narenmusic

  BY NARENDRA KUSNUR Uriah Heep/ Colour & Chaos Genre: Hard rock Label: Silver Linings Rating: ***** Naysayers may insist that with only one original member around, this group cannot be called Uriah Heep. After all, key musicians like drummer Lee Kerslake, keyboardist Ken Hensley and bassist Trevor Bolder have passed away, and current vocalist Bernie Shaw joined 17 years after the band was formed in 1969. Their points may be valid. But the truth is that guitarist Mick Box, along with Shaw and the others, are still capable of creating music that's comparable with their golden phase in the 1970s. The group's latest album Chaos & Colour has a set of brilliant songs that retain the classic sound, with trademark keyboards and harmonies adding to the snazzy guitar lines and heartfelt vocals. Heep's 25th studio outing, the hour-long, 11-track album was initiated after the lockdown began. But instead of talking of death, depression and dystopia, or demons, wizards and ladi...

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR Kamakshi Khanna/ Breathe Label: Self-released  Rating: ***** Everything seems just right about Delhi-bred Kamakshi Khanna's new single 'Breathe'. She sings from the heart, vents out, expresses anxiety and self-doubt, creates an impact. Kamakshi has written the lyrics herself, using lines like, "Every day's a fight, but now I search for the light that was there inside". The main line goes, "I just have to breathe", and there's beauty in the way she sings 'breathe' each time. Add to that a crisp production, with gentle ukulele, subtle rhythms and Ajay Jayanthi's angst-filled strings. Anjali Kamat's illustrated video adds to the vibe. The best thing is that it's a song many will emotionally relate to in the quest for peace. Shehzad Ali & Siddharth Kasyap/ Ishqbaazi Label: SK Music Works Rating: **** Composer Siddharth Kasyap has maintained a good balance between fusion projects and pop tunes. His new song ...

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR  L. Subramaniam & A.R. Rahman feat. Sivamani/ Don't Leave Me Label: Self-released  Rating: **** The track 'Don't Leave Me' was originally featured in the 1984 album Conversations by violinists Stephane Grappelli and L. Subramaniam. The latter is now joined by A.R. Rahman and members of both families on a fresh take. The song pays tribute to Subramaniam's father, the late V. Lakshminarayana, whom Rahman’s father, musician R.K. Sekhar, knew from his days in Mylapore, Chennai. The song begins with a nine-minute prelude, with a piano intro by Rahman who is accompanied by drummer Sivamani. Subramaniam's violin is soulful. On the main tune, the musicians are accompanied by Rahman’s children Khatija, Raheema and Ameen, Subramaniam's daughter Bindu on vocals and his granddaughter on violin and back-up. The entire piece spans 15 minutes, and though the vocals get drowned in the mix, there's some fantastic instrumentation all though. Sumeet...

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR MaMoGi/ Itsy Bitsy Label: Self-released  Rating: **** MaMoGi is a super-trio comprising saxophonist Mark Hartsuch, bassist Mohini Dey and drummer Gino Banks. Their sound is a good mix of jazz, prog-rock, electronica and funk. Having done some fantastic live shows, they have now released their self-titled debut album, containing 11 tracks. The first video is of the tune 'Itsy Bitsy', and shows the three musicians dazzling in the studio. Mark's melodic saxophone lines are perfectly matched by the bass and drum improvisation. One senses shades of a Weather Report influence, but the track has its own identity. The entire album is a must for contemporary jazz fans. VKRM/ Where'd You Go Label: Self-released  Rating: *** Three months ago, Vikramjit Kundu aka VKRM had released his single 'Everytime I See You', a pleasant ballad blending rhythm n' blues with smooth jazz. His latest song 'Where You'd Go' uses a similar genre mix. The son...

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR Iggy Pop/ Every Loser Genre: Punk-rock Label: Gold Tooth/ Atlantic  Rating: *** 1/2 On his latest album Every Loser, James Newell Osterberg Jr aka Iggy Pop does what he knows best - get angry and growl. The record takes him back to his early days with The Stooges, proving why he was such an influence on bands like the Sex Pistols, The Damned, Joy Division and Talking Heads. Iggy Pop spent a large part of the 2000s going in for mature lyrics, with his voice showing flashes of Leonard Cohen's timbre. He even tried to set Dylan Thomas' immortal poem 'Do Not Go Gentle Into That Good Night' to trumpet-backed music. Here, the 75-year-old Ametican gets back to simple lyrics, using the choicest of vocabulary on songs like 'Frenzy' and 'The Regency'. A line-up of celebrity guests including Pearl Jam's Stone Gossard, Red Hot Chili Peppers' Chad Smith and Josh Klinghoffer, late Foo Fighters drummer Taylor Hawkins, former Guns N' Roses...

  BY NARENDRA KUSNUR  Submarine In Space/ Offshore Label: Self-released  Rating: ***** Submarine In Space are a Delhi-based outfit that take you back to the ultra-creative jazz-rock sound of the 1970s. The tune 'Offshore' is from their live recording F5 , released late last year, and the video shows them in performance. The very line-up gives an indication of what sound to expect. There are guitar by Abhishek Mittal, bass by Madhur Chaudhary, keyboards by Vatsal Bakhda, violin by Sayan Sinha, drums by Vasudev Singh and Latin percussion by Fidel Dely Murillo. The group has the right blend of melody, energy and improvisation, besides a rocking bass intro and some marvellous solos and transitions. The influence of Weather Report, Return To Forever and Chick Corea is felt sporadically but the guys have their own sound. 5 Doctor Rock/ Promised Land Label: Self-released  Rating: *** 1/2 Last year, Mumbai-based trio Doctor Rock released 'Promised Land', a song about cutting...