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POP SCENE

Rap, rock and bhangra

New age U.K. bhangra is here — dance music in rap `n' rock avatar, courtesy Swami and friends

photo: k. ramesh babu

MELTING POT Rishi Rich is part of Brit bhangra

It's neither rap nor rock, but good old bhangra. To be more precise, it's the new-age U.K. bhangra.

The chic genre of dance music from Britain, which morphed itself into Brit-bhangra has been ruling the dance floors worldwide with artistes like Trickbaby, Rishi Rich Project and Panjabi MC making it big. But around the fag end of last year, Brit bhangra seemed to go the Indi-pop way with too many remixes ruling the roost and not one of them making it big enough to get international appeal.

But there is hope ahead.

Bhangra

A band, which calls itself Swami, has brought bhangra to the turntables again. DJ Swami (producer and mixer), Diamond Duggal (guitars and vocals), S. Endz (rap vocals), Sups (vocals), Baba Stormz (bass), and Rocky (drums) who make up the band have taken bhangra a step forward by blending the tabla with the bass guitar and the dholak with rap vocals.

DJ Swami says: "Brit-bhangra was surely reaching saturation. We felt there was urgent need to improvise and come out with something out-of-the-box. We tried doing something, which no one has done before. Three years back, who could imagine what rock, rap, and bhangra mashed up together would sound like?"

He adds: "This is probably the first time you can hear a rock guitar at a club. People have always kept rock away from the dance-floors and we hope to change this soon."

The band, which has just released its self-titled album (Sony BMG; CD Rs. 199), has been getting rave reviews from the press worldwide. The first single, `Desirock' introduces the unique music of the band, where a traditional Punjabi folk song is taken, peppered with rap vocals and given a new electronic rhythm with bass and rock guitars.

The track has instant appeal and makes you tap your feet and hum after the first hearing itself. Part two of the track, which also appears in the album, takes the concept to a high plane and creates a different aura altogether.

`Don't Hold Back' is heavy on rap vocals, but sends out a message of constructive rebellion and energy. The other tracks range from those you can hum to those that are mediocre. If you still plan to get a copy of the album, it must surely be for `Desirock.'

Swami's music adds up the energy levels of rap, rock and bhangra.

If you are looking for something loud, with loads of attitude and foot-tapping sounds, grab the album.

A.VISHNU

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