narenmusic

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR  Akanksha Sethi/ Majra Label: Self-released  Rating: *** 1/2 After a spate of solo singles, singer Akanksha Sethi teamed up with Vasudha Sharma on the song 'Suljhi Si Zindagi' a few months ago. She has now released her solo number 'Majra'. Devansh Ahuja's video goes perfectly with the song, which talks of a woman beginning a new life after ending a 'wrong' relationship. There's a lot of optimism both in the words and video, as Akanksha sings, "Khil si gayee hoon main, aaine mein jo dekhoon, dhoondhti hoon naye naghme, jinse ho jaoon ru-ba-ru". The song has been produced and arranged by Sid Paul, who uses keyboards and rhythms appropriately. The tune grows after a few listens  Ekansh Mamgai/ Mahiya Ve Label: Self-released  Rating: *** Delhi-based singer-songwriter Ekansh Mamgai's new song 'Mahiya Ve' is a romantic ballad that is simple and has no frills. "Mahiya ve, teri baahon mein, soye hum yoon rahe, yeh na

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR The Beach Boys/ documentary  Directors : Frank Marshall & Thom Zimmy Genre : Pop-rock Platform : Disney+Hotstar Rating : *** 1/2 For some strange reason, I have never followed the Beach Boys with much interest. The only two times I came close were when the CD of its path-breaking 1966 album Pet Sounds was released in the early 2000s, and when I saw its member Mike Love at a car dealers' private event in Mumbai around the same time. But when I found out about the new Beach Boys documentary on Disney+Hotstar while browsing, I decided to give it a shot. After all, they were one of the most popular American bands in the 1960s, the pioneers of the California surfing sound and a bridge between old-school rock n' roll and melodious jangle-pop. They had their peak at a time when the Beatles were ruling the world and the dynamics of popular music were changing rapidly. At slightly less than two hours, the documentary traces the formation and early vision of the b

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR  Neha Bhasin/ Furqat Label: 5am Audio Rating: **** Formerly of the girl band Viva, Neha Bhasin has been regularly releasing a mix of folksy Punjabi and Hindi pop numbers. After a few Punjabi tunes last year, she's now out with the ballad 'Furqat'. Music is by Sameer Uddin, who blends a dubstep flavour with the traditional sounds of the esraj played by Arshad Khan. Neha's vocals are heartfelt on Juno's lines, "Furqat ki gali, in haathon mein mili, mohabbat pagli, jo naseeb ko mere khali, fursat na tujhe, ik pal bhi jo mere liye, in haathon mein likhi, furqat ki gali". Sameer Uddin also directs the video, featuring Neha and dancer Saumya Kamble. It is shot in Wai, Maharashtra, using hills and a giant lake in the background. It goes with the feeling of separation that the song conveys. Joy Sengupta feat Hansika Pareek/ Pariyon Ki Duniya Label: Self-released  Rating: *** 1/2 Joy Sengupta makes his debut as composer and producer with 'Par

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR Taba Chake/ Kahani Promoted by: Believe  Rating: **** While Arunachal Pradesh-born singer Taba Chake's new song 'Kahani' is likeable in its own right, it's the video that takes it to another level. Playing the lead is an old couple, whose love for each other remains undiminished despite challenges. Directed by Bengia Morto, the video shows an array of characters, making it a family film. The lines go, "Maine likhi hai kahaniyan, tere liye main sapne dekhoon, yaadon se Judi teri baatein hain, kho na jaaoon un pal mein". Taba has a natural style of singing, which suits this song's story-telling style format. The guitars build up the mood. And the old couple deserve a pat for performance. Apurva Kedia/ Chal Label: Self-released  Rating: *** Originally from Ranchi and now settled in Mumbai, singer-songwriter Apurva Kedia had released her single 'Kusum' last year. She's now out with her new song 'Chal'. The words talk of t

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR  Faheem Abdullah & Rauhan Malik/ Ishq Label: Artist First/ TM Music Rating: ***** Pakistani poet Amir Ameer's well-known creation 'Chal Aa Aisi Nazm Likhoon' gets a Sufi-rock interpretation in this version called 'Ishq', composed and sung by Kashmiri artistes Faheem Abdullah and Rauhan Malik. The song, which features in the album Lost: Found , begins with the lines, "Main aa likhoon tu aa jaaye, main baith likhoon tu aa baithe, mere shaane par sar rakhe tu, main neend likhoon tu so jaaye". The song is in chaste Urdu with an additional Kashmiri line at the end. The guitars and tight rhythms add the rock element. Some parts faintly remind you of the Beatles song 'With A Little Help From My Friend'. That may be a sub-conscious similarity but otherwise the song is super. There's a music video too, directed by Faheem Abdullah himself and starring Samreen Kaur and Mir Tafazul, created as an eight-minute film. Shot in Kashmir, i

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR  Parikrama/ Live At Mahindra Independence Rock 2022 Genre : Rock Format : Vinyl/ limited edition pressing Label : Free School Street Records; c&p Parikrama Inc Price : Rs 2,500/- Rating : **** Over three decades after they were formed in 1991, Delhi rock band Parikrama continue to shine on the live circuit. This blogger last saw them at the Bandland gig in Bengaluru last December, and what a gig that was, coming before Deep Purple. Equally memorable was Parikrama's performance in the comeback edition of Mumbai's premier rock outing Independence Rock, this time under the name Mahindra Independence Rock. A live recording of that phenomenal November 6 2022 performance at Mumbai's Bayview Lawns is now available on vinyl through Kolkata-based Free School Street Records. The recording has been mixed and mastered from original multi-track recording by Keshav Dhar, with additional mastering for vinyl by Rajiv Pandey in Dallas, US. It is dedicated to Parikrama