Wednesday, May 16, 2018

Music Review(Tamil): Goli Soda2

Music Review(Tamil): Goli Soda2
Music Composer: Achu Rajamani

Pondatee, seems to be the kind of music churned out by Leon James and the peppy breezy tune sung by the composer Achu itself. The guitar-laden track is listenable and the arrangements are adorned by Ranjith's Sitar in the first interlude. Though Mani Amuthavan's lyrics sound force fitted, Achu's singing and Buoyant tune make this one listenable.Kelambu is the hackneyed anthemic rousing grungy track with the hardly memorable tune and apart from Steve's effectual guitar score, the track has little to offer. Deepak, Mahalingam, Jitin Raj and Sreeraj deliver fine within the limited scope of the tune. The track relies largely on the punchy percussions and few nifty guitar solos.Yaaro Vandhu is another track sung by the composer itself and the short melancholy track fails to stick to the listeners. The track is mostly situational one and gains a lot from the pensive lyrics.

Kannamma is on the lines of Pondatee where the breezy tone of the song and the stylish rendition by the string of singers lead by Praveen and Nishitha Menon. The interludes with the iPad synth are extremely catchy stuff which flows in tandem with the overall tone of the song. Achu ends the soundtrack with the racy theme track led by effectual Gautham Vasudev Menon's voice over. The theme track is loaded with the techno synthesised sounds which gives the haunting soundscape for the thriller.

Verdict: Golisoda 2 is definitely better soundtrack than it's prequel but the album lacks instant catchy songs. despite occasional brilliance from the talented composer.

My Rating:7/10

Pick of the Album: Kannamma, Pondattee

P.S You can listen to the songs in Saavn.

 


Sunday, May 13, 2018

Music Review (Malayalam): Kaamuki

Music Review (Malayalam): Kaamuki
Music Composer: Gopi Sundar
 
Kurumbi, song about mischievous daughter, sung perfectly by the child prodigy Sreya Jayadeep and the average tune is propped up by Sumesh Parameswar's brilliant bass line. The title hook is catchy enough and the singer makes this one work easily. Gopi Sundar delivers his best in the heady maapilla paatu styled Sowhrudam and the song instantly takes me back to composer's Kizhakku Pookum from Anwar. Mithun Jayaraj and Sithara Krishnakumar nails the tune with their pitch perfect vocals with ample support from the chorus. The title hook is an incredibly catchy stuff from the composer and Mithun's sargams along with Sithara's vocals makes this one an wonderful listen. Gopi Sundar delivers another breath taking melody with mild Quawalli touch to the tune and an undeniable highlight is Jossy Alpy Sax and loved the way the transition between Sumesh's classically played guitar leaves way for wonderful Sax. Divya S Menon steals the show with her mesmerising vocals.

Verdict: Gopi Sundar's short 3 song soundtrack is enjoyable and the two melodies standout with ample things to love.

My Rating: 7.5/10

Pick of the album: Sowhrudam, Neeyam Sooryan 

P.S You can listen to the songs in Saavn.

Thursday, May 10, 2018

Music Review (Telugu): Mehbooba

Music Review (Telugu): Mehbooba
Music Composer: Sandeep Chowta

Oh Priya Na Priya's highlight is the resonating vocals of Pragya Dasgupta and the rousing Mehbooba phrase which composer puts into good effect. The arrangements are intriguing with the tinge of haunting soundscape and the charanam melody is an irresistible one. Naa Pranam also features minimalistic arrangements, riding on Varijashree Venugopal's vocal prowess. The dark gloomy interludes continue with this track and it's a delight to listen to the singer's improvisations in the charanam. In Saiyaan, Sandeep Chowta brings in a wonderful mix of Sufi tune in the backdrop of fantastic guitar riffs and ensures that title hook is a catchy one. Ambika Jois aces the unconventional tune effortlessly and loved the way composer employed the traditionally tuned prelude. Pragya Dasgupta comes back with another engaging song, Pichi Pichi ga with the folksy twist to it. Sandeep Chowta's arrangements are top notch especially magical plucked strings in the first interlude and the rhyming lyrics. Oh Priya Na Priya's instrumental version comes as Soul of Mehbooba and it's a blissful listen with the violin solos. Look out for the gorgeous charanam portion of the tune played out with the violin and the track reaches crescendo once the string section kicks in.  Aa bhi Jhaa starts with the serene sarod prelude and the minimally arranged sombre tune features kickass guitar riffs in the interlude. Pragya Dasgupta and Sandeep Batra are pitch perfect with their vocals.

My Rating: 8/10

Verdict: Sandeep Chowta's Mehbooba is a refreshing album from the composer and I haven't followed up the composer's previous work, but this one is filled with pleasing tunes.

Pick of the Album: Oh Priya Na Priya, Pichi Pichi ga, Saiyaan

P.S You can listen to the songs in Saavn.



Wednesday, May 9, 2018

Music Review (Tamil): Kaala

Music Review (Tamil): Kaala
Music Composer: Santosh Narayanan

Semma Weightu is an almost tweaked version of Veera Thurandhara and the gangsta rap works like charm despite Kabali hangover all over the track. HariharaSudhan and  Santosh Narayanan ace the rendition with ample support from the rapper Dopeadelicz throwing in Marathi rap. The 80's rock sound and the synth accompanied by Jhanu Chanthar's electric guitar riffs make this one an enjoying listen. Thanga Sela's generic mass friendly tune propped up by Shankar Mahadevan's singing and the tune is strictly average one from the composer. Naveen Bass line towards the first interlude is a nice touch from the composer in an otherwise average song. Katravai Patravai is the soundtrack's highlight and the infectious energy along with the whistles easily makes Kaala's Neruppu da. The adrenaline rush around the 'Unnayum Mannayum Vendru Vaa Nee' elevates the track multifold. Arunraja Kamaraj does his best with his sprightly singing and Rajinikanth's dialogues make this one easily the best song in the soundtrack. Kannamma's melody has Santosh Narayanan written all over it and the immersive melody is aced by Pradeep Kumar as always and it's a delight to listen to the singer's improvisations. Vishnu Vijay's pensive flute in the first interlude and the niftly done minimalistic guitar strums set the tone for the song. The tune gets Acapella version by Ananthu sounds much better with the few nicely done touches like whistles on the backdrop of rain splatter sounds and the singer's earnest rendition.

The remaining half of the soundtrack is where Kaala didn't work. Urimayai Meetpom starts well with the resonating vocals of Vijay Prakash but soon the track turns into an average Quawaalli - Gaana mix. Keba's guitar strums have been brilliantly employed amidst the Ganapathy and Venkat's tabla. Another interesting aspect is Arivu's lyrics and it's interesting to analyse with the backdrop of TamilNadu's political scenario. Apart from Karthik Devaraj's haunting synth work and Logan's lyrics, Poraaduvom doesn't make the cut despite Dopeadelicz's rap portions. Theruvilakku is background material which may work well with the visuals but not as a standalone track. Nikkal Nikkal is another track which warrants listen for Logan and Dopeadelicz lyrics while the tune is in Meyaadha Maan's territory. Lyricist Vivek turns into the singer with this song.

Verdict: Santosh Narayanan, once again sticks to the director's requirement without yielding to the Rajini's film. However, the lingering feel of the Kabali's soundscape bogs down the listener's enthusiasm.

My Rating: 8/10

Pick of the Album: Kattravai Pattravai, Kannamma, Semma Weightu

P.S You can listen to the soundtrack in Saavn .  

Tuesday, May 1, 2018

Music Review(Telugu): Mahanati

Music Review(Telugu): Mahanati
Music Composer: Mickey J Meyer

The title song's opulent grand score matches the movie's grandeur despite having the modish outlook. Mickey J Meyer's tune easily breezes through despite treading along the familiar route while the composer peppered the background with the rich string sections supported well by Anurag Kulkarni's engaging rendition.Aagipo Baalyama's theatre play sound is a delight to listen and Mickey J Meyer effectively sets the soundscape for the track with ample support from Paul Raj's Tabla. Ramya Behara aces the rendition despite sounds like a lot of processing has been done with her vocals, however, the brilliant atmospheric sound and Sirivennela Sitarama Sastry's lyrics makes up for those minor grouses.

Mickey J Meyer hits the right note in a highly likeable song in the soundtrack Mooga Manasulu. The breezy soundscape accompanied by expansive string sections adorned with Phani Narayana's Veena in the first interlude makes this one an immersive listen in the soundtrack. Shreya Goshal is pitch-perfect with her vocals supported by once again Anurag Kulkarni. The consistent rhythm in the background adds the nice touch to the dreamy song.In Sada Nannu, composer goes completely classical one and Charulathamani elevates the level of the song with her brilliant rendition and the captivating tune is made more beautiful by Jugalbandi between Ravi Shankar's flute and Phani Narayana's Veena  in the first interlude. The improvisations by the classical singer make this song even more gorgeous and the Kalam natinchi hook continue to linger in the listener's mind even after the song ends.The soundtrack ends on a poignant note with Chivaruku Migiledi penned by Srivennela Sitarama Sastry while sung effectually by Sunitha. The composer gave mild waltzy soundscape to the moving track in the album and the composer utilized the chorus sounds, effectively to set the mood of the track.

Verdict: Mickey J Meyer's expansive soundscape and the elegant tunes makes this album one of his best soundtracks. After Yevade Subramanya, Nag Ashwin once again extracts the best from his composer.

My Rating: 8/10

Pick of the album: Mooga Manasulu, Sada Nannu, Chivaruku Migiledi. 

P.S You can listen to the songs in Youtube.