Boom Box

ZULMI
T-Series, Rs. 40

Composer duo Dilip Sen-Sameer Sen have done a very intelligent thing. They have taken the ‘ageless wonder’ Asha Bhosle to sing all the songs and thus ensured that their music is a hit. Not that the duo can’t compose well. But if you have Asha singing for you, the songs become very ‘happening’. Listen to the first number Teri badmashiyan aur meri kamzoriyan, which Asha sings like a naughty teenager, and you will agree. She infuses life into this duet with Udit Narayan, which has got a real good beat. The next number, a romantic duet with Kumar Sanu, Bhool se humne bhool ki, also becomes a pleasure because of Asha. And she excels when singing the sad version of this song, complete with tears, a lump in the throat, et al. There is no holding her back in the raunchy Sapne mein aake loot gaya (which has vulgar lyrics) or the title song. Gulshan Bawra comes up with interesting lyrics in the nonsense verse, Mere liye to fit hai tu, which is the Hindi version of Whigfield’s Sexy eyes. It is a welcome change to hear Amit Kumar sing this song with Asha. Their rapport is just like the Asha-Kishore Kumar rapport. This album belongs to Asha. Our opinion - just go for it.

LAAWARIS
Venus, Rs. 40

The Muse seems to have deserted composer Rajesh Roshan. That can be the only conclusion one can arrive at after listening to this album which has some of the most boring compositions. Roshan has sleep-walked through the songs, and hasn’t taken any effort to make them listenable. What’s sad is that in the process, Javed Akhtar’s good lyrics also suffer because if the song is not heard, even the lyrics are not paid attention to. The first number Aa kahin door chalen is a face-saver of sorts since it has some melody, though the tune has been flicked from a past number. Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik sing it feelingly though. But the rest of the four songs don’t even command a hearing. And Roshan always takes the easy way out by including at least one Western hit in his score. So much of less work for him, you see. Here Tumne jo kaha sung by Abhijeet and Kavita Krishnamurthy is a straight lift of the Aqua hit Barbie girl, but doesn’t make even half an impact as the peppy original. Composers these days are really becoming shameless. On the flipside, the two numbers tax your ears. It’s high time Rajesh Roshan spruced up his act.

DUS: A TRIBUTE TO MUKUL ANAND
T-Series, Rs. 40

The inlay card of Dus: A Tribute To Mukul Anand contains a touching note from the late director, Mukul Anand. It reads “... I am now embarking on a new journey whereby the quest is for new vistas in commercial cinema.” That journey, alas, had to be cut short by the untimely death of the director.

Going by the music contained in the tape, and the visuals seen on the promos on TV, there is no doubting that Dus would have been an exciting film to watch. The energy and the excitement that went into picturising the action sequences is reflected in the music, as well.

Music directors Shankar, Loy and Ehsaan have been able to infuse a fair degree of freshness to their tunes, while operating within the confines of commercial Hindi film music.

The Shankar Mahadevan-Dominique-Hema Sardesai rendered title-track sums up the mood of the film; excitement, intrigue and action. There is another version of this song, composed by Sandeep Chowtha, which is starker, leaner and altogether darker. In stark contrast is the jingo-istic Hindustani, which involves a lot of chest-thumping about being Indian, and has music that complements that mood.

Setting the romantic mood for the album are Mahiya and Chandni roop ki. The former, by Sukhwinder Singh, is a powerhouse of a song that abounds with raw energy. For once, Sameer’s lyrical metaphors match Sukhwinder’s high-energy vocalising. The latter song is marked by Shankar Mahadevan’s cultured vocalising. This silken-soft song looks out of place in an album whose energy level is pretty high.

Among the other songs, Sur mile hain sees the Asha Bhonsle-Udit Narayan-Shankar Mahadevan trio vocalise their way through what is the most mundane song in the set. The Sandeep Chowtha-composed Piya has jazz overtones and the instrumental version of Hindustani is good for karaoke-occasions.

The bottom-line is that the tape is worth its money for Mahiya alone.

LOVE BLOOMS AGAIN(2 Cassettes)
HMV, Rs. 100

More stuff from the HMV vault. This compilation, possibly put together with Valentine’s Day in mind is oriented more towards the ’80s and the ’90s and targetted at the teen-set, reads like a listing of the best romantic songs of the last fifteen years.

The earliest song included in the compilation is Ek ajnabe haseena sa, Ajnabee, ’74 and the latest track comes from Pyar ko ho jaane do, Dushman, ’98

In between you have music from such films as Razia Sultan, Kudrat, Silsila, Saath Saath, Rajnigandha, Ek Duuje Ke Liye, Karz, Prem Rog, Chandni, Lamhe, Miane Pyar Kiya, Kal Ki Awaaz, Damini, Aaina, Darr, 1942 A Love Story, Sapnay, Mrityudand, DDLJ and Dil to Pagal Hai.

Good value for money for those who love romantic Hindi film music.

JADOO
Times Music, Rs. 55

Following the success of Jalwa, Times Music has upped the ante with Jadoo, a nine-track, “remixed for the dance-floor” set that packs a hypnotic beat.

DJ Akbar Sami has picked eight fail-safe songs that no matter what you do with their scores stand tall. The songs are aara zamana (Yaarana), O haseena zulfonwali (Teesri Manzil), Reshmi shalwar (Naya Daur), Ek ladki ko dekha (1942 A Love Story), Yeh chand sa roshan chehra (Kashmir Ki Kali), Sundara sundara (Rakshak), Jadoo teri nazar (Darr), and Pardah hai pardah (Amar Akbar Anthony).

The best track is the tape-ending medley, which includes songs from the films Harjaee; Lootmaar; Adharm and Hum Kissise Kam Nahin.

Tape is excellent accompaniment to both easy listening and the party animal.

SPIRIT TRAIL
BMG-Crescendo, Rs. 125

From his Grammy-winning debut album, The Way It Is (1986), to his 1995 set, Hot House, Bruce Hornsby has ploughed a lone furrow as a rock musician with a difference. He has used his brand of piano-driven rock, widely infused by the blues, as an extension of himself, and in that sense he wears his music on his sleeve.

This finely etched set is piano driven. While staying within the grammar and structure of popular rock, Bruce Hornsby delivers a set of songs that are provocative, uplifting, and very easy on the ears. And, as always, his lyrics are suffused with vivid imagery.

Spirit Trail is a fine tapestry of songs, intimately crafted and wonderfully produced. This is a treat for all true rock fans.

REPUBLICA CD Single,
BMG-Crescendo

This single-CD contains three edgy rockers from Republica. The songs are From rush hour, with love; World ends in the morning; and Clone my soul.

Republica is a hard-rocking brand, whose angst-ridden lyrics won’t find wide-spread appeal in India. Hard rock aficionados, however, will love the edgy sound of the single, From rush hour, with love.

NEW POWER GENERATION
CD Single,
BMG-Crescendo

You can never keep the artist who is currently an unpronouncable symbol, and who once repsonded to the name of Prince, down. After a protracted battle with the record labels, The Symbol, wrested control of the direction his music should take from the record labels.

What’s happened since, is that The Symbol has put out a steady stream of records that have taken different direction from the chart-friendly sound that The Symbol/Prince once specialised in.

His latest album, Soul Power, is more listener friendly in that sense, and the single taken from that, Come On is a groovy soul/R&B recording that reminds one of the heydays of The Symbol/Prince’s musical life.

The CD has six versions of the single, including an acapella version. Besides the album edit, the edits that stand out are the dance friendly hypermix and an extended remix of the song.

FIVE
CD Single,
BMG-Crescendo

Five is another of the numerous clean-cut, pop bands that are currently in vogue. Fresh pop sounds from this Swedish band comprises this the recording on this CD. The song, Until the time is through is the kind of radio-friendly tune that teeny-boppers love. Easy on the ears and extremely catchy, the song with its definite groove will find enough replays in discos and pubs.

LISTEN TO MY HEART
Archies, Rs. 50

As the Valentine’s Day approaches, music companies are ready with their fare for the occasion. This album, with a very romantic title, has a collection of evergreen Western songs rendered on the piano by Preet Raj Singh. Side A has the piano versions of Power of love, Must have been love, the hit number from the Julia Roberts-starrer Pretty Woman, Please forgive me, and George Micheal’s Careless whispers. On the flipside you get to hear Unchained melody, Good bye, You’ll see, Right here waiting and Without you. Preet Raj Singh is good on the piano and the sound of the instrument sets the romantic mood. Makes for a good Valentine’s gift.

LISTEN TO MY HEART -III
Archies, Rs. 50

The third volume in the series of Listen To My Heart (wonder what happened to the second volume), this has the piano versions of international hits by another artist, Preet Raj Kwatra. The compilation in this album includes How deep is your love, Blessed, Love will keep us alive, Elton John’s Can you feel the love tonight and Sacrifice, Hero, I’ll always love you, I swear, Wonderful tonight and Save the best for last. The choice of songs is interesting, which makes this a good buy.

DESTINATION DANCE
Thakral, Rs. 90

A dance album with the remixed versions of some of the best all-time Western hits, this one should prove a big hit with the dance-crazy souls. The remixing job is excellent and doesn’t hamper the effect of the original song in any way. There are 15 remixed numbers to shake a leg to. You have the old hit Brother Louie which one doesn’t get to hear often, the rap version of You’re my heart, you’re my soul, the radio edit version of YMCA, the groove edit mix version of All I have to give, the club groovy mix version of All that I need, the factory dance remix version of High, the factory team mix version of Backstreet Boys’ As long as you love me, the instinctive mix version of Spice Girls’ Viva forever, and the original RMK version of Diana King’s I say a little prayer to name a few. For the superb choice of numbers this one stands out among the other remix albums. So go ahead and dance.

BEST BUY

QAWWALIS FROM FILMS
(2 Cassettes)
HMV, Rs. 70

HMV delves into its massive library to put together this compilation of one of the forgotten genre of film music, the qawwali. Qawwalis were an established part of the Hindi film music lexicon until the late ’70s, when changing music tastes and a homogenisation of music saw the genre fade away.

The two-tape compilation contains 20 qawwalis from films produced in the ’60s and the ’70s; the last song being from ’79 - Pal do pal ka saath hamara (Burning Train).

The tapes contain all the familiar qawwalis including Raaz ki baat keh do to, Dharma, ’73; Hum kissise kum nahin, ’77; Humen to loot liya, Al-Hilal, ’58; Jhoom barabar jhoom sharabi, 5 Rifles, ’74; Haal kya hai dilon ka, Anokhi Ada, ’72; Mehngai mar gayi, Roti Kapda Aur Makan, ’74, Na carvan ki talaash hai and Yeh ishq ishq, Barsat Ki Raat, ’60; and Aye meri zohra jabeen, Waqt, ’65.

Alongside, there are are also others that were popular in their days, but have since faded from public memory. Among these are Janeman ek nazar dekh ke, Mere Mehboob, ’63; Han yeh mana meri jaan, Hanste Zakhm, ’73; Janeman ek nazar dekhle, Mere Mehboob, ’63; Tum nahin ya hum nahin, Karmyogi, ’78; and, Parde mein koi baitha hai, Dada, ’78.

The compilation has enough entertainment, and nostalgic, value to justify the money you spend on it.