Superb Review Chord. Thanks for that. Kalyan K.
On Fri, Jul 16, 2010 at 7:15 AM, AJ <[email protected]> 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) > > >
