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Chords & Notes
Robert Plant and the Strange Sensation: Mighty Rearranger
Sanctuary Records, CD, Rs. 350.
Robert Plant is undisputedly the iconic voice, representative of the best of an era.
Together with Jimmy Page and the rest of Led Zeppelin, he gave not just his generation, but also many to follow, such hits as "Stairway to Heaven" and "Kashmir". Which is why it's a strange sensation for me to see Plant with any other band. But Mighty Rearranger proves beyond a doubt that this rock and roll god hasn't fallen from grace yet.
For me, the best song on the album is the dreamy and romantic, "All the King's Horses". With an acoustic guitar strumming a pleasing melody, this is the perfect song to lose yourself in. "Dancing in Heaven", which feels like an oddly familiar deja vu, runs in much the same vein.
However, much of the album is not so whimsical and removed from the world. As is demonstrated by the lyrics of the opening song "Another Tribe", there is a strong currency to Plant's music. This song and others also show, by the use of interesting percussion, that Plant still retains his liking for Middle-Eastern elements. "Freedom Fries", the shortest song on the album, uses interesting percussion and groove to pack a better punch than some other songs.
But nothing proves better than the solid, straight grooved "Takamba". Another brilliant addition to the album is, "Tin Pan Valley", which takes a dig at much of the present music world.
At first, when he sings of moving to a higher plane, he sounds like someone past his prime trying to hit back at those still with it, but the up-tempo sections of the song soon reveal that he has right to his disdain. The title track, Mighty Rearranger, also vies lustily for top honours. With a smooth blues guitar lick and a piano in the background, this song about the futility of worrying about the future is unforgettable.
The only thing I can find fault with in the album is the final track "Brother Ray". While the song itself isn't unlikeable, its mostly electronic feel somehow doesn't fit into the mood of the rest of the album.
There seems to have been a deliberate effort in this album to avoid any overt Zeppelin reminders. Plant leaves behind his trademark wail, and guitarist Justin Adams stays mostly bluesy, avoiding any imitation of Page.
Overall, this textured album is an excellent blend of old roots and new influences, as Plant retains the basics that brought him this far up the road, but adds in the best of what came along on the crossroads.
RAKESH MEHAR
Umar
Times Music, Rs.55
At times, the singers become more important than the music. "Umar" fits the category. Jagjit Singh makes a rare appearance in it and so is Bhupinder Singh. The surprise of the surprises is the return of Manna Dey. But composer Shameer Tandon should know that individual flowers don't make for a bouquet.
"Khumari Chaddh Ke Utar Gayi" is the song of the album with some decent verse and the impeccable Jagjit Singh. Manna Dey is no patch on his golden past in "Duniyawalon Ko Nahi Kuch Bhi Khabar". Still the clichéd saying, old is gold, works here. Sonu Nigam and Kavita Krishnamurthy have ably supported the legend. "Bechain Sansey" by Bhupinder is passable. Shameer could have made better use of his soulful voice. Rest is all singsong affair. Heard one, listened to all.
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