Dear Ichord!
Take a bow! I simply fell flat by the words you defined for all my heart
feelings for the album! Absolutely Stunning write up!!!!
--- On Wed, 1/13/10, ichord <purev...@yahoo.com> wrote:
From: ichord <purev...@yahoo.com>
Subject: [arr] Re: My revised VTV Review
To: arrahmanfans@yahoogroups.com
Date: Wednesday, January 13, 2010, 1:28 AM
Thanks Rafid!!
--- In arrahmanfans@ yahoogroups. com, "Rafid" <rafid.nuhuman@ ...> wrote:
>
> Chord,
>
> Your review is outta this world. I liked it. I bet you'll give more marks
> after a few more hearings. Had you written the review after a week, you'd
> have given more marks.
>
> For me, all songs are simply superb.I can't rate'em. I'm extremely happy
> about VTV songs. ARR-GM combination has really worked well. Many thanks to
> ARR!
>
> Rafid
>
>
>
> --- In arrahmanfans@ yahoogroups. com, "ichord" <purevibz@> wrote:
> >
> > After some corrections and additions:
> >
> > If there's a distinct trend that I see in ARR's music over time, it's his
> > reduced emphasis on musical adventurism and acrobatics and increased
> > emphasis on
> > subtle musical forms within a composition, often perceived subjectively as
> > "not
> > living up to his own standards". I don't agree with that notion since it's
> > ARR
> > who recreates his own standards with each release, just like destroying his
> > own
> > ego before a compositional session. The burden of responsibility to
> > recognize
> > this is up to the listener, who may be challenged and confounded by
> > expectations
> > and biases, which is normal and natural. Again, these are trends only and
> > just
> > from my observational standpoint.. .nothing is black and white or
> > exclusionary.
> > This trend may be a function of two forces: 1)Age (emphasizing more of a
> > gestalt perspective) 2) Progressive evolution as part of a unique artist
> > whose
> > mindset is bent on conceptual expansion and really trying hard to avoid
> > being
> > typecasted, escaping from his own set trails to form new and distinct roads.
> > The music of VTV is a major step in AR's evolutionary process as an artist
> > who's
> > never content with the status quo, or even his own previous success.
> > Remember,
> > it's the artist over the entertainer, and in VTV, it's the pure artist
> > within
> > ARR, even beyond musician, that is in the driver's seat. I will not comment
> > on
> > the lyrics since I don't understand Tamil.
> >
> > 1) Omanna Penne:
> > Steady and soothing.... .a composition that oozes with spiritualism and
> > introspection. I love how AR juxtaposes the Western rhythms with the
> > Carnatic
> > raagas first by the female voice, and weaving throughout the stylistic
> > Nadaswaram, whose roots are deeply Carnatic, but expressed so universally in
> > this track. Wonderful singing by Benny and the Nadaswaram ending is surely a
> > page from the Rehna Tu continuum outro. Nothing fancy in this composition,
> > but
> > the feeling left behind is extremely elevating and cleansing. Fantastic
> > start.
> > (8/10)
> >
> > 2) Anbil Avan:
> > ARR at his playful best. He must have had a lot of fun putting this track
> > together. There is nothing heavy or mind blowing about this track, but what
> > makes it work for me is the joyful innocence in the melody and the very
> > interesting sonic arrangements using a Shehnai type sound juxtaposed with a
> > church organ sound. The musical interlude that has this also has some very
> > nice, quick chord progressions that defy banality. The melody sticks easy
> > and
> > would be a fun song to dance with. (7/10)
> >
> > 3) Vinnathaandi Varuvaayaa:
> > Wow......what a minimalistic impact! Minimalistic impact is something that I
> > have been missing from Rahman's oeuvre in recent films, but here it is, in
> > its
> > full glory and form. Using a minimalistic sound template for a title song is
> > quite bold and outside the box, but boy does it work for me!!! The acoustic
> > strings (guitar? harp?) along with vibes and small bells create such a
> > unique,
> > peaceful ambiance in this song that transports me into a dreamlike world.
> > Beautiful string additions in the mid section only add depth to amazing
> > vocals,
> > chords, and heartfelt emotions in this gem, but likely to be underrated
> > track.
> > Delicate, subtle, dreamy, ambient, soft, restrained, soothing, warming.....
> > I can
> > go on and on..... Again, a track doesn't have to be complex and
> > adventuresome to
> > be powerful.... this is the genius of AR....he can create such a powerful
> > ambience using minimal quantity. (8/10)
> >
> > 4) Hosana:
> > There is no other composer in India who can arrange better than AR. In this
> > song, many of AR's strengths are showcased... ..sound structure, layered,
> > thick,
> > yet uncluttered arrangements, symphonic textures, haunting melody, soothing
> > ambiance. The sound layers are so clean and crisp....that beautiful
> > strumming
> > acoustic guitar is so nice!!! Also worthy of metion is the high toned
> > Scottish
> > flavored flute and the subtle mandolin rhythms in sync with the main
> > rhythms,
> > punctuated by the pulsating string sections. The female choir with the
> > angelic
> > expression is one of the most beautiful choir sounds I've heard. This song
> > sticks to you and won't let go. A complete masterpiece IMO that is one of
> > the
> > best songs that ARR has composed in recent years. (9/10)
> >
> > 5) Kunnukkul Kannai
> > Another playful techno oriented track with some pleasing electronic
> > arrangements. The unique feature of this track for me are the string quartet
> > type rhythmic accents throughout that give this youth song a very Western
> > classical feel. Relatively simple by composition and sound, but again, a
> > nice
> > dance number with good melody. Rahman not living up to his standards on this
> > one? Well, that's up to you to decide, but it's an enjoyable one for me,
> > though
> > If I had to pick my least favorite in this soundtrack, it's this one. (7/10)
> >
> > 6) Mannipaaya
> > I was looking forward to this song ever since I knew Shreya and AR would be
> > singing it, a romantic duet. The song has everything I could hope for in a
> > romantic duet....breathtakin g melody, beautiful soundscapes, sophisticated
> > arrangements, gentle ambiance, subtle symphonic artistry. I love the piano
> > backdrop and so many of the symphonic instruments can be heard in
> > isolation... oboe, clarinet, tympani, flute, etc. A very subtle masterpiece
> > in
> > my opinion, that can only be appreciated by those with a certain musical
> > sensitivity and emotional open-ness, and of course, who like mushy romantic
> > numbers! The melody is quite drawn out with long contours, so it's not a
> > song
> > that's easily melodically remembered the first time go, but certainly sticks
> > with you with repeated exposure. There is a certain musical abstractness
> > to this song, like a modern painting that takes time to sink in and be
> > registered, but only appreciated by those with such a taste and open-ness.
> > Strengths of this track...mood, delicate
> > arrangements, subtle artistry, certain melodic sections, innocence,
> > sincerity.
> > One of the album's highlights for sure and I hope it's picturized well
> > (9/10)
> >
> > 7) Aaromale
> > Wow.....just wow!!! AR takes a page from the Pink Floyd era, but nothing
> > here
> > is lifted or copied. Sensual, stylistic, clean acoustic guitar playing along
> > with passionate and mind blowing vocals by Alphonse make this track simply
> > stunning. The string type sounds which weave in and out add a whole new
> > dimension to the sonic architecture of this gem. What is so unique about
> > this song is again, minimalistic impact with sound, instruments, but also
> > chordal architecture. ......there are only 2 alternating chords being used
> > in the entire song!! Can you believe it? The
> > chorus part which begins with the Malyali "Swasti Swasti" harks on raaga
> > Bhimpalas to create a magical effect....imagine. ..juxtaposing a 2 chord
> > bluesy guitar riff with a raaga
> > based melody.....only AR....only AR.... The added percussion increasing the
> > pace only add to the intensity and sinisterness to this path breaking and
> > out of
> > the box track. And man, what an ending...the way the vocals fade out......oh
> > man!!!! The ambience created is just out of this world....it leaves me
> > stunned,
> > mesmerized, in awe. (10/10)!!!
> >
> > General highlights of this album include minimalistic impact, originality,
> > very
> > sophisticated and classy arrangements, incredibly strong ambience and sound
> > quality, and soothing influence. I don't think anyone will be complaining
> > about
> > sound issues in this album like we saw for Blue, as ARR I think paid a lot
> > more
> > attention to that aspect this time around, perhaps keeping our "Blue"
> > feedback
> > in mind??? The soundtrack also has a wide range of styles, sounds, musical
> > forms that keep you interested. Because of the highly international,
> > situational, and somewhat unconventional nature of the songs, these will
> > only be
> > appreciated most with time, post movie visuals, and by those who are most
> > open
> > minded about music in general. Those who only like the antara-mukhda type
> > film
> > songs will find the listening experience to be awkward and just too
> > esoteric.
> > Also, except for the first track with Carnatic raagas, most of the rest of
> > the
> > album is void of obvious ethnic Indian sounds/styles/ forms, consistent
> > with the
> > international and more universal musical approach. This again, may be a turn
> > off to some due to non exposure. Like all new ARR albums, esp. ones like
> > this that have some unconventional and new elements, it will take time to
> > grow for many, if at all.
> >
> > A special mention must be made for the singing in each song. All singers
> > have done a fantastic job in rendering with great emotion and passion. I
> > esp liked Shreya Ghoshal's heartfelt crooning in Mannipaya and what more
> > can be said about Alphonse in Aaromale? Amazing rendering and much credit
> > goes to ARR too for bringnig the best out of him. Other singers such as
> > Benny, Karthik, Chinmayi, Kalyani, Blaaze, Suzanne....all deserve high
> > praise for their parts.
> >
> > My overall rating....9/ 10. A distinct highlight of ARR's career...one of
> > the
> > very finest musical packages you will find anywhere in the world today, not
> > because of its complexity, wizardry, or dynamics, but for pure artistry,
> > sincerity, ambiance, mood, minimalism, subtlety, and overall spiritualism.
> > A nice instrumental
> > track addition would have made this album perfect for me.
> >
>
