REVIEW: Gurus In Collaboration

It's extremely rarely that truly great music compilations are put out by music companies. Even if a bunch of hit songs are put together, it's almost as if the company is smirking at you, waiting to shake hands with your cash. And most of the times, that is the case, but what Universal has done here is thrown together some awesome songs by great artistes, and a mere glance at the tracklist will make you sit up and want to check this baby out. Out of 13 tracks, four (Maula Maula, Maula Maula Divinity Mix, Mohre Piya and Mast Mast) are previously unreleased.

DJ Suketu joins Ustad Sultan Khan for a remix of the latter's Maula Maula and gives it a modern edge. He calls it Divinity Mix, and it sure does sound fantastic!

The great Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's unique voice shines on Pyar Pyar, and Simon and Diamond infuse funkiness into the late singer's classic. If you're a Hindi film freak, you must've heard/seen a Bollywood version of this track, shamelessly stolen for the Rishi Kapoor-Juhi Chawla-Arbaaz Khan starrer Daraar.

Shubha Mudgal, who became immensely popular with her single Ab Ke Saawan, makes full use of her strong, unwavering and very listenable vocals on Kar Sajda.

Kavan Kavan begins with an ordinary guitar riff, very similar to Bryan Adam's Summer Of '69 and a voice that says "Shake it, daddy." It's DJ Aqeel on the mix, so a Bollywood touch is not only excused, but expected. Before I can dismiss it as just another remix, Sukhwinder Singh's voice cuts through to deliver a solid rendition of his fabulous track.

The ever-popular Guru Nalon Ishq Mitha is probably the best-known Punjabi track ever, and Bally Sagoo gives this Malkit Singh song the right treatment. Sure to get people dancing!

What a nice surprise to have a Ranjit Barot song on this CD! The man takes the album in a totally different direction with Mast Mast, without complicating things. Mast Mast is a vibrant track that radiates such an awesome vibe, and I'm going to be restless till I find out who's singing on this, for the inlay makes no mention of it.

The lovable Bally Sagoo returns on Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's Kinna Sonha, and stamps his signature style on the legendary Pakistani singer's very well-known song.

Kailash Kher's music and voice has always been exceptionally great, and the man takes the greatness several notches up with Saiyyan, an oustanding track even among several of his terrific songs.

NEXT PAGE: A R Rahman is the Guru of showstoppers

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