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Showing posts from April, 2025

Elton John & Brandi Carlisle/ Who Believes In Angels?

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  BY NARENDRA KUSNUR  Elton John & Brandi Carlisle/ Who Believes In Angels? Genre : Pop-rock Label : WAB Recording/ EMI Rating : *** British superstar Elton John had earlier teamed up with the marvellous American singer Brandi Carlisle on the song 'Simple Things' in the 2021 multi-artiste collaborative album The Lockdown Sessions . The song had the Elton stamp written all over it, in terms of vocal construction and piano playing with some great harmonising between the two singers. The musicians now get together on an entire album Who Believes In Angels? , spread over 10 songs across 44 minutes. Naturally, one would expect the duo to continue from where they left off, but even after a few listens, one feels that isn't actually the case. A few numbers do shine but that is a given. Overall, there are portions that seem too experimental and incoherent, with a few fillers reducing the impact. Those who've grown up on the Elton of the 1970s may find his trademark sound ...

Naren's indie round-up/ April 2025, Ep 1

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BY NARENDRA KUSNUR TV Dinner/ Non Believers Label: Self-released  Rating: *** 1/2 TV Dinner is the new project of Nischay Parekh, after his earlier outfit Parekh & Singh announced their disbanding. After releasing his song 'Guessing Games', Nischay is now out with 'Non Believers'. The song has an interesting story. He began writing it in 2016 after heartbreak, but completed it recently after marrying his best friend and becoming a father. As such it's about the promise of true love and never giving up. With a simple pop melody and relatable lyrics, Nischay has a winner here. A colourful video by Kevin Chris Johan goes perfectly with the lines that talk of numbing the pain and making it better. Tarun Balani/ Lajpat Nagar Sometimes Label: Berthold Records Rating; *** 1/2 New Delhi-based jazz drummer and composer Tarun Balani is due to release his debut album Kadahin Milandaasain . The.single pays tribute to the refugee colony he grew up in. 'Lajpat Nagar Somet...

Gig review/ Andorra

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BY NARENDRA KUSNUR Andorra/ Live in Mumbai Genre : Modern jazz Details ; NMACC Cube, April 3 Rating : **** There's something about north European jazz bands that gives them a unique touch. Maybe it's the adventurous in playing or the level of improvisation. Danish quintet Andorra proved that once again at the Cube theatre of the Nita Mukesh Ambani Cultural Centre (NMACC) on Thursday. On a nine-concert tour of the country, organised by Gatecrash India, the band gave a bravura display on their Mumbai leg. From the very line-up, one would have expected some magic, and they gave exactly that. There were Mads La Cour on flugelhorn, Simon Krebs on guitar and Peter Kohlmetz Moller on keyboards, assisted on rhythm by bassist Morten Jorgenssen and drummer Nikolaj Bundvig. Though the artistes have known each other from music school 20 years ago, this band is only five years old, with three album releases - the self-titled debut, Current and their February release III . They belong to Od...