AUDIOSCAN
Music goes global
Global Village (Times Music)

In the 21st century, national boundaries are becoming quite redundant, whether it is in the case of the Internet or music. The planet is indeed shrinking to the size of a global village where cultural crosscurrents are ever present. That is why Punjabi music can be relished in a South Indian café too and a rap song can be all the rage in Jalandhar. It is with this philosophy that Karunesh has been composing his music. In keeping with the universalisation process noticed earlier in his Secrets of Life, Global Spirit and Nirvana Café, etc, he has composed-arranged numbers which bring together music from everywhere.

What helps him in this endeavour is the fact that he was born in Europe and spent years travelling and exploring different cultures before settling in the Hawaiian islands. No wonder their music too has been adopted.

This intercultural amalgamation is noticeable in voices as well as instruments. But in keeping with his roots, the Indian influence is omnipresent. It is emotionally enriching to listen to an album which begins with a Sufi number, Prayer of Joy, with a classic Punjabi song line, and then goes on to present middle-eastern vocals in Orient Express. In between there are Arabian strains, topped up by typically Indian spiritual stuff like Krishna’s Song and Om Namo. Karunesh tries to touch the listener at all three levels – body, heart and soul – and succeeds to a considerable extent. What matters the most is that he tries to break the mould of film-based music which is the staple diet of most private albums today. The album is available in CD as well as cassette form, costing Rs 360 and Rs 125, respectively.

Teesri Aankh: The Hidden Camera (Tips)

A film starring Sunny Deol has to have music strongly smelling of Punjab. This influence is all the more pronounced in this Harry Baweja creation because although music director is Harry Anand, the task in different songs has been farmed out to artistes like Sukhshinder Shinda. In fact, the cassette opens with a song, Chukk de Punjabi, composed by him and sung by Jazzy B in his typical style. It has been written by Karamjeet Kadhowala.

The tone set by this opener is maintained in the next song as well. Assi Teri Gal Karni, sung by Suzanne and Sonu Nigam, could have easily done service in a Punjabi film.

It later figures in a remix version as a Sonu Nigam solo.

In fact, remix is the order of the day in the entire album. Titliyan titliyan (Sonu Nigam, Sweta Pandit) has a remix sung by the same singers. Then Asha Bhosle sings Sharaabiyon penned by Nitin Nitz Arora under the baton of Nitz ‘N’ Sony, to lend her voice again to the same song in a “lounge mix”. —ASC