Perfect review Chord(AJ)! I was expecting you to take out the "Theekuruvi" song name while reviewing Amma Thalle.. :)
--- On Sat, 7/17/10, AJ <[email protected]> wrote: From: AJ <[email protected]> Subject: Re: [arr] Substance Matching up to Style - Music Review of Komram Puli To: [email protected] Date: Saturday, July 17, 2010, 11:03 AM Thanks, KJ! --- In [email protected], KJ <rajkesha...@...> wrote: > > Too Good AJ. Well framed word for Puli Music. Engaging review indeed > > On Sat, Jul 17, 2010 at 1:59 AM, Kalyan K <kalyan...@...> wrote: > > > > > > > Superb Review Chord. Thanks for that. > > > > Kalyan K. > > > > On Fri, Jul 16, 2010 at 7:15 AM, AJ <purev...@...> wrote: > > > >> > >> > >> Substance Matching up to Style – Music Review of Komram Puli > >> > >> (Cannot comment on lyrics and placement of them since I don't know Telugu. > >> I am fully aware that the lyrics and the use of them have been a huge sore > >> point of the album in others reviews.) > >> > >> In my opinion, Rahman composing for a hardcore commercial flick had > >> yielded mixed results going by history, but falling more on the positive > >> side of the fence. Commercial flicks can offer a somewhat safe canvas for > >> Rahman to let his hair really loose and experiment like the mad musical > >> scientist that he is, but often depends on the director's musical taste and > >> film scope. With SJ Surya at the helm of this Telugu flick, would Rahman > >> burst through or remain uninspired? > >> > >> One observation to made about ARR's Indian soundtracks since his Oscar > >> recognition and having Western doors more wide open for him is that the > >> attempt to "internationalize" the music is evident to me, since the > >> spotlight on Oscar winning AR Rahman was on. Of course, Rahman's albums > >> always had the international/world influences, but somehow, post Oscars, > >> the > >> intentionality of this seemed more focused. But, this intention did not > >> come > >> without much cost when you look at soundtracks like VTV and Raavan, both > >> featuring world influences, but retaining a core Indian-ness to the music. > >> What a tricky balance and tightrope act that Rahman managed to > >> achieve…..widening the universal appeal scope of the music for more diverse > >> ears throughout the world while still needing to satisfy the aum junta in > >> the local domain! Did Rahman walk the tightrope without tipping in Puli? > >> > >> Well, a pretty fine start if you ask me as the thumping beats of Power > >> Star blast their way into a high octane, adrenaline pumping track with a > >> solid raag Bhairavi based melody sung spiritedly and spritefully by Tanvi > >> and Vijay Prakash. This tune is totally energizing and becomes ablaze with > >> an electronic fire with splashes of folk. The part where Tanvi sings "Power > >> Star" sounds a bit too cheesy for my taste and is the only drawback in an > >> otherwise excellent track. During the antara, Rahman has used the same > >> techno synth sound sample that he used in the song Kannkul Kannai from VTV > >> and has used it very tastefully. Did you also notice a bit of operatic > >> singing at the end of the first interlude following the brass solo? A > >> mélange of sonic colors define this hot track and I only feel like dancing > >> to it like crazy when I listen! > >> > >> My oh my, what do we have here in track 2? What a beautiful start with > >> only techno drums and plucked strings setting the minimalistic backdrop for > >> what is to become one of the most genius tracks from ARR. Totally > >> unconventional in structure, it's a track where the singing in double time > >> is punctuated by one of the most frequent and wild chord changes in one > >> song > >> I've ever heard, not to mention how the various raagas used in the main > >> melody seemingly shifting with each second! Only a genius legend like ARR > >> can pull this off so brilliantly! Total drama and surging emotions cast a > >> plucky hue to this scintillating number that is bound to become a favorite > >> by many who appreciate the wild and freakish side to ARR, and freakish in a > >> good way! Rahman is playing and having fun in this track!!! I also love how > >> ARR has used the flourishing symphonic based interludes so tastefully that > >> only add class to an already refined juggernaut of a track. Parts of the > >> song do sound a bit cluttered and mildly noisy arrangement wise at times, > >> but that is entirely forgiven by me given the complete brilliance showcased > >> here! Warning: This track is not for the conventionally and traditionally > >> minded….you need to really open your ears and mind to enjoy this one! > >> > >> And the brilliance only continues in track 3 with a patriotic surge voiced > >> by the one and only…… What a beautiful symphonic and epic soundscape that > >> AR > >> has used for this intensely passionate track that is full of courage and > >> gusto. The beautiful brass interludes add a uniquely dimensional sonic > >> texture to an already richly laden, multilayered power track alongside the > >> soothing "Mannipaya" like choral interludes, once again full of > >> aestheticism > >> and refinement. The thumping drum beats and the backdrop tanpura throughout > >> the song add even more depth and beauty. This song somewhat reminds of the > >> same passion and style of the song "Ellapazhugam" from ATM. > >> The intensity backs off a bit in the fourth track, but not the quality! A > >> paced track full of attitude, certainty and spirit, the symphonic strings > >> and patient electronic accents give an all around beauty to this punchy > >> number. Both male and female voices alternate between the heavy and lighter > >> styles, adding a nice vocal balance, but with conviction! Possibly my least > >> favorite track on the album, but that is only a relative dislike…..it's > >> still a solid number! > >> > >> We suddenly shift gears in the fifth track as the Gangsta Blues template > >> appears, but with a sweet melody! A very sexy and seductive sounding number > >> to me, this track scores and how!! ARR goes into sonic experimentation mode > >> more minimalistically this time with light techno, crafty and sweet > >> acoustic > >> guitar, spacious electro sound effects, and accordion type sound. This > >> track > >> breathes slowly and patiently with breaks! The melody in the antara is the > >> sweetest part of the song as Shreya croons the high notes with incredible > >> ease with her sweet as honey voice. A beautifully crafted melody that only > >> has one asking for more! A very unique track by ARR, despite using the > >> Gangsta Blues rhythm and style template. > >> > >> The final track is my favorite. So what if it somewhat sounds like > >> Rahman's previous devotional numbers? The melody is still unique, despite > >> using similar ragas and the musical arrangements are incredibly refined, > >> harkening back also to the Roshan Hua from Sapnay days with the Arabic > >> sounding mandolin like splashes. Oh, and Rahman has used the acoustic > >> guitar > >> here so beautifully and delicately throughout the song and with such > >> softness adding just the right feel to this incredibly moving and spiritual > >> number. I love the intro and first interlude use of the solo oboe followed > >> by very moving strings shifting to a major scale temporarily. Oh, and did > >> you notice the short flute insertion at the 3'17" mark, that is so > >> perfectly > >> timed and placed to reflect the emotion of the moment? PURE MAGIC! The > >> second interlude has Chitra doing her usual alaap best along with a loopy > >> clarinet like sounding insertion before the low octave tuned tablas come in > >> with a time signature that is really hard to figure out! I hope everyone > >> noticed the nice bass guitar throughout the song adding only depth to an > >> already deep number. Rahman has used raagas Charukeshi, Asawari, Pilu in > >> various avatars so beautifully with a slow, drawn out melody that squeezes > >> out every drop of emotion. This devotional track totally takes me to the > >> clouds and has me floating on air. What a masterpiece! > >> > >> So, there you have it. This is an album full of stylistic panache only to > >> be matched and even subdued by the substance that Rahman has poured into > >> each and every track. The fact that the songs remind one of ARR's earlier > >> works doesn't bother me one bit and I never get hung up by such things, > >> because there is way more uniqueness and innovation in each track than > >> similarities to previous tracks, as there usually is in an ARR album! When > >> listening to an ARR album, there are certain core features of his music > >> that > >> I pay attention to like sonic range, innovation, emotion, passion, > >> intensity, melody, orchestration, depth of arrangements. The surprise for > >> me > >> was the level of musical intensity and highly refined and sweet sounding > >> sonic range and orchestration and arrangements, which I did not expect for > >> an album for this type of movie under this director. This album has gotten > >> a > >> strong hold on me and I keep wanting to go back to it, signifying another > >> test passed for an ARR album. So, yes, an inspired soundtrack with Rahman > >> walking the tightrope with great élan, once again showcasing why he is one > >> of the greatest composers ever with a musical versatility, depth, and range > >> that is in a league of his own. > >> > >> If I had to give a numeric judgement: Comparing to other ARR albums, 7/10, > >> and comparing to contemporary Indian film albums in general, 9/10. > >> > >> (This review or any part of it may not be reproduced without the expressed > >> consent of this writer. Copyright 2010 by ichord) > >> > >> > > > > >
