Last Played: July

A little look at what's been played at Sari-Clad Speakers over the past month.

Chennai Express - Titli 



Apart from this song, the soundtrack for Chennai Express did not make that much of an impression on me. Titli  is light, delicate and summery. The use of Tamil in as well as Hindi adds to the track.

Superjones Remixes Saajna

Superjones, a producer who has worked with DCS and Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's vocals, has remixed Saajna  from the film I Me Aur Main.

Instead of making a dubstep remix Superjones has tuned Saajna into a drum and bass track. It's refreshing as most Bollywood remixes these days are dubstep or bad house tracks. It sounds different from the original, especially the middle part of the track, but the song is enhanced and lengthened by Superjones' additions. Falak Shabir's vocals are kept intact and this keeps the atmosphere of the original.  

If you like Superjones' version of Saajna you can download it from his SoundCloud page. 
 

Tigerstyle - Dhi Punjab Di

Tigerstyle have released the fourth single from their album Digi-Bhang. Dhi Punjab Di features the vocals of Jaspinder Narula and has a video set in the Punjab.

Fans of Tigerstyle have complained that the duo's recent tracks are not traditional enough. Dhi Punjab Di will appeal to those who like their bhangra to contain dhol. It's modern, but still firmly rooted in the fields of the Punjab.

Women usually only feature in bhangra tracks as the male singer's object of affection, but this single is different. Dhi Punjab Di is made for women who want to break out of the giddha circle. Only Tigerstyle could add enough bass to match the power of Jaspinder Narula's vocals.

The video is simple, colourful and traditional. There is a magnificent tree with people dancing and swinging under it. Unlike other Punjabi music videos which portray a golden age of Punjab, Dhi Punjab Di is not kitschy or overly nostalgic.
 

Swarathma Celebrate Life After 55

Swarathma, an Indian folk rock band, have released a new single and a video to go with it. Rang Zinda is about 'Bachpan after Pachpan' or childhood after 55 and was a collaboration with students form the National Institute of Design in India.

The video shows a group of elderly people going about their daily activities and having fun. One woman is an elegant dancer and there is one man who has the coolest beard you will ever see. The band also make an appearance towards the end of the video.

The older generation are all too often left out of today's music world. There is the stereotype that all they listen to are old Bolllywood hits and religious songs. But Swarathma have cleverly reminded us that people don't need to be a certain age to appreciate good music.

If you liked the song, it is available as a free download on Swarathma's SoundCloud page.

Jai-Parthiv feat. Priti Menon - Soniye Hiriye

Jai-Parthiv at Studio Unplugged have released a track featuring Priti Menon. Soniye Hiriye is a reworking of Kangna by Dr Zeus and Soniye Hiriye by Shael blended together in one track.

The song is cleverly put together and sounds different from the original versions. Even though lyrics are taken from two songs it works well and does not sound like two separate songs thanks to the unchanging accompaniment. Priti's vocals are brilliant and I like it when a woman sings the grammatical lyrics of a man. 

If you like Soniye Hiriye, you can download it from the Studio Unplugged SoundCloud page.

Take Five: Summer Rave

The sun has finally come to England! Parties and barbeques are being held in every park and garden, often with their own soundtrack. Here are five songs which are perfect to dance around to outside on a warm summer's night.

Rimshox - Alter Ego

The production in this track is so intricate you may want to listen to the track a few times before raving to it. Lovely sunny vibes without being too heavy in bassline.   

Surrinder Rattan, Metz N Trix - Has Has 

This track has been played at many weddings this season and I've seen grannies throwing some interesting shapes to it on the dance floor. Joga Singh's vocals sound brilliant against the club backing and the extended vocal mix is the best. Guaranteed to get the party going.