Archive for August, 2012

Half a year on since young producer Manni Sandhu unleashed his debut album My Time, this stonking Garage of our favourite track off the album Sona (feat Bakshi Billa) dropped into cyberspace a few hours ago. Slapping on an additional 30 beats per minute to the original tempo, Manni opts for the shuffling hi-hats and kick drums from UK Garage for this free downloadable mix. Incorporating sounds from Brandy’s Sittin on Top of the World and the familiar UK Garage xylophone, this remix sits really nicely at a tempo that we actually are liking and only adds to the success of the original.

Download the Garage mix for free HERE!

A quirky, no-half measure track in the offing from the man behind Matha Tekhiya, Photo Rakh Ke and Punjabi Hurr with Bups Saggu identifying a calcium deficiency in our bhangra diets! The producer quite evidently put his thinking-cap on with the conception of Milky, which involves clever word play to describe a dapper central character who is on a mission to impress.

Saggu has opted for homegrown talent to spearhead the vocals with Jati Cheed lining up and staking his claim as a singer to be recognised amongst his fellow peers having been knocking at the door for some time. We really appreciated his work alongside Bups Saggu and Metronome on the stringed delight Vang Chan Ke that featured on the producer’s debut album Redefined last year and Milky is continuation of the duo’s natural chemistry and the unreserved energy that Cheed has in his vocal locker, which he fully exercises on the chorus and boosts the song with his charismatic style.

On the music front Bups has in the main kept us guessing and not conformed to a particular set of sounds and in this case appoints a novel brass-induced riff to fashion a nothing short of joyride vibe that instantly sticks. The slick integration of the flute and clean harmonium pieces also stand out amongst the arrangement. Coming to the video side of matters, Bups fittingly translates the concept whilst adding a splash of humour that will only increase Milky’s appeal and caps a formidable single in the lead up to Bups Saggu’s upcoming album Global releasing on VIP Records.

Grab your helping of Milky from iTunes now!

After being left in anticipation for what’s to come following Thursday’s Peekaboo performance, the moment arrived when Karsh Kale delivered his offerings for Coke Studio. My word, we are still struggling to pick up our jaws up off of the floor.

For those that are hearing the name Karsh Kale for the first time, the musician, producer and composer was raised in West Bromwich, England and now resides in Brooklyn, New York. With six solo albums under his discography, he can be best known for one of the seven members of Tabla Beat Science who contributed to quite possibly, one of the greatest Asian Fusion Underground albums ever: Tabla Matrix. Himself a percussionist with emphasis on his love for the tabla and electric tabla, Kale has really pioneered the Electronic fusion with South Asian influence so supremely well and spearheaded the Asian Fusion scene for the past decade.

Now into the sixth episode of Coke Studio @ MTV S2, it would take some feat to better such exemplary efforts from the likes of Nitin Sawhney, Ehsaan + Loy, Clinton Cerejo, Amit Trivedi and Hitesh Sonik but we’re fairly sure, this is the pinnacle of the season so far. Implementing his Asian Underground influence within each performance, it was pretty hard not to showcase each and every offering within the episode.

Karsh Kale feat Salim Merchant + Sabir Khan – Kajar Bin Kare

Paying homage to the late, great, supreme sarangi musician and vocalist Ustad Sultan Khan, Karsh Kale delivers something quite unique and impeccable that has simply left us in awe. Originally composed with Ust. Sultan Khan, Salim Merchant and Kale felt that the Coke Studio platform was the perfect method to deliver such a spine tingling performance and fittingly, Ust. Sultan Khan’s son Sabir Khan takes centrestage to deliver such a beautiful, emotional and spellbinding performance via the sarangi. Arranged to perfection, the double-time snares, rousing tabla percussion and breathtaking strings really lift this emotional number to a place that leaves one almost speechless. One of, if not, the best performance ever seen on Coke Studio by a long shot respectably leaving something behind that Ust. Sultan Khan would be proud of.

Karsh Kale feat Shilpa Rao + Warren Mendosa – Hallelujah

Mixing elements of personal experiences into the Leonard Cohen classic Hallelujah, Karsh takes the helm to vocal the arrangement alongside songstress Shilpa Rao who infuses elements of Jhoola, a childhood song of hers to enhance this relatable song about pain and glory of love. Keeping the composition the same as previously heard, the track is based on Warren Mendosa’s Ode to A Sunny Day arrangement which seems to fit so well with lyrics of Hallelujah and with Mendosa delivering a splendid guitar solo, the performance is just short of breathtaking.

Karsh Kale feat Shruti Pathak, Benny Dayal + Mandeep Sethi – Glorious

Having showcased their efforts previously in the episode, Karsh enlists the talents of Benny Dayal and Mandeep Sethi once again to perform alongside multi-lingual sweet vocalist Shruti Pathak. Based on an 88 BPM drum and bass groove, the often key changing performance features sweeping flute and melodic piano pieces, we were often asking ourselves the need for incorporating Sethi on such a moving, emotional arrangement.

Karsh Kale feat Shilpa Rao, Shruti Pathak, Monali Thakur + Apeksha Dandekar – Shedding Skin

You would think trying to arrange four great female vocalists would be a feat for anybody but Kale makes lighwork of it. Incorporating the sounds of the dholak, Shredding Light is a song that talks about the transformation of a young female’s life and the smooth transitional arrangement applied seems to gel this performance so elegantly well. Focusing again around the flute, Mendosa’s raw electric guitar is fluttered throughout with the four vocalists providing angelic, stellar performances.

Karsh Kale feat Monali Thakur – Dil Cheez

It’s amazing how emotive the sarangi can be and Kale utilises it to perfect effect to reconstruct the classic Dil Cheez from the 1981 film Umrao Jaan. A fitting reinterpretation of the Asha Bhosle original with vocalist Monali Thakur executing her versatility by switching from Hindi to English so easily well. Karsh Kale provides an easy-to-listen-to arrangement with the sound of his tabla accompanying with Ravi Chary’s enchanting sitar.

Since we found out that the Karsh Kale Collectiv were set to appear on the ever improving second season of Coke Studio @ MTV our eyes have been glued onto YouTube for a preview of what’s to come but we’ve been spoiled already since Peekaboo surfaced a few hours ago. Featuring the uber-talents including London songstress Apeksha Dandekar, vocalist Benny Dayal and Californian rapper Mandeep Sethi, Karsh Kale smothers an emotive, smooth and slick directed composition on a Ustaad Bade Ghulam Ali Khan classic, Naina More Taras Rahe (here sung in Raag Sindh Bhairavi). Standing in the shadow of the original, Kale adopts the sitar and flute to emulate the emotions of separation and longing written within the lyrics and flips the direction 360 degrees mixing up the second half of the arrangement including a signature Sethi rap, notable vocals (in English) from Benny Dayal and quite strikingly, an excellent performance by Apeksha Dandekar.

We’ll be reviewing the upcoming episode when it comes online so be sure to check back regularly…

A voice that has been kept under wraps while a pursuit of academia took precedence and a subsequent period abroad as he successfully scaled professional heights; an epitome of the present-day Punjabi striving to achieve, excel in the world and indeed rise to the upper echelons of society.

Having already a forged a formidable singing reputation following his alliance with Moviebox, now Switzerland based vocalist Tej Hundal is back for the long haul with illustrious  composer and music  producer Ravi Bal, responsible for Malkit Singh’s Midas Touch, Surjit Khan’s Headliner and most recently Avtar Maniac’s Haneri, enlisted for musical duties on this 8-track solo project.

Considering Hundal’s background, it is only apt that this fresh venture be named Punjabian Da Raaj. With Ravi Bal at the ship’s helm, his unmistakeable knack of nurturing fledgling talent is key to this partnership coming into fruition. Having a track record elevating the careers of the likes of Lakhwinder Wadali and Preet Harpal amongst others, Hundal’s potent vocal chords are ideal ingredients for Bal to wield his wand upon and yield results for an international audience.

A turbocharged curtain-raiser lies in wait as the title track Punjabian Da Raaj (Ravi Bal Mix) is intended to set proceedings off to a flyer and does precisely that with plenty of gusto from Tej Hundal who is propelled by Ravi Bal’s indomitable musical input.

As the expression goes, “start as you mean to go on” and Hundal does not hesitate in fluent vocal delivery all the while maintaining an all-important razor-edge on this stirring opener with the iconic GT Road at its heart.  PDR also gives an insight into his astonishing, unending range and natural ability to hit challenging notes at ease.

Famed for his seamless innovation and capacity to inject spark into his work, the lynchpin Ravi Bal once more serves up a pumped-up, beat-centric composition designed to take you by surprise on Naina Vale Teer (RBP Head Bop Mix). Despite the  unfamiliar surroundings, Hundal’s versatility shines through ensuring he does not play second-fiddle.

Lined with the boisterous buzz of the algozey is Nakhre (Ravi Bal Desi Mix) and an opportunity for the singer to vent his frustration and make it clear that enough is enough, the emotional-turmoil must end! Producer Bal slips in classy harmonium pieces and ties it all together with folk percussion full of inexplicable appeal.

Teri Fida sees the duo completely ease off the accelerator and create a graceful, easy-listening experience which neatly unites a traditional folk composition alongside a contemporary, minimal soundscape shaped by understated synths and all-around composed exploits on keys.

The ante is upped on  Hon Takre (Ravi Bal Karkoo Mix) where Tej Hundal shifts into combative mode as the vocalist engages a stranglehold on the RBP arrangement to ruthless effect! The pair produce another feat of agile, inspired execution on the urban-angled number coming in the form of Pehle Tor Di.

Accomplished songstress Rani Randeep harmoniously pitches in at the tail-end of album to join the lead protagonist for the scintillating party duet entitled Dollar Ta Pound (Ravi Bal Paisa Mix) with the “Wizard” Ravi Bal integral to making it rain! Diamond-cut chords galore, tumbi strewn wildly and signature RBP percussion will compel you to clap along as both singers perform at full-tilt. However, Tej Hundal’s ace in the hole, a jaw-dropping switch in singing octave takes centre stage and equips the chorus with extra firepower!

Ha Karde rhythmically concludes proceedings with its regimented backdrop and Hundal matching its punchiness with yet another display worth its weight in gold. As per the song, the only question that remains is whether his efforts gain approval?…

Please support the artists by legally purchashing Punjabian Da Raaj for only £3.99 from iTunes.

Follow me on Twitter @HarkBhambra

Synonymous with Bollywood OST excellence, two thirds of Shankar–Ehsaan–Loy join Coke Studio to infuse some of their jazz, rock, blues influences onto a track that collates Panjabi verses from Waris Shah and Baba Ghulam Farid masterpieces. Ehsaan Noorani and Loy Mendonsa have been the spearhead composers behind some of the most influential albums that have appeared throughout the past two decades which began from their first significant break in 2001 with Dil Chahta Hai. Album successes such as Kal Ho Naa Ho, Bunty Aur Babli (Kajra Re) and Kabhi Alvida Naa Kehna in the early 2000′s really propelled the trio into the spotlight beginning arguably the best periods of their career. Picking up accolades throughout the past five years, their fusion of Western bar blues and synth sounds with Indian classical styles such as Sufi and Hindustani was likened by masses, and this Coke Studio session picks up right from where they left off!

Subhan Allah (Glorious is God) begins with vocalist, now turned actor, Jasbir Jassi providing quite a scintillating shehr that really surprised us showcasing the control and unique tone in his skill set. We actually can’t express our praise enough for the vocal from Jassi. With backing provided from a choir of seven strong, the performance leads into the main section which is sandwiched with riffs galore and more snare and cymbal than in a Neil Peart tribute band! Superb vocals and percussion aside, there was an element of over-production within the performance which felt almost rigid at times, leaving the arrangement almost a bit too constrained. Perhaps thinking of their typical Bollywood audience, sticking to their guns was perhaps the duo’s safest option but loosening the shackles could have made this performance great to really great.

Click here for lyrics