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Beatstreet
Rishi Rich, The Project
Times Music, Rs. 195
In 2006, Rishi Rich hit the stands in the UK with “The Project”, which probably found its way to the computers of Indian fans despite not being released here.
For those who lack access, however, Times Music recently put out a special edition of the album, which offers three additional tidbits in the form of a video for the song “Push It Up (Aaja Kurieh)”, a trailer for and outtakes from Juggy D, Jay Sean and Rishi Rich on tour. As if with 15 full-length songs and three interludes the album wasn’t packed enough already.
It’s hard to pick out highlights on an album that pulls in so many different directions, flitting from edgy to familiar, from searing hot to tightly restrained. Of course, the biggest moment of the album comes up almost at the start of the album in “Push It Up” featuring Jay Sean and Juggy D, in which Rishi Rich explores a new genre called bhangraton.
Bhangraton combines bhangra and reggaeton (think “Gasolina” by Daddy Yankee) to a brilliant effect, with the former giving a lovely new energy to the latter. And the track’s positioning is wonderful, stacked as it is between the grind of “Flipmode” and the up-tempo power of “Teri Masti” and “Stomp”.
“Flipmode”, featuring JD (Dready) and Des-C might at first seem a bit too slow, but the slower tempo is what does the trick on this song, letting you really savour the sounds and the production. “Teri Masti” pushes up the tempo, with Rafaqat Ali Khan’s qawwali vocals overlaying Josh’s magic rather well. And “Stomp” is a powerful club track whose beat you can really feel in your gut. And with Jay Sean’s vocals taking a good-humoured dig at the peripheral position given to Brit-Asian crossover music, this track has it all.
As can be seen from only a casual glance at the credits, this album boasts of a huge number of collaborations from both established and up-and-coming performers.
And certainly, the vocal collaborations play an integral part in making this album what it is. From the tight reggae vocals of Alison Hinds on “Roll It Gal” to the more conventional qawwali stylings of Rafaqat over toned down urban beats on “Sorry” to the sensual mastery of Veronica on “Tere Bina”, there is a lot here to offer.
RAKESH MEHAR
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