Big Green Music

Noori, "Taaron Se Aagay" Official Video and Live CD Released Today!

Sat, 19 May 2012 11:28:32 -0400

HOT OFF THE PRESS! Noori just released their official music video for their newest song, “Taaron Se Aagay” a couple of hours ago. The song itself was released on February 12, 2012 to a relatively luke-warm reception by social media standards (~14k YouTube views, ~11k on SoundCloud) but that doesn’t seem to have affected the band at all, as they added heavyweights Faraz Anwar and Zeeshan Parwez to their live lineup and went on to organize their own concert. This alone would’ve been enough to satisfy their legion of fans, but staying true to their new song’s title, they decided to go above and beyond by recording Pakistan’s first live concert cd, releasing Today, May 19! They have already released one other track off the cd, crowd favourite “Kuttay (Te Tho Uttay)” about a month ago. I should’ve posted it back then, but better late than never!

By the material released thus far, it really sounds like Noori outdid themselves this time. Sounds strong, energetic, and as ambitious as ever. Stay tuned to this space for a full album review as soon as I can get my hands on it!

One question remains however: Where did Mohammad Ali Jafri go?

OK, so is EP’s manager M. Night Shyamalan? Cuz I...

Fri, 18 May 2012 15:39:00 -0400

OK, so is EP’s manager M. Night Shyamalan? Cuz I haven’t seen twists like this since The Sixth Sense. Entity Paradigm, the band that at one point had two drummers and three vocalists is now a trio. Fawad Khan and Waqar Khan have left the band just a few days after announcing the release of a video fittingly titled “Ajab Tamasha”. If my memory serves me correctly, I believe this is the second time Waqar has left.

To be honest, they can survive without Waqar as Salman Albert (still in the band) is a very competent drummer. But can they survive Life After Fawad? A lot of people doubted they could even go on without Xulfi, and it’s a fact that they’ve only released one song since that happened. Losing Fawad is pretty much a headshot; I’m not sure why they don’t just retire the band instead of ripping it apart in public. Continue under a different name if you want to continue performing together. Ahmad Ali Butt can’t pull off vocal duties alone on EP songs.

If they’re really serious about continuing under the EP banner, what they need to do is find a kid out there who deserves a shot. Get some young blood into the mix and use that to propel EP’s renaissance. There are plenty of guys out there who can fill in. What Fawad did on Irtiqa will be forever remembered, and this suggestion is not meant to discredit him in any way, but there has got to be someone (besides Ahmad Ali Butt) that can take the reigns. The dynamic between two vocalists is what made EP stand out, and in my eyes is the key to their success.

Heck, they can even take this opportunity and turn it into a TV show or something. Open tryouts for EP’s vocalist job, like INXS did with Rockstar: INXS! It would be a fitting gesture as well since EP was created out of the bands Entity and Paradigm in an attempt to get on the Pepsi Battle of the Bands show all those years ago.

Get some true excitement going, because they’ll need all the momentum they can muster if they want to really come back with a bang after being delivered such a crippling blow.

Kuch Shor Machaa. Awaaz Uthaa.

Entity Paradigm (EP) just released the new teaser poster for...

Tue, 15 May 2012 10:32:51 -0400

Entity Paradigm (EP) just released the new teaser poster for their upcoming music video, apparently titled “Ajab Tamasha”! Their last video was pretty decent in my opinion; looking forward to how they take this next step in their journey. I’ve always been a huge fan of the band’s work, and Irtiqa still stands as one of the most complete rock albums Pakistan has ever seen. Stay tuned for more EP news as it unravels…

Source: https://www.facebook.com/eptheband

Bohemia’s “Paisay Da Nasha”.. woh kehtay hain...

Sun, 13 May 2012 10:24:00 -0400

Bohemia’s “Paisay Da Nasha”.. woh kehtay hain na, ‘big tings’.

Thanks Coke Studio for bringing something fresh each new season. Was really looking forward to this one, and it definitely delivered. First episode featured a great mix of artists and should have something for everyone. To be honest, I don’t listen to Bohemia at all. I may have heard a song or two years ago but definitely not an artist I follow. Here’s hoping that will change for me, and for many others. I’m not really a fan of the few recent rap acts to come out of Pakistan, so rediscovering Bohemia at this point in time feels reassuring. Love his delivery, hard and gritty, and his message as well. My only qualm is the rest of the arrangement. Perhaps one of Rachel or Zoe should have had a more prominent role, and really owned the hook. The music also seems like it could’ve used a bit more grit to match Bohemia. Couldn’t really pick out the bass drum (bass guitar was great though), which is kind of an important element in hip hop. Perhaps they should’ve thrown an electric guitar into the mix and really made it special.

Oh well, everyone’s a critic I suppose. Still happy with what we got :) Thanks Rohail!

Review: Uth Records 2.0, Sara Haider feat. Ali Haider & Imam Hamdani - Tera Saath

Mon, 26 Mar 2012 12:48:00 -0400

First review in quite a long time! Let’s get on with it, shall we? First off, mixed feelings about Ali Haider not being THE Ali Haider. Relieved and let down at the same time, go figure :P Having said that, I don’t mind this Ali Haider at all, held down rhythm guitars pretty well, so good for you :) Anyways, enough about Ali Haider.

Ali Haider.

Ok, it’s out of my system. I loved this latest episode of Uth Records’ sophomore season, which is really turning out to be a true delight to watch and listen to. This episode really appealed to me on a couple of different levels. The instrumental was an absolute joy to listen to, everything came together perfectly in my opinion. The serene horn, the progressive guitaring, the acoustic rhythm. All came together to create the lounge, smooth jazz atmosphere. Hats off to Imam for the wonderful performance on this track, really led the way in my opinion. And that solo at 4:50! Aala, as they say. Apart from skill, I really gained respect for this guy after hearing him speak about himself and Sara, noting that they both have a lot of room for improvement before they can call themselves true musicians (paraphrased off the top of my head). The humility is always nice to see in the newcomers :)

Speaking of improvement! Before I go further, I want to stress that I really am a fan of Sara Haider’s vocals. Having said that, I feel like something was..off? Singing this style of music is incredibly difficult, and I always feel that more is expected of a female vocalist, fair or unfair. Is it “too soft”? Is it lacking “dimension”? Does it go “too high”? Am I a complete idiot? All of these are questions that come to mind. I feel like we have stumbled upon a work in progress, and this being a showcase of youth talent, we should take it as it is and not be dismissive in our criticism. I can’t wait to hear where Sara goes from here, and look forward to watching her rise to stardom :)

All in all, great to see these young artists who are coming from all sorts of eclectic musical backgrounds and bringing something fresh to the fans of Pakistani music. I love the John Mayer-ish guitaring with that delicious tone. Which reminds me, perhaps that solo would’ve gotten a stronger push if they weaved Sara’s vocals around it. I felt she just kind of disappeared in that final climactic minute of the song. Anyways, enough blabbering. Time for some sweet, sweet tunes:

Coming soon to Uth Records, LISTEN NOW!

Tue, 13 Mar 2012 10:19:00 -0400

Well, Uth Records recently announced their third act for Season 2: XXI! Now, I know I have yet to post anything about Jarar and Affaq, hope to get to that soon, but I had to post about XXI ASAP due to the fact that I’m actually already a fan of their work :D The song they will be recording is called “Taare”, which you can check out above. Please note this is more of a demo version, and not the version we will see on Uth Records this weekend. It’s a solid track, fun, energetic, and it’ll be fun to see if and how they change the track with Gumby producing it. Having said that, it’s actually not my favourite song of theirs. I’ll post my favourite XXI song in another post, and try to offer some of my amateur perspective in the form of a structured video review. Yeah, fun :P enjoy Taare for now, and I’ll catch ya on the flipside!

Welp, here’s another instant classic by True Brew Records,...

Fri, 09 Mar 2012 10:37:33 -0500

Welp, here’s another instant classic by True Brew Records, same label as Jamal Rahman from my previous post. TBR definitely looks like it’s going to be providing us with some more unique works in the near future, which is absolutely great news for a Pakistani music scene that has started to feel stale to me. There are a bunch of great artists that are not being promoted at the level they deserve to be, and the very least we can do is spread the word within our spheres of influence. Heck, it’s probably the BEST thing we can do at this point.

Oh, and the SONG! DIL JALAY! Been listening to this track for the past month, loving the simple music and simple lyrics. Really keeps it roots-y and honest. And are those actual dreadlocks?? I first heard of Malang Party through a promo by Hamza Jafri’s The Guitar School. There was a gig, and some vids surfaced out of it. I loved the band’s groove on “12 Meel Duur”, dripping with funk. How can you not be drawn towards it? These men wield their instruments with skill, and looks like they’re on the hunt. Looking very forward to more material :)

YouTube their other videos, and join them on Facebook! https://www.facebook.com/malangpartygroup

Alright. Don’t ask me where I’ve been, but I’m...

Sat, 03 Mar 2012 09:12:31 -0500

Alright. Don’t ask me where I’ve been, but I’m back. I tried easing myself in through Twitter a month or so back, but it’s time to just start posting. Just finished touching up the FB page, so please join me there as well if you already haven’t.

So I just came across this 1 year old track, “Naina Moray”, by Jamal Rahman, featuring Haider Rahman and Naeem Mehdi. I have never heard of any of these guys, but I hope to find some more info on them in the coming days and weeks. The track itself, is UNBELIEVABLE. I have no idea how I hadn’t heard it before. Sophisticated funk, clean, fresh, a delicious fusion track all around! Do yourself a favour and hit play, and then share it with your loved ones.

Review: Coke Studio Season 4 Episode 2: Sajjad Ali, Kirkir Kirkir

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 19:00:49 -0400

ALRIGHT! Yet ANOTHER disclaimer before you read the following entry. I had started writing this review on two previous occasions, only to have it erased by some computer malfunction. I was so excited to write about my feelings, yet it was hard to rewrite my words after the first erasure. You could imagine my frustrations after the second time I had my writings deleted which, ultimately, led to the delay of all the reviews of the entire episode. SO, I finally decided I had to ignore this one and write about the other songs, to get me back in the groove. Now that I’ve taken a stab at Lala and Kaavish, I am ready again, for the third time, to write about Sajjad Ali’s Coke Studio debut!

Now, I absolutely love Sajjad Ali. Since the day Coke Studio was announced, I have had him at or near the top of my dream team lineup. His songs evoke a strong nostalgia in me, from the Chief Saab to Babia, Mahiwaal, Paaniyon Mein, Teri Yaad, and Kuch Nahin. All these songs hold a special place in my past, and are woven into the fabric of my memories. You could imagine my absolute joy at hearing his voice in the Coke Studio promo, but what the heck was he singing? Didn’t remind me of anything I have ever heard him do, either lyrically or style-wise. I didn’t know how this was gonna turn out, as I hesitantly waited for the song to arrive.

And the moment came. Kirkir Kirkir.. interesting. Solo vocals, followed closely by a galloping beat. A goofy grin breaks out on my face. A HOEDOWN!! YEEEHAWWW!!! What a catchy, footstomping tune, an amazing amazing surprise :D Seriously, if you are physically capable of either tapping your foot, nodding your head, or smiling and you aren’t doing either of them, there’s something wrong with you. Go get yourself checked out by a psychiatrist. Seriously. One thing that really impressed me was the house band’s performance on this track. It highlights their diversity and versatility as they take on a very uncommon meter and rhythm but execute it flawlessly. Real musicianship on display on this track, well done to the whole team! Such a fun song, glad he chose a song like this to break out on Coke Studio. I think the last time they had a song with this much lightheartedness in it was Zeb and Haniya’s “Chup” from season 2.

Although again, I didn’t understand much of it (I really need to learn Punjabi), I loved the way the words flowed and they seemed to be very personal, as he mentions himself in it. It felt like a gift to all his fans who have stuck by his side all these years, and that’s the way i’ll take it :) Looking forward to seeing him perform one of his classics now. Listen below, and swing yer partner round and round!

Review: Coke Studio Season 4 Episode 2: Kaavish, Nindiya Re

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 17:59:42 -0400

On to Kaavish! Now, this band has truly played with my emotions over the years. I went from crazed fan, to frustrated follower, to indifferent individual. With their appearance on Coke Studio Season 4, the frustrations have returned. How long ago did I hear Bachpan, probably in my own bachpan! Years went by without a debut album, as fans had to wait endlessly for a studio release. By the time Gunkali was launched, I have to admit I had lost all interest in what they had to show the world, and I still haven’t heard the album.

There’s the background of my relationship with the band. With an appearance in Coke Studio, I was obligated to listen to what they had to offer, so I put my feelings aside and hit play. My eyes feel heavy as I close them and let the vocal stylings of Jaffer Zaidi hush my frustrations. His deep, sleepy delivery manages to maintain technical prowess, as he takes us on a gliding trip under the midnight moon. Asad Ahmed is given another opportunity to show his bluesy chops. Absolutely loving the tone, it invokes feelings of Clapton and John Mayer, thanks Rohail for adding that bit in! Really hoping Omran gets a solo or two this season :) Rachel and Zoe are spot on as usual, I have to say I am enjoying their backup deliveries more than previous seasons’ ladies. Kudos to Coke Studio for introducing some new blood in the house band :) Oh, and a XYLOPHONE!! I hope they keep that thing on set as well, truly adds a freshness to the songs similar to what the cello’s did for Mizraab’s “Kuch Hai”.

All in all, a very suble, moving track that stays true to Kaavish’s style. Well, at least the Kaavish I knew before I grew impatient with the album wait. Perhaps it’s time to go grab a copy of Gunkali :)

Review: Coke Studio Season 4 Episode 2: Attaullah Khan Esakhelvi, Ni Oothaan Waale

Mon, 27 Jun 2011 17:29:17 -0400

We make our way to Ataullah Khan Esakhelvi, performing Ni Oothaan Waale in episode 2 of Coke Studio Season 4. Another act I had no previous knowledge of. Starts off with a conventional background to the folk vocals, and swells into a hip, upbeat number. Absolutely loving Asad’s guitar effect, one of the things I never understood about Coke Studio is why they kept the guitarists on such a tight leash, so it’s good to see a little electric flavour. Ataullah, affectionately known as Lala, has a really heartfelt delivery, and all language barriers come tumbling down as he progresses through the song. Really wish I knew what he was saying in the monologue, let me know if you know!

All in all, Coke Studio finds a way to maintain its freshness and relevance in its attempt to fuse folk/classical with western/contemporary, and the great thing is even Lala enjoys the houseband’s offering, as it is apparent in his body language. Goes to show that great music truly is boundless. Looking forward to more material by him, in this season and beyond :)

Review: Coke Studio Season 4 Episode 1: Sanam Marvi, Sighra Aaween Saanwal Yaar

Mon, 13 Jun 2011 01:04:38 -0400

Well, we finally reach the last review for Coke Studio Season 4, Episode 1. Studio Sophomore Sanam Marvi closes out the performances with “Sighra Aaween Saanwal Yaar”. A ten and a half minute mammoth. The track starts off with poetry that is familiar to Coke Studio followers. I love the way the music creeps into the background slowly, allowing Marvi’s voice to take center stage right from the start. Although I don’t understand all the words she speaks and sings, her passion is undeniable. Marvi closes any gaps between the lyrics and her emotion, as the words become hers and hers alone.

As Omran leads the transition around the 7 minute mark, I am astounded that 7 minutes have already passed. As the song draws to a close, we are reminded of Rachel and Zoe, which makes me wish they had more harmonies earlier on in the song. How awesome would it be to hear three female vocals layering and weaving through eachother? I think it would’ve been a fun experiment. Regardless, this song was a true success, Sanam Marvi’s return is indeed a welcomed addition to this season. Not to take away from her talent in any way, but I feel the biggest gain out of having an artist like Sanam Marvi featured on the CS platform is the fact that Pakistan and the world is getting a glimpse of a young woman (I have no idea how old she is, but I’m willing to bet she’s younger than Abida Parveen) who is a classically trained vocalist. I have not heard of many women who have taken this road and raised their level of skill to a national level. Sanam Marvi is slowly but surely becoming a household name, and it’s important to maintain some of that classic culture as we move through the modern world. In times where we have fallen in love with soft, jazzy style of Zeb and Haniya, Natasha Ejaz, Maryam Khizilbash and Zoe Viccaji, it is equally important for us to appreciate all forms of music for the sake of artistic diversity, which is exactly what Sanam Marvi brings to the table. Kudos to Rohail for bringing her on board for Season 4!

Review: Coke Studio Season 4 Episode 1: Akhtar Chanal Zahri & Komal Rizvi, Daanah Pah Daanah

Mon, 06 Jun 2011 01:16:01 -0400

Well, here’s a track that a lot of my friends were interested in, as it is an older tune, but I had no idea existed. Another song review without preconceived notions on how it should be :P and no prior knowledge of the artists, NOW we’re getting into unbiased territory! Heheh, anywho, from the setup it seemed the Coke Studio team was looking to extend the success they achieved from the electric chemistry of Arif Lohar and Meesha Shafi from Season 3. It’s hard not to make that parallel on the surface, but as the song starts, I realize I am mistaken.

The speaking monologue at the start really pulled me out of whatever frame of mind I was in and dropped me on a dirt road in rural Pakistan. Akhtar Chanal Zahri actually reminds me of the work Saieen Zahoor did. Not sure how similar they actually are when you drill down to the details, but it felt like they have some common threads. Komal Rizvi enters with confidence, nails the chorus with an energetic delivery. I have heard her name in the past, but can’t recall hearing anything by her yet. Her voice supports Zahri’s quite well, the overall sound is quite pleasing and makes for a great chill track. I like the rhythm of the song as well; both singers did a great job in enhancing by bringing their characters into the performance. Really enjoyed Komal’s dynamic style, especially at the 3 minute mark when she says “Jeeeee-o” and steps away from the mic. Made me smile at how much she and Akhtar Chanal Zahri were enjoying the performance :)

The second part of the song steps back to the tried and tested ‘laal meri patt’, or whatever its official title is. Here, Komal gets a chance to put her talent on display, as Zahri slides into the supporting role. She belts out the lyrics with emotion, and the house band is completely enthralled in the classic track. The beat switches to funk quite abruptly, which kind of caught me off-guard. Little time is given to dwell on it however, as Zoe and Rachel Viccaji put the finishing touches on the contemporary soundscape, for Zahri to bring it home. If you heard the first 30 seconds of this track and the last 30 seconds, you would never guess they were from the same song. Somewhere in between, Coke Studio managed to sew a folksy tune that traveled the country side, met a classic along the way, and ended up in the city.

By the end of the track, I kind of feel happy that they added this ending, as it really completed the fusion CS tries to achieve with its songs. Akhtar Chanal Zahri’s voice fits right in with the Superstition-ish groove, and completes the fusion experiment. As Coke Studio seems to feature completely new artists each episode this time around, we may not get to see these two singers work together again, so perhaps it was best to throw it all in one track. Overall, a great track that may not have been anticipated as highly as some of the other performances, but perhaps used that to its advantage. Full of life, experimentation, and talent. Great work Coke Studio!

Review: Coke Studio Season 4 Episode 1: Mizraab, Kuch Hai

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 12:56:50 -0400

One word: EPIC. Apart from Bilal Khan, I was anticipating Mizraab’s performance just as much. This time, the performance went beyond my expectations. Everyone knows of Faraz Anwar’s reputation of melting faces with his hot solos, and his ability to create acoustic anthems like “Kitni Sadiiyaan”. When I first heard of Mizraab’s inclusion into Coke Studio this season, I had hoped they would do “Ujhaalon Mein”, as it seemed like one of those songs that would work in a lounge setting. Once Kuch Hai was announced, I was curious to hear what they’d do with their slot. I hadn’t heard this song previously, so came into it without any preconceptions on what it “should” sound like.

The song starts off with an ominous gait, highlighted by the vocal stylings of Mannan, a great complimentary addition to Faraz and the Viccaji’s. This is as ominous as Coke Studio gets. And what’s that? CELLO?? Finally. A string section that sounds complete, and just in time for the perfect song. The orchestral sound that comes with the added instruments really pushes to a lofty perch, where it surveys the soundscape created by Faraz and company. From this vantage point, the song changes ‘acts’ and settles into a nest of contemplation. Leaving ominous behind, The vocals and lyric structure bends creative norms that Pakistani’s just don’t get exposed to in their music industry. Refreshing, to say the least.

As the song kicks into the chorus, I can’t help but think this track would make a great James Bond theme. Might be the strings. The other weird thing that enters my mind is how much it reminds me of Japanese arena rock, with the vocal style and melody structure. Just like that, the piece transitions into the ominous groove as Faraz takes control with an acoustic solo. Beautiful, something very few Pakistani’s are capable of composing and executing. The past five minutes seemed timeless, as the song takes another turn, a light interlude before jumping into the chorus. Wonderful transition, as Faraz pushes his voice to its limits, faltering once but coming off as a character move rather than a miscalculation. The song transitions yet again into the ominous groove (I don’t know what else to call it, clearly). Faraz throws in another solo, this time harmonizing with his own voice. So awesome.. Mannan, with the help of Rachel and Zoe, brings the song full circle as it ends in a swirl of mystic defiance.

REPLAY!

Review: Coke Studio Season 4 Episode 1: Jal, Ik Aarzu

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 11:30:14 -0400

Let’s get one thing out of the way first. I don’t consider myself a Jal fan anymore. I was perfectly happy that the first three seasons of Coke Studio stayed away from them. There was a time when I enjoyed their work, but lately I get an arrogant vibe from Goher and Farhan. This isn’t the time to discuss however, but I felt it necessary for the reader to have knowledge of my feelings for them to understand my review a bit better.

Now, the song starts, and I forget all about the negative thoughts I had of these guys. Farhan seems completely comfortable with his surroundings and sings with confidence. Goher has thankfully taken off his jacket (pictured above), and provides a nice aesthetic balance in the duo’s look. Great work by the house band in supporting Farhan’s vocals as they soar to great heights! Tere Ishq Nachaaya slides in with craft, as the pace gallops along, spearheaded by Farhan’s alaaps, interlaced with the Viccaji’s angelic harmonies. What an achievement!

And then, the song gallops into a brick wall. Mast Qalandar? Really? Here is where Jal appears to have bitten off more than they can chew. Why would they choose to cover a NFAK song ESPECIALLY when Farhan can’t even hit the highest notes and reverts to a lower octave? The performance had been flawless up to the 5 minute mark. Why didn’t they end it there? If they wanted to spice it up and add something new, that’s what Tere Ishq achieved! This was one of the most frustrating Coke Studio tracks I’ve heard yet, simply because it seemed to abandon the listener. Whatever they were trying to do, did not translate with me at all.

The first five minutes were undeniable talent, and I scramble for the stop button as soon as the second half starts. Jal, I don’t know what to think of you. Hope to hear more of the Ik Aarzu groove in the future!

Review: Coke Studio Season 4 Episode 1: Bilal Khan, To Kia Hua

Sun, 05 Jun 2011 11:00:07 -0400

ALRIGHT, let’s get crackin’. I’ll be posting some of my opinions on each of the songs in a separate post so as to keep my thoughts organized and not to overwhelm me. I will do my utmost best to judge the music without any personal feelings for the artists to interfere. So Coke Studio Season 4 kicks off with a performance by Bilal Khan of Bachana fame. I am a huge fan of his, and was anticipating this performance the most.

Perhaps this anticipation raised my expectations too high, but this version just didn’t do it for me. Now, there are two kinds of people who experienced this song and came away with two different impressions. The first is people who make it a daily duty to listen to the acoustic version of this song. Coke Studio departed from that vision in a couple of important places. The second type of person is the one experiencing this song for the first time, who hasn’t really paid attention to the acoustic version so they don’t really have anything else to compare it with. This is the generalization I’ve come to from talking to my friends and music fans.

Now, what was so different? I’m not really sure if it’s one or two things, but you pick up on it right at the start. Could it be the echo effect on Bilal’s voice? Could it be the background music is too…subdued? The muted chords really shape the live version, and give the vocals more power in my opinion. The flow of the chorus in CS seems to push forward, then hold back. Almost a pulsing feel created by the bass line, while the live version keeps that consistent rhythm. As the song comes to the bridge, it feels like another anti-climactic moment. Something’s definitely not working for me, although the Viccaji’s really shone bright. It’s too..atmospheric, like a fog has rolled in and you’re hearing a lost “haara nahin huun mein” coming from the haze. In the acoustic version, this is where the guitar really takes off and powers through the rhythms. It’s defiant, and plows through with a reassuring “haara nahin huun mein”.

As much as I love CS and BK (Burger King and Bilal Khan, they’re both pretty awesome), I have to say I found the song didn’t meet my expectations, and I feel most of it has to do with the way the music was arranged. It’s funny how a song with multiple vocalists, instrumentalists, and state of the art equipment doesn’t end up matching the feel of an acoustic guitar in an empty room. That’s the beauty of music. I hope I didn’t come off as too negative, because this episode hasn’t decreased my optimism and excitement for the release of Umeed, Bilal Khan’s first album. I can’t wait to hear the studio version of To Kya Hua and compare it with the two versions we already have :)

"Our album cover in the Urdu script clearly states that the band’s name is Bumbu Mother In Law...."

Fri, 29 Apr 2011 15:16:53 -0400

“Our album cover in the Urdu script clearly states that the band’s name is Bumbu Mother In Law. Which is completely fine with us.”

- Bumbu Sauce

Usman Riaz, “Fire Fly” This young prodigy was...

Mon, 25 Apr 2011 09:46:59 -0400

Usman Riaz, “Fire Fly”

This young prodigy was recently unveiled by the awesome Uth Records. I decided not to post that performance, nor the episode review because I felt it could have been handled differently. THIS is what the Uth Records track should have resembled, in my opinion. Solo acoustic instrumental. Having said that, I’m sure Usman was blown away at the chance to collaborate with a guy like Ali Noor. I wasn’t too keen on the arrangement of it though. Fire Fly, on the other hand, is much more focused on his incredible tapping talent and composition prowess. 6.53 goes by in a flash, a whirlwind of organic sounds, from the thumping and tapping of the guitar’s body to the power chord hammer-ons of the ‘chorus’. Gumby noted that there wasn’t a market for this type of music in Pakistan. While I agree there isn’t a mainstream market for it, I also believe his instrumental stuff will make serious serious waves on the internet in front of a global audience. Guitar enthusiasts in Pakistan (and trust me, there are a lot of those kind of people in the country) do recognize and appreciate this level of competence with a musical instrument. He should stick with more tracks like this, having guest vocalists act as backup, but keeping his talent up front and center. Also, having an awesome video as this doesn’t harm either. Bilal Khan and Shayan Agha did an incredible job, and their hard work pays off in this piece.

Bat for Lashes, “Daniel” Well, I was supposed to...

Sat, 23 Apr 2011 14:50:00 -0400

Bat for Lashes, “Daniel”

Well, I was supposed to post this a few days ago, sorry for the gap! Featuring Bat for Lashes this time, performing their hit song “Daniel” at the legendary Abbey Road Studios. Bat for Lashes is founded by singer Natasha Khan, a half-Pakistani born in England. She is a cousin (once removed) of squash champion Jehangir Khan, one of Pakistan’s most celebrated athletes. Her father, Rahmat Khan, is the one who coached Jehangir to the heights he reached. Definitely a talented family! She has recently won at the UK Asian Awards for Best Alternative Act, and has also picked up hardware for the song above in the Best Contemporary Song category at the Ivor Novello Awards, both in 2010. These wins were preceded by a slew of nominations in previous years at the Brit Awards and the MTV VMA’s.

Anyways, apart from the history and background, I love her voice, haunting and mesmerizing. The music style is absolutely perfect for her vocals, very ambient, atmospheric, nostalgic tune. Love the kettle drum (thing that makes that thunder rolling sound), wonderful arrangement, deep deep lyrics and, sigh, a perfect package is all that really needs to be said. Hope to hear more awesomeness from her in the future. Represent!

Lazarus, “Drug of Choice” And now for something...

Wed, 20 Apr 2011 14:28:00 -0400

Lazarus, “Drug of Choice”

And now for something completely different. Kamran Rashid Khan, A.K.A. Lazarus, has recently surpassed a million YouTube views for the video above, released only two months ago. Pretty decent video, especially when he dawns the kurta. Brrap brraap, as the kids say! Check the following track for some more awesome skills:

Lazarus, “Lazarus Forever”

There’s even a Discovery Channel segment on YouTube, seek and you shall find. Or I guess I can post it, in a later post. Let these two tracks sink in for now. I am not really into the rap scene (Western or Pakistani) but I enjoy it once in a while. What I like about him is how he represents his country, his family (Uncle’s headband), and his profession (that’s Dr. Kamran Rashid Khan, radiologist) without all the unnecessary profanity that comes with the genre. Oh and the ninja turtle reference on “Lazarus Forever”, definite cool points. I also don’t know of any other brown rapper who has written a song about hockey, that’s just crazytalk! He’s real, and that’s how a rocker like me can appreciate a rapper like him. This mixtape has been on my iPod for the past few months, try it out and see what you think! Good workout soundtrack actually. Spread and share!

Official Album Download Link