— mere funde

Archive
Music

The long standing dream of an Indian version of Coke Studio is finally coming true. The only glitch, MTV (which has long stopped standing for Music TV) is associated with it, and that sends shivers down my spine.

Anyway, last night was spent listening to a lot of it, and I thought I would try and rate my faves from it.

The best one, Aik Alif by Saieen Zahoor and Noori. There are three distinct phases in the song, and Saieen Zahoor brings the sufi charm to it.

Next up, Alif Allah by Arif Lohar and Meesha Saafi. Actually Arif Lohar is so damn good that Meesha is reduced to a background singer. His singing, his chimta, and his expression. One word – awesome!

Allah Hu, by Ali Zafar and Tufail Ahmed is next one. There is this very hallucinogenic feel to the song. Is especially awesome during late night psenti sessions.

Durr by Strings and Ustad Gullu. Awesome mix, and love the extended vocals.

Rona Chor Diya by Zeb & Haniya and Javed Bashir. How can one not like this one?? Javed Bashir is brilliant, and so is Zeb.

Titiliyaan by Strings. Can’t think of a more melodious song.

Husn-e-haqiqi by Arieb Azhar. The lyrics. The performance. The crescendo!

Dastaan-e-ishq by Ali Azhar. The emotions. The choking. The flute.

Honorable mention: Saari Raat by Noori.

Enhanced by Zemanta
Read More

Music is the one string that binds us all. And the number of times this has happened is just amazing.

  1. BITS – Psenti Oasis – Us calling STAR for “Ab naa jaa”
  2. Tk calling me from another concert last year.
  3. Kshitij and others calling me yesterday from ISB during a Strings concert! (I am so disappointed at missing out)

This entire year, and the coming one, has been all about people getting married, with the rate of marriages now reaching a J shaped growth trajectory!! Seriously, its not even funny anymore. I have attended three weddings in the last month, missed three others (sorry guys), and will be attending at least three more in the next couple of months, and missing many more.

And all this while I have been wondering about how life will be once these people get married. Will we still hang out as much. Will we still have fun together.

But that one call from Kshitij made me feel I was there. In the midst of it all. Having fun. Maybe it won’t be so different after all.

Thanks guys! Keep rocking!

Read More

Another lovely song from East India Company.

ना था कुछ तो खुदा था, कुछ ना होता तो खुदा होता
डुबोया मुझको होने ने, ना होता मैं तो क्या होता

Read More

At the British Council, on Tuesday, October 14. Should be fun.

More details: http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=34376846244&ref=mf

Read More

Following the footsteps of a lot of musicians (Nine Inch Nails), the UK based band has decided to offer a free download of their latest single “Violet Hill” for free download from their website for a week. (Got this from Facebook.)

We’re very pleased to announce that Coldplay’s new single, Violet Hill, will be available as a free download exclusively from Coldplay.com for one week starting tomorrow, Tuesday April 29th, at 12.15pm UK time. This is a full week ahead of the single’s conventional paid-for digital release, on Tuesday May 6th.

Way to go guys! Good music – that too for free, legally that is. Awesome! Also, they have announced a couple of free gigs in UK. Ojas, you might be interested.

Is this another nail in the coffin of the music industry? I don’t know. But this sure is a huge step in that direction.

Read More

Got my Raghu Dixit CDs on Friday and have been listening to them ever since. Here is quick and dirty review. Overall, as a friend said, “They seem to be influenced a lot by Indian Ocean & Euphoria.”

  1. Hey Bhagwan – Nice song. Already had it and love it.
  2. Mysore se aayi – Feet tapping and fast paced song. Again I already had it and love it.
  3. Gudgudiya Sedi Nodo – The best song of the CD!! The song is fast and the lyrics very nice :)
  4. Ambar – I had first heard this song in Delhi, and the song has grown on me since.
  5. Khidki – Not that great musically, but nice lyrics.
  6. No man will ever love you like I do – Brilliant lyrics!
  7. I am in Mumbai – Brilliant song – last heard it in Pilani.
  8. Soruthudu Maniya Maligi – Slight blues effect on the song. Nice feel to it. Again, like Gudugudiya, attributed to Shishunala Sharif.

All in all, a very nice debut album. And a def must get considering it costs you only 180 bucks (including shipping).

However, I expected Har Saans Mein to be on the CD, and also it to focus slightly on other group members. I know Raghu is the man behind the band but they do deserve some space on the CD.

PS: Read the comment by Gaurav Vaz, bassist RDP, on the focus bit above in the comments section below. Also, check out his photoblog for some pretty cool snaps.

Read More

The music of the “Raghu Dixit Project” (erstwhile Antaragni) has been released on CD.

I first listened to them in the psentisem OASIS (2k4) and they were absolutely amazing. I recently ran into them in the SAARC Bands Festival. And the moment that I had been waiting for has finally come. According to TK they have finally launched their CD. Can’t wait to get my hands on the CD people, even though I have most of their MP3s.

Read More

The weekend was very well spent with a bunch of us making a trip to the Quli Khan’s Tomb at Qutub Minar for the “Dharohar” Sufi concert as a part of the Times Delhi Festival.

The show featured Gazi Khan Barna and the Manganiyars from Rajasthan. They were magical at times with the Khartal and Dhol jamming bit, and the Dam Mast Kalandar being the highlights of their performance. Also, the actual Rajasthani version of the famous Nimbuda song was done brilliantly.

Next in line was the hyped event of the night. The performance by Kailasa, a band led by Kailash Kher. They put up a pretty nice and feet tapping show. The best from their end was the rendition of Tere Bin Nahi Lagda, Saiyaan and another medley jiska lyrics I don’t remember.

Anyways the folks were hungry before he came to the end and his best songs (Allah ke Bande, etc.). But pretty damn good anyways. The location looked brilliant with the lighting an stuff, and the fact that it was free was that much better :)

Meanwhile, Questionable Content, a comic I have become addicted to, has come to pretty interesting phase. It seems that Faye is starting to loosen up and that means only one thing. More fun!

Read More

A beautiful piece of poetry from the song Yeh Kahan Aa Gaye Hum from the movie Silsila. The lyrics of the song have been written by the brilliant Javed Akhtar. The song is also especially good.

मैं और मैरी तन्हाई, अक्सर यह बातें करते हैं
तुम होती तो कैसा होता, तुम ये कहती, तुम वो कहती
तुम इस बात पे हैरान होती, तुम उस बात पे कितनी हंसती
तुम होती तो ऐसा होता, तुम होती तो वैसा होता 
मैं और मैरी तन्हाई, अक्सर यह बातें करते हैं

Read More

Tere Bin Nai Lagda Dil Mera Dholna – by that great Sufi master, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. Another song by him that I like a lot is Yeh joh halka halka suroor hai. More of his collections here.

This reminds me that the East India Company band played a fantastic version of this song in their CP gig. They don’t have it on their website. Such a shame.

Read More