"CHAANDAN MEIN" REVIEW

What do you think is the toughest job? To deliver excellence, or to meet the expectations, or to supersede the expectations..? I think the latest one and Kailash Kher has just done that with his fourth album released. He has delivered it again and with more captivating music this time. If you have never felt what spirituality is like and wanna get a hint of it, ‘Chaandan Mein’ is what you should listen to!!

Now i don’t wonder why it took him so long getting a new album out. The rustic, earthy vocals of Kailash Kher along with deft use of variety of instruments and soulful, poignant lyrics create a magic. The cover of the album itself makes you feel of what to expect ahead. Ya, the theme of the album is yet again ‘the lover yearning for his beloved’ and sufistic unconditional love. The album consists of 10 tracks with 2 tracks from his earlier album ‘Jhoomo Re’. The album kicks off with the title track ‘Chaandan Mein’. The song starts off with soft melody on guitar rhythms and later on catches the typical Kailash Kher high pitches. The rural, folkish lyrics which are predominantly mixture of Hindi and Awadhi engrosses you completely. The lovers wait for his beloved is ecstatically woven in the wordings. My favourite lines being: “Sarap dase sunaa sunaa, kaisaa meetha saa zahar Ae ji Meetha meetha saa zahar, Darad badhe duna duna, uthe hiye mein lahar Uthe hirde mein lahar, main karu shingaar toh sharmaaye Yeh darpan saiyaa ...” A perfect start for the album which makes you feel that you never expected so high out of it. Next comes ‘Na batati tu’ which is a pacy number, in fact, paciest of all the tracks. It a fast-tracked ‘thumri’ with sitar in the interludes really making it sublime. Chorus and guitar give a western feel to the already cheered up and mischievous mood of the song. Song gets a bit jazzy at the end. Listen the song early in the morning and you will surely be ‘high’ with the song playing whole of the day in your head. ‘Teri yaad mein’ seems to be a very ordinary song with nothing exceptional in the’ mukhda’ and unexciting lyrics in the beginning..but no conclusions so soon, be patient. As soon as ‘antara’ unfolds you get to know the real beauty of the song. Total indianness takes over with ‘tabla’ and guitar fused ingeniously. The track will certainly climb your rankings with little time. The mood is a bit low and doleful. ‘Bheeg gaya re mera mann’ is the second best song of the album and the longest of the tracks. The obvious theme of the song seems to be the rains but it has got symbolic meaning to it and is philosophical at times. The track emulates ‘Indian Ocean’ to its overall style with orchestra playing incessantly but stunningly intricate, between the stanzas. Superb lyrics make it very pacifying and soothing. Some of my favourite ones are: ''Barse barse re ambar ka paani Jisko pee pee ke dharti deewani Khil khilane lagi haiMuskurane lagi hai Bheeg gaya mera mann'' Flute is smartly used but the highlight of the song is its end where ‘dhol’ picks up the pace and culminates with ‘iktara’ coming into play giving it a bhangra touch. ‘Piya ghar ayenge’ is supposedly the best song of the album with the female protagonist longing for his beloved. Kailash Kher has once again perfected the immaculate job of impersonation of a female (thing which he has done in his previous albums too!!). Once again the melodious flute play along with the piano has done the trick. But most remarkable is the mood of the song, neither is it in ‘high spirit’ of a waiting lover nor is it in the ‘grieving’ mood. It’s really mystique. However it maintains the mood of unfailing devotion and yes the closing of the track is unmatched. Incontestably the best song of the album. ‘Rang rang ma’ is another peppy number with percussion created by a melange of western and traditional instruments. ‘Ishq ho gaya’ is something where can find a flaw. Track is depressingly gloomy and atleast doesn’t suite my mood. ‘Kar kar main haara’ is a track whose highlight is simply it’s mindboggling lyrics. If you think gulzar was phenomenal in ‘humne gillahri ke jhoothe matar khaye they..’ in Kaminey, then just think about this: ''Yun toh teri yaad mei bhi swaad hai teraa, Par aankhon ko manaaoon kis tarhaa? Honton ki majaal kyaa jo kare yeh sawaal, Par dil ko main samjhaaoon kis tarhaa? '' If these lines aren’t enough then just look at these: ''Kabhi kabhi dhoop, kabhi chaau tu hi haiPehchaan lu Yaa toh mujhe hansa banaa le Toh main tujhe jaan lu Khushbhoo se jo tu bahaar aayega Suraj ko god mein khilaaoonga '' Another great track with romantic bent to it. Overall, i can say that it’s the best music of the year. And importantly the timing of release is superb, for monsoon evokes the romantic in you. Lovers who feel their relationship is past their prime can definitely take inspiration for rejuvenating their love lives. It’s all about finding the face of your beloved akin to the moon..’Chaandan mein’ .The music is not that you will like it the very first time, you will take some time in developing the taste. It won’t reveal the secret and pleasure to those in hurry. So, be patient and it will pay. Happing listening..