Music Review: Luck By Chance

Almost at the fag end of the year comes this soundtrack, which reinforces one's faith in good music, good musicianship and a quirky new Bollywood not shy of experimenting. Luck By Chance, comes with a loaded credits roll. Directed by Zoya Akhtar, produced by Farhan Akhtar and Ritesh Sidhwani (who have just given us Rock On!), music by Shankar Ehsaan Loy and lyrics by Javed Akhtar.

Free from the demands of producing commercially safe scores for banners like Yash Raj or Dharma Productions, SEL seem to be having a blast these days with the younger bunch of filmmakers. Luck By Chance sees the trio cooking up some rather wicked tunes that borrow generously from psychedelic, folk, classical, lounge, pop and rock music. The result is a trippy, hippie, extremely well produced soundtrack that leaves you swaying, swinging, humming and clicking your fingers.

Yeh Zindagi Bhi, the first song of the album has a surprise singer - Loy Mendonsa - with Shekhar Rajviani. Think long drives through the breathtaking landscapes of Ladakh. Think brilliant star-lit skies, and the wind singing in your ears and you have Yeh Zindagi Bhi. With its subtle trip hop influences and light touches, it takes you on a journey into outer space. Yes, you may be reminded of the 80's hit You're the Voice by John Farnham, but you will find it in your heart to forgive SEL, thanks to the neat production.

According to director Zoya Akhtar, Baaware is "Rajasthan on acid." For those who know about the ways of the psychedelic world, it is easy to figure out why. But for the uninitiated here's the lowdown.

Baaware (Shankar, Ila Arun, Loy, Rajasthani Ensemble) is picturised on a circus, and features traditional Rajasthani mangangyar singers, who grab you by the scruff of your neck with the sheer intensity of their voice. Folk gets a twist later in the song, blurring the lines between acoustic and electronic, with a trance track merging with the folk beats and melody. If you like Baaware, you will be bowled over by the remix, at the end of the album by Midival Punditz. Definitely a must-have on all DJ consoles in the days to come.

NEXT: Catch Shankar-Ehsaan-Loy at their psychedelic best