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Reviews
Bichhoo
T-Series, Rs. 50
Anand Raaj Anand has come with some foot-tapping music here. Well, that’s
his forte anyway, composing songs which have dhinchak tunes, high on bhangra
and techno beats. The album takes off with a very energetic number, with
a very catchy tune, Jeevan mein jaane jaana, sung zestfully by Harry Anand
and Jaspinder Narula. This song is a sure hit with it’s catchline
Once in life you fall in love. Next comes an equally energetic Punjabi
number, Ekwari tak le, sung again by Harry and Sunidhi Chauhan. But Sunidhi
sounds exactly like Jaspinder, the voice and the style being so similar
to Jaspinder, that if you don’t look at the credits on the inlay,
you think it’s Jaspinder singing. Pyar tu dil tu, well-sung by Vinod
Rathod and Alka Yagnik, isn’t striking, but catches your fancy for
the Ooo sound at the end of every stanza. An instrumental version of the
Shweta Shetty-Hansraj Hans number Dil tote tote ho gaya comes first, while
the song features last on Side B. This song, another typical bhangra number,
has you shaking a leg, and Shetty’s husky and Hans’ mellow singing
make for a good combination.
The flipside isn’t as exciting. There’s a very good qawwali
though, Pyar ho na jaaye, sung well by Shankar Mahadevan, Ram Shankar
and Raj Bhatt. The instrumental version of Jeevan mein jaane jaana makes
for an equally great listening. Tere hothon ki hansi sung by Hariharan
and Swarnalata, with a very South Indian feel, looks queer and out-of-place
in this bhangra-techno set-up. Music that peps things up.
POP CHARTBUSTER VOL. 2
T-Series, Rs. 55
The second in the series of the compilation album of pop songs from
the T-Series table, this one has 11 popular and not-so-popular numbers.
The numbers include the romantic Sonu Nigam’s Tera milna pal do pal
ka from Jaan, the mellow Jagjit Singh ghazal, Tere baare mein socha nahin
tha from Saher, Sonu’s Ik baar tujhko dekah from Deewana, Hans Raj
Hans’ Akhan akhan vich and Dil chori sada ho gaya from Chorni, Harbhajan
Mann’s Husn jawani malomaal from the film Papa The Great, Sardool
Sikandar’s Sanu ishq barandi chadh gayi and Ik kudi dil utte chha
gayi from O-Ho, Tanya’s Chori chori chupke chupke from Hosh, Pankaj
Udhas’ Maikhane se sharaab se from Mahek, and Gursewak Mann’s
Lara lappa from the similar titled album. For Indi-pop buffs this one
should be a good buy.
THE PLATINUM ALBUM - VENGABOYS
Sony Music, Rs. 125
After the thumping success of The Party Album, one of the most popular
pop groups, the Vengaboys, have come up with their next release titled
The Platinum Album. Going by the title, the group looks pretty confident
that this album, like the earlier one, will go platinum too. Actually
there shouldn’t be any doubt that this is sure to sell well, since
it boasts of peppy numbers with the typical Vengaboys sound. Of course,
there is a difference from the past album, in the sense that there is
a maturity seen in the group, who have also experimented with new sounds,
but their typical rhythm is very much there which will surely get you.
Side A takes off with the Vengaboys re-working on the old hit Sha la la
la, and it sounds rejuvenated in the new version, with the group doing
a great job re-singing it. I only kiss when the sun don’t shine is
another peppy number, which is already a hit since it was released as
a single. But the song which catches your fancy is Uncle John from Jamaica.
The beats and the simple, cute lyrics are impressive. Cheekah bow bow
(That computer song) is also interesting.
On Side B, Your place or mine and Forever as one make an impact. Well,
nobody would want to miss Vengaboys, would they?
THE SUMMER ALBUM
Sony Music, Rs. 100
The rains may have begun, but the weather is as hot as it can get.
So this album from Sony Music is timely, listening to what the music company
feels you can beat the heat with its cool tracks. Here you get to hear
a compilation of 16 foot-thumping numbers, which have been worked upon
to lend them a fresh appeal, and are in the voices of the original artists.
The opening number, Rigga digga dong song by Passion Fruit, consisting
of Indian and German musicians, is highly catchy with a peppy rhythm.
This one’s a potential chartbuster, with catchy but meaningless words.
The other numbers featured include the popular Feelin’ hot hot by
Black Lace, Alabina, Lambada by Kaoma, Best friend by Toy Box, You are
my sunshine by Papa Winnie, Iko iko by Cyndi Lauper, Guantanamera by Wyclef
Jean, Sun is shining by Bob Marley vs Funkster De Luxe, Enjoy yourself
by Wisdome, Summer night city by Abbacadabra, Parada de tettas by Vengaboys,
Hawaii five o by Speaker, Hotel California (Spanish mix) by Gipsy Kings,
Here comes the hotstepper by Ini Kamoze and Kya soorat hai by Bombay Vikings.
Most of these are the lovely, old hits, not heard often these days. And
they are enough to entice a music buff who believes that old is gold.
Great compilation here.
LADHAI (MARATHI)
Om Mauli 
Enterprises,
Rs. 30
An audio of the songs from the Marathi film Ladhaai with lyrics written
by Jagdish Khebudkar and set to music by Achyut Thakur. There are four
songs in the film, all of them on Side A, while the flipside has three
songs from another old Marathi film titled Samradnee.
The songs from Ladhaai have been rendered by Uttara Kelkar, Ravindra Sathe
and Devki Pandit. Of the four songs, Hee masti ashi, ashi hee nasha and
Kaa maartos manasa badhaai will find favour with the listeners, especially
the former song. The other two numbers are Bheteetun julali naati and
Mee dharani saangte kahani.
TOPIWALYAANA ISHARA KELAA (MARATHI)
T-Series, Rs. 30
An album of eight dhammal folk songs (four on each side). The title
piece is on Side A and has been rendered by Uttara Kelkar. The audio opens
with Gaadi damaana sarte mhora sung by Pralhad Shinde. The other two numbers
are Navara nivada ga, rendered by Vaishali Samant and Premache khaate
khol sung by Shrikant Narayan. The last-named has pace and lilt and will
go well with the listeners. The four songs on the flipside are: Mee fasale
baai Mumbai nagreet sung by Uttara Kelkar, Aantichya daaraat bevdyanchi
varaat by Shrikant Narayan, Yaandu gundu waala navara sung by Vaishali
Samant and Por tumachi chandni by Pralhad Shinde. The songs in the album
will be appreciated by lovers of folk music.
CHALO BADRIKEDAR KE DHAAM
T-Series, Rs. 30
An audio of eight devotional songs (four on each side) sung by Debashish,
Javed Ali and Arun Kumar with Samuel Paul as music arranger. Debashish
and Javed Ali have rendered three songs each, while the remaining two
are in the voice of Arun Kumar. The renderings have devotional fervour
and are sure to find appreciative listeners not only amongst the devout
but lovers of music as well.
Side A consists of Bhasma ramaeeya Gangadhar Kedar sung by Debashish,
Hey mahadayalu daata by Javed Ali, Kedar swami bam bhole by Debashish
and Bhakti Kedar ki Man se jo by Arun Kumar. The flipside includes Aaj
deewane ho ke rendered by Javed Ali, Jholi bhar do prabhu Badrinath by
Arun Kumar, Prabhu Badrinarayan by Javed Ali and Hey Shivshankar roop
Kedara by Debashish.
Reviewed by Salma Khatib And Pandit Shimpi