http://www.cinefundas.com/2009/09/25/couples-retreat-music-review
Couples Retreat – Wordlessly mind-boggling
If A.R. Rahman had proved off his extraordinary adeptness on Indian touch with
‘Slumdog Millionaire’, he strikes marvelously with complete Hollywood-fangled
melodies. The tunes are stunningly melodic and indeed aptly sound in accordance
with film’s title ‘Couples Retreat’. The original soundtrack of ‘Couples
Retreat’ has 15 melodies with uniquely spelled attributes.
SAJNA… SAJNA Re
Just heed to the fortepianos and mild-strike of chord with crystal-chimes
accompanying them. Rahman adds to the Indianized touch by adding the Hindi word
‘Sajna Sajna Re…’ The English lyrics are mesmerizingly touching and perhaps,
the western people wouldn’t have listened to such an appealing melody.
KURU KURU…
Vocal: A.R. Rahman
Fine! After uttering ‘Ellam Pugazhum Iraivan Oruvanukke’ – it’s one more turn
to express his gratitude for his TAMIL. The song starts off with slow-rhythms
of 6/8 March on soft-guitars later with slow-stringed running notes. The Tamil
lyrics tuned in complete Hollywood style happen to be the best flavors. Totting
up to the best panoramas is the unique-patterned rhythm on scissors. Sound
engineering has been marvelously performed… Doubtlessly, KURU KURU is the best
pick of soundtrack.
Jason and Cynthia Suite
Realms of stringed instruments as it keep playing on various octaves. The
melodic notes are played on solo guitar and Cello joins the instrumentation in
latter part. Merely after couple of minutes, the song is shifted to higher
scales and it goes on with same notes. Trombones and oboes are played in final
part. Moreover, it’s the best song that sweeps all on your senses.
NANA
It’s a Spanish-styled hip-hop with Blaaze’s specific vocalisms on rap lines.
The beats over the synchronized drum pads keeps repeating while fill-ins over
Brasses and trumpets over synthesizers does takes you straight into those
ambiences.
TOUR OF THE VILAS
If you ever spellbound listening to ‘SAJNA SAJNA’, Rahman delivers the same
tune over instrumentals. All through the track, the scales are raised and
lowered. Beats over Congo-drums with vibes mingled in makes it sound yet more
embellished. More than all, Rahman has utilized more instruments on various
parts, say, like cymbals, solo violin, flute and pan flutes.
MEETING MARCEL
Sounds quite unique from previous numbers… It offers the touch of meditational
relaxation music with the style of percussions inherited from Tai Chi. the
melodiously refreshing tune suddenly transforms into an emotional genre with
flutes, cellos, violins and other stringed instruments coalesced on the parts.
We get to hear orchestral-hits here and there.
ITINERARY
Starts off with overpowering instrumentations over percussions, keyboards and
stringed ones… Rahman has to thank his music supervisor John O’Brien for having
engineered the entire group with such grandeur. Finally, after the fast-rushing
instrumentals, you’ve Rahman’s vocalism echoing on higher tone.
UNDRESS
Wow! This is the prettiest work that any music lover would’ve heard. On the
beginning note, we have Mridangam, veena taking off with predominance later
with sync-bass. A perfect ‘Jugalbandhi’ treat for everyone.
SHARKS
The track has some traces of previous number MEETING MARCEL and the notes are
almost the same. Precisely, it would be more appealing with the visuals on
screens.
LUAU by John O’Brien
Making it blissfully done over the sound supervising, John O’Brien scores on
his show with country music with 12-string acoustic guitars. The running beats
on Congo-drums make an impressive sound.
SALVADORE
The song sounds much similar to Tamil song ‘Jumbhalaka’ that has the prelude
starting off with Arabic intonation. The song has guitars and beats played on
similar touch. As well, it has similarities with Rahman’s previous score for
‘Mein Alabeli’ in ‘Zubeida’.
INTERVENTION
The maestro roars again! Of course, put your best verdicts for the brilliant
orchestration of symphony based track. Rahman’s vocalism on higher pitch
emblazons it stunningly. If our guesses are right, the track should precisely
be inserted somewhere during emotional sequences.
The Waterfall
Sounds to be a romantic track with guitars and slow-stringed instruments on
show with dominance of flute in initial parts….
JASON AND CYNTHIA – PIANO THEME
The track doesn’t differ from the previous version in any vistas. Rahman
trenchantly brings the mix of various soft instruments of piano, guitar and
violin. The slow stringed chords do accompany right throughout the song.
ANIMAL SPIRITS
The musical track of ‘Couples Retreat’ winds-up with ‘Animal Spirits’ that has
astoundingly marvelous score. It’s a track brimmed with full of high-spirited
delight. So are the beats and instruments with perfect blend. The middle part
has slow-running orchestrated stringed instruments while, again the last 20
seconds get back to the same cheerful touch.
Final Take:
Trust us! if ‘Slumdog Millionaire’ was Rahman’s ticket to Hollywood, ‘Couples
Retreat’ has more probabilities of making it big for more fetes again.
Especially the songs, ‘Sajna Sajna’ and ‘Kuru Kuru’ are sure to create
sensational ripples all over the global market.
