Mauj Chronicles

Artist Name : Mauj
Album Name: Now in Technicolor (I still doubt that this name is actually the album name, though)
Reason for mentioning the above: Album Review, Of Course.

Since there are no online music stores valid for Qatar, I had to use the services of my brother to download the album, burn it and send it across to me along with “Zameer :From Under The Bleachers”, both of which have yet to be released in Pakistan, my usual resource for attaining
the music which I do.

Anyhow, I had heard most of the tracks prior to the album release ( that does not mean I have personal connections with any of the band members), I had managed to listen to the tracks because of Tv Performances which Mauj had done for AAG Tv and Play Tv. But me being an ardent Pakistani music fan ( which all of you must know by now),  I had to include the album into my collection of Pakistani Music ( that’s the only “COLLECTION” of music that I have anyway.)

Let me share a few track reviews from the album.
Pyaar Ka Jadoo (Cover): primarily the same tune as the original ( Zohaibs track).O.Shafique sings the song in the voice that had been screaming the lungs out, the night before, in a concert, the night before the recording ( that’s too many commas for my own good in one sentence).
Although I feel the guitars should have been less muffled but I guess that is to give an old sound to the song, the ending has a Caribbean feel to it, which is SO MAUJ. Love it.

Paheliyan: “taint tainreiun reiun tannanow tannanow” Funky tune, the guitars are slashy and cool, I’ve currently kept the track as a ringtone on my cellphone. Sharp Start and Sharp Ending, this track I am sure has been heard by a lot of people as it was also performed by Omran in Coke Studio Season 1, other than having its video out which further helped in growing the reach of the track.

Aaye Na Aaye: A completely new track for me but surely lit out a flame, the track has a mood of its own and has visuals attached to it ,very fresh sounding and can be easily be an awesome background score for a movie.

Hasratein: The track which I had before was all instrumental, it had a finer chords less impure riffs than the “on album” version, the album version is more raw sounding for sure, to compensate for Omrans pleasant sounding vocals.

Overall the album is pretty good , with lyrics that range from playful to mature , guitars that are heavy, groovy and structured . A professional album , with Omran that’s the least we can expect.

Tthe album differentiates between a good act (Mauj) and mediocre ones ( Aplently)!

Fizz Studio

Coke is about to splash and bubble once again with Coke Studio 2,so you heard?
I’ve become an ardent fan ever since the first promos came up for the concept and have been following Coke Studio with religious fervor ever since.

This time they are going really going over the top and how happier can I be, with Atif being on the show. Atif is a real icon for me as he has really energized the whole music scene in Pakistan.

Someone who I’ll miss not being a part of Coke Studio 2 is Selina, from the Saba and Selina duo, she was ever smiling and always used to be grooving to the music, she brought in a cuter side to Coke Studio. Will Natasha be able to take her place? Only time will tell.

Among the house band last year, Gumby impressed me the most with his innovative drumming. His drums in Flute Jam, Mein chala, Gallan and Garaj Baras were just purely excellent.

Coke Studio-izing:

That’s what my facebook status says, I am doing. Since Zeb and Haniya are in the show, I’ve put their album on constant play in my car to familiarize myself with their tracks as to enjoy fully when they play in Coke Studio 2. The comment I would like to make on their album is that it is already COKE STUDIO ready, since two members of the house band ( Gumby and Mannu) have played on Chup (Zeb and Haniyas Album), the whole album seems to be a product of Coke Studio One.

Hats off to Coke for supporting the music scene in Pakistan when it needs it the most. An original and one-of-a-kind project, it simply as they say “rocks”.

Now speaking of things that “rock”, I would like you all to stop and ponder over music by Adil Salik, who makes music by the name of Dye Corduroy.

Check out this urdu track, “ Sab Jhoot Hai” , D/L the track here and while you are at it , you can check out this other brilliant track ,” kiya tum ho wohee”

First Trip 2009- Lahore

With the Sharifs brothers supporters bringing down the businesses with their protests , I was doubting myself to travel to Pakistan, messaged my cousin in Lahore
whether it would be okay for me to come.He assured me that by my flight date businesses would be back to normal. And so I left, although the plane was not very comfortable but found someone with whom I spoke about Pakistani music and that made the flight seem shorter.

Anyhow,landed on time and was expecting a rush towards the immigration but to my surprise it was empty and I was cleared within 5 minutes (cool,ain’t it). The trip was enjoyable as I hung around my favorite HANG OUT STREET , M.M.Alam street. (Anyone and everyone who knows me needs no second thoughts on where to find me when I am in Lahore.)

Biggest surprise for me were the prices in Deepak Perwani, which were much in league with other known to be affordable designers i.e Junaid Jamshed,gonna get myself a pink kurta from Deepak next time ???

Anticipating March releases weren’t released namely MAUJ, Call so got Abbas Premjee :Elements,Inteha: Kehna Chahta Hoon, Fuzon: Saagar , Junoon : Deewar .(interesting mix?)

Although, I didn’t have much time,this time, the moral of the story is “DON’T EVER TRAVEL TO PAKISTAN FOR JUST ONE WEEK “.

Current Scenario

Now-a-days, I really can relate to this song especially the lyrics in the first half of the song

KABHEE DARD BHEE MAZA DAI
YEH GHUTAN ACHEE LAGEY
MEIN KHUD KAU ZAKHMEE KARNA CHAHTA HOON

KABHEE GIRNEY KEE KHUSHI
JALNEY KEE KHWAHISH
MEIN IS HAWAS SAI LARNA CHAHTA HOON

Song: Wajood  Band: Call

What a difference

People (including me) have taken out comparisons on Atif and Jals’ album ,Boondh and Meri Kahani,irrespectively.
but today I am going to bring about the commonalities between the two albums , maybe due to mutual consent?

1. Released by Fire Records.
2. Have a punjabi track ( that too of the sufi genre)
3.At least one song with two versions
4.Sponsored by players of the telecommunications industry.
5. 12 tracks
6. A video directed by Bilal Lashari

Although it isn’t a similarity but they were released within a month from each other.

Coincidence?

Zau- Bhula Na Paaonga

Lighting is to a picture what a melody is to a song.

Although, the tune doesn’t sound modern but the way the day to day words have been integrated in to the
excellent melody to make a very easy to listen to track, is commendable.
Since I am providing a video link to the song therefore I must mention the video too,
although it is a performance based video but the silhouette capturing is ironically
refreshing to look at.

Truly a track that will be listened to for many years to come.
Here isZau