Bandish: Music Review

Bandish might be a rock band but as they launch their album, they give out variety, some good and some not-so-good. But at the minimum, the album is worth a listen. Here is a review.

The album starts with a KK sung tere bin which sounds very much like some composition of Pritam. The way song starts abruptly doesn’t trouble you much but the album starting with such a typical song can for once make you skeptical, even though the song is good. As the song moves towards the end, more rock elements add up, but certainly not what I was expecting to hear. Okay.

The second song, Bandish, featuring Pete Lockett is more of a rock song that I was expecting. The music given by the band is wonderful as it has not just instruments but vocals also as part of it. The lyrics are inspiring and the music is good, fast, but not all hard rock. So even people with less taste in rock may like it.

Khuda Bakhsh/Tere bina featuring Krishna sounds like Bollywood material, but one of the better ones there. The song has completely Indian music with a percussion base. Something like what Rahat Fateh Ali Khan has been singing nowadays. Krishna has a signature style of singing such songs and he does full justice to the song. Good one.

The next in line is a remix of KK’s tere bin. A typical remix. Reminds me of Gangster, Woh Lamhe and Showbiz.

Meethi Baatein Teri is next and I can assure you Bandish is not really rock. They have quite varied genres and this song belongs to a totally different one. Meethi baatein teri is a soft, slow number, sounding somewhat like an Aryans’ song, especially with the voices. The song is good but the way they say aankhen or aankhon se sounds bad as they say it like ‘Khan,’ from the epiglottis, which is not the way. So just okay.

The next, ‘I believe in you‘ is one of the best songs of the album. A completely English, romantic piece sung in a voice that reminds me of Bryan Adams and a nice aalap in a female voice running in the background. Not really the rock I know, but quite towards it. Whatever it was, I just loved this one.

The next song Mahi features Krishna again and this one is completely Bollywood style and will certainly remind you of Jatin-Lalit days. I don’t exactly where I have heard such music, probably in Kabhi Khushi Kabhie Gham. Anyway, if you move ahead of that, you will find that Krishna sings the song wonderfully and with a few effects, the song sounds pretty good. A bit-too-slow but lovely piece of music and Krishna’s singing. I’d say listen to it once. And continue if you like it.

In the end comes a traditional one that I have heard number of times by number of people in the past few years. And somehow I love it everytime, by everyone. This time it’s Bandish who sing Dumadum mast kalandar. This one is a live piece, that is with added crowd effects. The crowd effects might not sound real but the band has left no stone unturned in making the song sound good and it pays off. Wonderful listen.

Overall, Bandish is a fine album with some songs okay, some good and some very good. The title and I believe in you are the best pieces while dumadum mast kalandar gives the same punch even now. Krishna is good in his both songs though his Mahi goes a bit too Bollywod way. KK somehow disappoints even with his good song as it’s way too typical. But the final verdict says the album is worth a try at the least.

Tags: KK, Krishna, Private Album, Rock