Excellent review! Aparna http://aparna-a.com
--- In arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com, "Chord" <[EMAIL PROTECTED]> wrote: > > I have been waiting for what seems like eons to finally listen to the > music of Jodha Akbar. From the very beginning when I first heard of > the project, being a period film with Ashutosh as director, I > surmised and hoped that Rahman's best would be tapped once more. I > honestly feel that Rahman's best was not tapped in his recent Hindi > or Tamil efforts, but that is another debate (not that I don't enjoy > his latest offerings). I have been very vocal about JA recently, not > only because of all the delays (I needed to vent!), but also due to > cautious excitement in believing that something very special was > about to be delivered by our Boss. Like with all ARR albums, this > album has yet to fully absorb itself within my psyche as it's just in > its infancy of release. Here are my opinions on each track as I have > formed until now, possibly subject to some modification over time, > but likely to stick at its core > > 1) Azeem O Shaan - Song spells grandeur and pomp. Like the loopy, > punchy rhythm with some variations in between. Incredible use of > drums, percussion as Shivamani has outdone himself. Of particular > amazement if use of the the Japanese sword sound and rhythms in the > second interlude. That is so awesome. I like the chorus overdubs too. > However, I found the track overall a bit musically "dry" with little > musical interludes and emphasis more on rhythm, which may be > appropriate for the film situation. My least favorite track > relatively. (7/10) > > 2) Jashne Bahaar - Love the use of the Oud throughout this > beautifully crafted and melodically simple track. Simple, but > brilliant and heartwarming melody rendered to perfection by Javed > Ali, who has sung his best song to date with this in all > probability. I like his strong, clear voice a lot and he sings with > good emotional strength. Love the intense Santoor flurry at the end > of the first musical interlude preceded by a melodically beautiful > Oud solo. Rahman has used beautiful synth warm pads with soft > strings to create a texturally delicious aural backdrop and > soundscape to the song with his vintage trademark of delicate chord > sequences. 8/10 > > 3) Khwaja Mere Khwaja - Wah! Kya Baat Hai Rahman Saab!!! I have > never heard Rahman sing in such pure classical form during his > frequent alaaps. Though we have heard him run away with sargams in > other tracks, he has delved into the heavier side of classical > singing with this piece de resistance of a track. The song builds so > beautifully beginning with harmonium and alaap, transitioning to the > chordal piano loop, eventually to tabla with madham khayal (medium > tempo) to drut khayal (fast tempo at the end). Love the claps on the > downbeat rhythms. Last but not least, what an amazing musical > interlude as Rahman changes raagas from Alaya Bilawal to Kalingda > with use of what sounds like a flute and oboe combined. Gives the > interlude a strong middle eastern, moghul flavor. Rahman uses the > same interlude melody overlayed during the song's final stanzas with > amazing harmonization that only a musical genius can accomplish. > Mindblowing track sung with great passion and devotional love. > (10/10) > > 4) In Lamhon Ke - Such a dynamic track, unusual in structure without > sounding too experimental. Incredible singing by Sonu and Madhushree > with breath-taking melodies. Arrangement wise, there is too much > going on for me to get into detail here. There are so many beautiful > ornamental touches throughout the song with flute and santoor weaving > in and out to create one of the most beautiful aural tapestries. The > first interlude is mindblowing with heavy chorus rendering fast > taranas in raaga Desh followed by a heavy and dramatic antara with > raaga Kirwani following a crescending melodic contour with eventual > denuvement back to the main melodic theme. I wish the sitar piece in > the second interlude was longer and more elaborated as it just teased > a bit before Madhushree joins. She sings her part with such > sweetness and smoothness with incredible melodic lilt. (9/10) > > 5)Man Mohanna - When I first heard that there was going to be a > Bhajan, I was very happy as I loved the previous two Bhajans from > Lagaan and Swades. This track totally blew me away with its intense > devotional rendering by Bela Shende and heavy classical style of > singing which is performed to perfection in raaga Mishra Bhairavi. > I've said before that I'm a sucker for semi classical forms of music > and to me, nobody does it better today than Rahman in film > compositions. The instrumental interludes with flute and strings > create some of the most haunting and expansive sounds and melodies > we've heard from Rahman in a long time. The thythms are so > beautifully crafted with tabla and ghattam? moving along a steady, > meditative pace. This song has a meditative quality to it which is > really appealing to me. It is so incredibly rich in instrumentation > and arrangements along with the classical singing that I literally > sat stunned in amazed silence, paralyzed when I first heard it. > Many, many goose-pimple moments in this song for me. For now, this > track is my favorite. I realize that for many, it's their least > favorite due to heavy classical singing and devotional, situational > nature of the song. (10/10) > > 6) Jashne Bahar Instrumental - Naveen is in top form here, playing > not only the main melody, but adding improv and variation hitting the > higher notes with such passion and restraint. I like it when he adds > on to the first musical interlude, overlaying the Oud. This is not > your usual instrumental rendition of the main song. There is so much > beauty and depth to Naveen's playing. It just sounds so soothing. > Musical therapy here. (9/10) > > 7) Khwaja Instrumental - This one took me by surprise in a very, very > good way. Only Rahman can compose an instrumental variation of a > song that sounds so unlike the original song in form and structure! > From the beautifully looped harp rhythm to the magical oboe and > string/symphonic arrangements, this is an instrumental that speaks of > Rahman's purity of soul and quiet love for all of humanity. It is > one of the most peaceful pieces of music I have heard. It reminds me > of a beautiful painting, pure untampered art straight from the heart > and soul. Amazing chords with an incredible hook at the 2:21 mark. > Absolutely heavenly piece that just melts in your ears. WIsh it was > longer. (10/10) > > This is by far one of Rahman's finest set of compositions and will > likely reach my top 5 Rahman albums in due time. THere is not one > single track that I can say is sub-par or not up to the mark. All > the delays, frustrations, waiting was well worth it with this amazing > masterpiece. I am just in total awe. How in God's name does Rahman > come up with music that's so larger than life? Top form in ALL areas > of musical composition - melody, harmony, arrangements, > instrumentation, percussion, singing, lyrics, emotion, diversity of > form and style. Rahman has also returned to his trademark crispness > of sound and lack of cluttered arrangements that have not been a part > of some of his compositions of late. He has returned with > mindblowing musical interludes and delicate ornamentation, which I > have missed of late. The soundtrack just oozes with incredible > melody, as someone here posted, right there with the most beautifully > melodic albums of our times. A modern classic that will be cherished > by music lovers for generations, esp. if the film does well. Some > have criticized that the music sounds too modern for a period film of > this type. I don't agree with that criticism as I feel that Rahman > has balanced contemporary sound with traditional forms just > perfectly. > > I fear that the music may not reach as much commercial succsss as > hoped due to its emphasis on classical style and since hip hop seems > to be the thing that sells today. The film needs to do very well for > the music to reach all corners. But, there is no denying that a > soundtrack like this only comes along once in a blue moon. Rahmanji, > you are just beyond words of praise. We are so lucky to be living in > the same era as you and your music. In this soundtrack, like your > very best ones, the pure divinity that is channeled through your > music shines like the brilliant sun. > > My God, what a masterpiece, a true work of brilliant art, wonderful > magic, extraordinary brilliance, soulful passion, pure > devotion. >
