LAMHA - PANKAJ UDHAS
HMV, Rs. 65
A new album from popular ghazal-singer Pankaj Udhas is always looked forward to, since he invariably comes up with the best compositions which have beautiful lyrics. His new album Lamha is no exception, boasting of melodious compositions and profound lyrics, which, in Udhas’ velvet voice sound so soothing. The album opens with a feel-good composition Zindagi se ulajh ke, followed by the romantic Halki halki si baarish. Dekhiye mod leti hai kya zindagi, the best ghazal of the lot, comes next, which has some profound thoughts on the unpredictable nature of life. Lyricist Zafar Gorakhpuri’s view on life has been expressed in such apt words, that you identify with it instantly. Note the punchline here: Zinda laashon ki ek bheed charon taraf, Maut se bada haadsa zindagi. Marvellous is all you can say. Gorakhpuri pens some more power-packed thoughts on the morbid city life in Sheher mein lekin. He exxposes the glum behind the glamour of city life.

Side B is comparatively lacklustre, with four romantic ghazals which sound like earlier many other of Udhas’ ghazals. Of these, Nida Fazli’s Kami hai to bas itni and Yeh kiske chehre ka jadoo hai impress. Credit has been given only to the music arrangement, which has been competently done by Sanjay Wandrekar. Udhas comes up with another winner which will appeal to connoisseurs of music.

LAILA
Ultra Music, Rs. 50
This is a debut album (in Hindi) of Bibhu Kishore as singer and music director. The eight tracks in the audio offer a variety of tunes, some of them fast-paced, while others soft and sedate. The lyrics are simple and can be understood even by a layman. They have been written by Julu, except one Tikka lal, which is penned by Abhishek. The influence of folk music, specially Punjabi folk, is predominent in some of the renderings. Side A opens with the title number, which is slightly sentimental. It is followed by Masala kudi, which is fast-paced and folksy in nature. Sun soniye is another number which has the influence of Punjabi folk and is quite racy in its presentation. Teri payal with which Side A concludes, is another hummable number.

The tracks on the flipside are better than those on Side A. The opening piece, Tikka lal, is racy but the two numbers which follow, Jadoo mujh pe and Sanwali saloni, are the pick of the lot. The last-named is a foot-tapping number and will be universally appreciated. The last piece on this side, Naino ki kahani is also hummable. All in all, Bibhu Kishore, who hails from Orissa and has sung in Oriya, has made a promising debut and his first effort in Hindi will not go unnoticed.

KABIR AMRITWANI: PARTS I - IV
T Series, Rs. 35 (per cassette)
The four albums attempt to offer in one go some of the universally known teachings of Sant Kabir, which are in verse form, and with which even a layman is familiar. The music has been composed by Shailender Bharti. Debashish Dasgupta has rendered the verses in a voice which is marked by clarity and suits such renderings. While Part I and Part II do not carry on the inlays brief information about the verses included in the audio, the inlays of the remaining two parts do carry a couple of verses each, to familiarise the listener with the album contents. Kabir has a vast following throughout the country. To all of them, these albums containing the quintessence of his teachings, will come as Godsend.

PYARA RAMZAN
Venus, Rs. 35
This one is among the quality devotional albums released during Ramzan. Altaf Raja and Gulzar Nazaan render six devotional songs here, penned by Kaisar-ul-Jafri and Jameel Mujahid. Roze ka din and Vida vida mahe Ramzan vida are the pick of the lot.

ROZA RAKHO ROZA MAHE RAMZAN AA GAYA
Venus, Rs. 35
Another educative album from Venus about the message behind the holy month of Ramzan and the aim behind fasting. You have an array of popular devotional singers rendering six songs here, namely Ram Shankar, Mohd. Salamat., Shiva, Krishna and Bela Sulakhe. Lyrics are by Jameel Mujahid, Kaisar-ul-Jafri and Khurshid Hallauri. Only thing is that the songs have been tuned to recent film hits, which some devouts might find objectionable. But one needs to take note of the message behind the song, not the tune.

LA ILAHA ILLALAHA
Sangeet, Rs. 30
An album which evokes the reverent feelings in you, this one has Naat Khwani, with Ashar Bahraichi being the Naat Khwan. Just apt for Ramzan.

DIN-E-MOHAMMAD ZINDABAD
Sangeet, Rs. 30
Another album of Naat Khwani Ma-aa Daf, this one has S. Rahman as the Naat Khwan. You get to hear 10 devotional songs rendered by Rahman with apt emotions and feelings.

NOOR KI BARKHA
Sangeet, Rs. 30
Here you have eight Naat Khwanis rendered by Aslam Gondvi. Meri aankh mein hai Kaaba, Door hai Madine se and Mustafa jane rehmat pe lakhon salam make for good hearing.

Reviewed By Salma Khatib And Pandit Shimpi