narenmusic

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR  Vikas Tandon/ Dastaan Label: Six String Ventures Rating: **** Part of the band Tabeer, singer Vikas Tandon goes solo on his new song 'Dastaan'. He's got some fabulous musicians accompanying him, with Warren Mendonsa on guitar, Zubin Balaporia on keys, Jai Row Kavi on drums, Yohann Coutinho on bass and guest Uday Benegal on tambourine. The song has simple lyrics, beginning with, "Jo roshni muskurahat mein teri, dil ke andhere mita de woh hasi", and with the main lines, 'Dastaan ek shuru hone ko hai, main tera tu meri hone ko hai". Production is by Zubin, and Warren has a marvellous solo. The vocals are clear and smooth. The best thing is the song has a catchy hook and singalong vibe. Manya Narang/ Toote Khwab Label: Self-released  Rating: *** 1/2 Having worked with Salim-Sulaiman and Sonu Nigam, besides releasing a few cover versions, Manya Narang is out with her first independent solo single 'Toote Khwab'. The song, written by

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR  Darshan Doshi & Mark Hartsuch/ Better Than Sax 2 (EP, 6 songs) Label: Self-released  Rating: **** After releasing their album Better Than Sax last year, drummer Darshan Doshi and American saxophonist Mark Hartsuch come out with the sequel. It's a six-track EP that runs into 27 minutes. The opening track 'Capetown Vibes' is inspired by their performance at the Cape Town International Jazz Festival in May, where they were joined by English bassist Tony Grey. The piece has some terrific improvisation on the sax, with Darshan tight on the rhythm section. It's a consistent EP, and the tracks 'Doogooda', 'Work Isn't Worth' and 'Joyous Celebration', featuring Kolkata percussionist Bihu Mukherjee, are innovative. The key arrangements are well-done too. It's good, raw jazz all the way. Bhrigu Sahni/ Awakening (EP, 6 songs) Label: Self-released  Rating: *** 1/2 Based in Pune, Bhrigu Sahni has studied performance and songw

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR  Anirudh Varma Collective/ Rut Sawan Ki Label: Self-released  Rating: **** Anirudh Varma Collective from Delhi is known to blend classical raags with modern arrangements. On the rain song 'Rut Sawan Ki', the choice is raag Shankara. Singers Suhavi Kalsi and Basundhara Roy Munshi are joined by Anirudh Varma on keys and Rohan Prasanna on sarod. The line-up is completed by guitarist Shrikant Biswakarma, bassist Madhur Chaudhary, drummer Suyash Gabriel and tabla player Saptak Sharma. The tune has a wonderful melody, and the coordination between the singers is smooth. Anirudh once again proves his brilliance at seamless fusion. Prateeksha Srivastava/ Barkha Label: Self-released  Rating: *** Singer Prateeksha Srivastava has been regularly releasing singles, with 'Jiya Kaanch Ka', 'Darmiyaan' and 'Saathi Tu Vaada Kar' part of her repertoire. She collaborates with producer Suyash and co-composer Danny on 'Barkha'. A rain song, it start

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR Venserto feat. Psya/ steal A moment Label: Self-released  Rating: **** This song 'steal A moment' just popped up out of a YouTube algo, and I liked the sound of the guitars. Tried to find out about the singer Venserto but the only thing I was told is that he's a 'musical artist'. Really? Thanks! Anyway, Venserto seems to be from Mumbai.. probably Navi Mumbai.. as the brilliantly shot video shows a local train, a Nerul sign, a Thane direction board, a precious ring and electric guitars played on a fancy railway platform. A musical collab between Venserto and Psya (also a musical artist.. yay!), the song itself is dark and angsty. Of the three characters in the video - Venserto and Eshaan play 'idea' and Psya plays 'death'. The lines are a mix of English and Hindi and the sound s very alt-rock with a rap interlude. And what a video! Lesssgooooo! (At 60, I use that phrase too). The Beatz Crew/ Her Bluesy Soul Label: Self-released  Rat

BY NARENDRA KUSNUR   David Gilmour / Luck And Strange Genre : Rock Label : David Gilmour Music/ Sony Music  Rating ; **** You can recognise a David Gilmour song from a thousand miles. It's like a signature that can never be forged. Three notes into the guitarwork of his opening 90-second instrumental piece 'Black Cat', and you in Pink Floyd nostalgia mode once more. The guitar god has just released his fifth solo album Luck And Strange . The title track is second on the list, and he sings, " In  the light before the dawn,  Shadows shake in my peripheral,  Mesmerise me, bring it on,  Heart beats with fear here in the theatre of my soul". You can sense the aging in his voice. The added roughness. He's 78. But that emotion is intact. And that style.. drool! And yes, he's used parts played by former Floyd bandmate Richard Wright on this number.  The words aren't his this time. His wife Polly Samson has penned most songs, tackling subjects like aging, lo