particularly well by Shreekumar Vakkiyil, with a distinct nasal twang that amps up the old-worldly feel, and Preeti Pillai....
Continue reading...Angamaly Diaries (Music review), Malayalam – Prashant Pillai
The profusion of atmospheric sounds in Ayalathe is both disconcerting and alluring! Shreekumar Vakkiyil’s involved vocals sit on top of Prashant’s lively, impromptu’ish backdrop! The three traditional songs, sung by...
Continue reading...Wazir (Music review), Hindi – Shantanu Moitra, Ankit Tiwari, Prashant Pillai, Advaita, Gaurav Godkhindi
Shantanu Moitra’s Maula is standard-issue filmy qawali with only Javed Ali’s singing holding it together. Shantanu’s other song, Tere bin is saccharine-sweet; the tune’s old-world charm, plus Sonu Nigam and...
Continue reading...Rockstar (Music review), Malayalam – Prashant Pillai, M.Jayachandran & Ranjith Meleppat
Veteran Jayachandran sounds oddly patchy in Arikil ninnarikil, though Prashant’s possibly Nilambari raaga-based tune, and the serene orchestration is gorgeous. Paalnila is decidedly Malayali-dandiya and is catchy enough, thanks to...
Continue reading...Double Barrel (Music review), Malayalam – Prashant Pillai
Athala pithala overdoses on falsetto singing and what stays is the captivaing mandolin phrases. Its reprise is at least sung better. With a more-than-obvious nod to The Champs’ Tequila and...
Continue reading...Andhra Mess (Music review), Tamil – Prashant Pillai
Sittham is very, very Prashant Pillai – ambient, haunting and a simple, ethereal tune sung by Preeti Pillai. The song’s remix adds more intriguing electronica in the background, and for...
Continue reading...Ezhu Sundara Rathrikal (Music review), Malayalam – Prashant Pillai
Prashant seems to be trying something innovative in Ithu jeevitham, but despite the heady experimentation and Karthik, Gowri and Charan Raj, the song ends up sounding awkward. That experimentation works...
Continue reading...Sixteen (Music review), Hindi – Prashant Pillai, Gaurav Dagaonkar & Adam/Eddie
Of the four songs by Gaurav Dagaonkar, it is perhaps a question which song is worst! Even Shalmali sounds terrible in the atrocious Solah baras ki! Adam/Eddie’s sole contribution Bas...
Continue reading...Amen (Music review), Malayalam – Prashant Pillai
Aatmavin‘s soulful gospel sound is enticing, given how the composer layers the haunting tune with bare minimum orchestration; the vocal chorus is fantastic! Solomanum Shoshannayum takes the minimalist feel to...
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