Soundcheck: Where’s the harmony?
Filmed without a live audience, this year Coke Studio (CS) feels rather cold and almost mechanical. Gone is the intimate relationship between the music and its audience, and instead we’re meant to listen to music that’s very carefully controlled and tinkered with. However, this time round there is also much more to listen to as more artistes mean more collaboration, and more collaboration means more music from the crimson studio.
Dastaan-i-Ishq (Nachna Peinda) by Ali Zafar with Baqir Abbas
An interesting track to say the least, here Ali combines his own songwriting with a few verses of poetry from Baba Bulleh Shah.
But it isn’t the fusion of the poetry or lyrics that spurs the listener but the mesmerising, almost haunting sound of the flute by the brilliant Baqir Abbas. Though he is not alone in setting the stage for this track, the award-winning Babar Khanna leads the house band with the dholak.
Ali’s singing, although at his best, is simply not enough to match the work put in by the two classical instrument maestros. Even he admits their immense contribution, “Baqir Abbas has always been a great support and a magical flute player. His participation brought much more than I had expected.”
Jaaney Do by JoSH
There’s a lot of potential in this track. Both Qurram and Rup bring in their A-games as far as their performances are concerned and this is one of the few tracks we’ve heard so far where we hear much of the house band, but somewhere along the way Jaaney Do by JoSH falls short of being a perfect blend of fusion music.
Aankhon Ke Sagar by Shafqat Amanat Ali featuring Gul Mohammad on the sarangi
If there’s someone who is completely at home with the Studio and its concept, it’s Shafqat Amanat Ali. His foray with Fuzon and its music have completely prepared him for CS, but the track that brought him and Fuzon much fame doesn’t sound special anymore than it did the first time around. Granted we have Gul Mohammad on the sarangi, but the song is taken to another level not a higher or better one.
Kinara by Atif Aslam with Riyaz Ali Khan
Thanks to CS, we’ve seen a completely different side of Atif Aslam. Whether you love him or hate him, his singing talent and voice cannot be denied. Kinara is actually a tricky track in itself — being of the Rock and Grunge genres. But throw in Rohail Hyatt’s careful direction and Riyaz Ali Khan’s soulful performance and the track actually takes a life of its own.
Toomba by Saieen Zahoor featuring Ali Hamza on the Banjo
Probably one of the best tracks that we’ve heard so far, proving that if anything that was missing from the first installment of CS, it was the venerable Saieen Zahoor.
Toomba was composed and written by Saieen himself. “This song speaks of Hazrat Amir Khusrau, Baba Farid Ganj Baksh, Baba Bulleh Shah and other great Sufi poets and saints, and is a tribute to their dedication and belief to spreading the correct faith and the right path,” he says. Ali Hamza’s contribution, while sizable, is completely eclipsed by Zahoor’s performance.
No matter what the criticism, the second season of the Studio is being heard. People are already looking forward to its future installments and have their own personal favourites, which goes to show that the magic of fusion music has once again brought people together. — Khaver Siddiqi
1. Qurram (Josh)
2. Riaz Ali Khan & Atif Aslam
link:
DAWN.COM | Images | Where?s the harmony?
Poor Ali...he looked so emotional here too. 
when I click on it it opens an audio file in quicktime?
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