MUSIC REVIEW: Radio

It's almost hard to believe that a Himesh Reshammiya soundtrack has hit stores with such minimal publicity. Radio is his third stint with acting after Aap Kaa Surroor and Karzzz. And Reshammiya seems to have made a conscious decision to make less noise this time around and let his work do the talking instead. Even the spelling of his movie's title is not tampered with.

Radio opens with the weirdly worded title track. It's quite unlike a usual Himesh number. There are no electronic loops or catchy hooks. And the infamous nasal tone is almost non-existent. If not for the corny lyrics, Mann Ka Radio is a very nice listen.

Maybe I spoke too soon. The nasal influence is back with a vengeance in Zindagi Ek Radio. And the lyrics get cornier only to add to one's plight. Himesh adds a dash of bhangra, borrowing elements of Punjabi folk music. But the result is a mish mash that's far from appetizing.

Jaanemann is a slow number. Not instantly catchy, it's more like the many tragic numbers from his private albums. Though nicely sung, it doesn't leave a lasting impression.

Piya Jaise Ladoo is another slow, folk-inspired number. There is an over bearing sound of shenai through the song. Maybe it comes at a point when one of the characters is getting married against their will. This dramatic, situational number is unlike anything you would expect from Himesh. Which is why ardent fans might not take to it too easily.

Koi Na Koi is in Himesh's comfort zone. A number of pain and longing, Himesh keeps the nasal tone just right, without going overboard. Again a slow number, it might work better on screen.

Teri Meri Dosti is a peppy, duet that has a very easy feel to it. Daamad Ji is another folk number with a wedding theme. Somewhere in the track Himesh slips into a ghazal mode. It's again too situational in nature. The album closes with Shaam Ho Chali and Rafa Dafa. Both are slow, romantic numbers. And sound like many of the other songs in the album. It's Himesh's singing that stands out more than the tune in both these songs. And that's pretty much the case with most tracks in Radio.

Most of the compositions are light on the ears. Which is why Radio stands apart among Himesh's other work. The songs are surprisingly not of the dance and hip-hop variety. In fact the melodies are soft and slow, more like a Jatin-Lalit album. As a singer, Himesh does a fantastic job bringing about a lot of variation in his voice. But he doesn't really compose the instantly catchy numbers that he is famous for.

Radio's soundtrack could work better if the film clicks. Judged purely as a soundtrack, Himesh's experiment might not go down that well with his mass fan base. Of course there are four remixes, but maybe Himesh was at crossroads - confused between sticking to his style and experimenting. Radio lacks the distinct quality of a Himesh Reshammiya soundtrack.

Verdict: Himesh the singer impresses, but the composer disappoints. The trademark Himesh Reshammiya energy is clearly missing in the album. Wish he had delivered a stronger punch in his tunes.

Rating: 2.5/5