It's great to have Khayyam doing what he does best. Giving quality music with semi classical compositions webbed around his comfort zone of Asha Bhosle's enchanting voice. Jaam-e-Mohabbat, Aap To Mere Hi Khwabon Mein, Saaz-e-Dil Nagma-e-Jaan and Madhur Madhur are priceless gems. But just when I was getting too impressed, a bad remix of Kabhi Aar Kabhi Paar and a deluge of classical based bandish, thumri and dadra make it difficult to bear it beyond a point. Interestingly director Goutam Ghose's name has been credited to almost all these songs. Apart from aberrations, this album also marks the return of brilliant ghazal singer Talat Aziz who had not been doing film playback for quite a while and even Udit Narayan and Alka Yagnik are in fine form. `Yatra' music cd is strictly for connoisseurs. Lay men excuse.
Jaam-e-Mohabbat is pure gold from the moment it starts. The tender trickle of Santoor gels with diamond nuggets of Sarangi showering Ghungroo bells ringing a few surprises. Rekha's evocative voiceover adds to the effect in the beginning and then her `Umrao Jaan' voice of Asha Bhosle simply takes over spreading her magic effectively. Ahmad Wasi's competent lyrics compliment Khayyam's classic touch graciously. Sitar piece in the middle re-echoing the energetic tabla is a delightful musical experience. `Jaam-e-mohabbat' is a beauty in every sense of the word.
I may have been put off by Udit Narayan's singing in `Vivaah' but when I listen to Aap To Mere Hi Khwabon Mein there's only one way of describing the experience.well done dude. The Sarangi fillers, tabla-congo combo and strings background has a joyous effect. Alka Yagnik has been a revelation this year with the dexterity in which she has transformed herself from a fine singer to a fantastic one. After the soulful `Umrao Jaan' and `Maa Santoshi' she is in fine form here too. Khayyam creates a good mix of traditional element with a hint of modern music arrangements. The keyboard strings at the end are a bit of a dampener considering one is used to live string playing in Khayyam's music. A good song nevertheless!
Saaz-e-Dil Nagma-e-Jaan brings forth the return of Khayyam's discovery with honey-sweet-voice Talat Aziz. Aziz sings this semi classical ghazal with a rare composure and understanding of music-n-poetry. Harmonium fillers are marvelous while the music arrangements of Sitar, Santoor, Sarangi and Tabla are more or less same as previous compositions. Vocal improvisation of Talat Aziz makes for engrossing listening. Even the improvisation in tabla playing makes this ghazal traverse through several dimensions. All you connoisseurs of music who've been deprived of quality stuff would love this one.
Madhur Madhur has an old world folk charm to it especially because of the rhythm sequencing. Asha Bhonsle's ebullient voice takes the song on a sort of roller coaster in a laidback slow motion manner. Although I liked the song but somehow I feel it tends to get a bit monotonous after a point of time and maybe choice of lyricist in Maya Govind was not exactly a good idea.
After four semi classical songs, the fifth number is a total departure from the earlier ones. It's a remix of O P Nayyar classic pop hit Kabhi Aar Kabhi Paar on which number of baby dolls have grooved in private albums. Music has been credited to Goutam Ghose the director of the film while the singer's name has been given as Jojo. This is a shoddy work for at several junctures, the singer has no clue where the rhythm is. The intro is far too husky for comfort. This one fails to impress.
The four semi-classical songs and a bad remix later, a deluge