Na-hanyate Review

So I am back to where I work, thus I am back to my System; therefore I am back to my good old blog. Last two articles entirely belonged to Rupam’s work, and October seems to be the month of a short term affair with the man; I guess so! I went to music world (Kolkata) and Rupam again made his place on the list of shopping that I did there. Yes I bought Rupam’s solo project “Na-Hanyate”, comprised of 8 songs; some I heard before, and rest are fresh debutants!

Kishori: I have a story of my own related to this song. There is this deep water encapsulated fort called Janjhira in Maharastra, where I visited one day. You need to take a boat to get in the fort, and it’s a journey of about 20-25 minutes to reach the entry point from the lands, I mean from where the boats leave. Historical constructions, especially forts have this amazing attribute to mesmerize you, give you Goosebumps, that you kind of loose yourself in time. So when we returned via that boat, everyone was in some sort of a trance mode. A song does fit in, but there was no one willing to crack. I was there alone crooning slowly the karaoke of Kishori (which I obviously heard in ROTR) and suddenly some one heard that. There’s no Bengali on the boat, and I was kind of hesitating when they pushed me to sing the song. After a certain amount of “No-No”, I had to start and so I did.
There’s something very very uncanny and fishy about this song. Though No one on that boat could understand what words I was singing due to language barrier, but the song did hit them. Every one clapped at the end. Ok, that’s formality or cajoling or whatever it is. But what about some one giving a pen and paper to write down the song in English letters along with its meaning!

Kishori was simple in its inaugural ROTR version and it became even “more” simpler in “N-H”. I will not be too taken aback if it’s an after effect of the criticism that fossils faced after experimenting with “Maa” in F3. I have only one allegation against Kishori in “N-H”. I feel Rupam kind of overdid the simplicity of Kishori. Otherwise it’s a timeless track and all time Rupam classic.

Laal Golap: Rupam always keeps the Fresh “head turners” at No 2 and “N-H” is an exception. “Laal Golap” is not at 2! Gosh, what a Track!! Just blew me off. The intro part sounds like “The Reason” by “Hoobustank” and it does threaten you with alarms off a rip off, but it’s a completely different composition from there on. I liked the little work that Rupam does at “DoroJay” part and it is kind of a darling track for me from this album because of its simplicity like “Hashnuhana”. It has its own pace and space, and the song goes with in itself, not trying to break free or show too much like the pretentious moves of “Phire Cholo”. I love songs where music compromises the lyric, Not Utter bullshits like “Phiriye Dao” by Miles where the lyric goes one way (Girl Friend Cheated) and music follows the other(Lindsay Lohan and Angelina Jolie have called me and asked for a joint threesome date) . “Laal Golap” is the best track of “N-H”, if you are thinking in live performance perspective, otherwise its “Bhyapsha Blues”.

Na-Hanyate:
Four years ago, in a TV show during Puja I heard this song from Rupam for the first time. It’s an average track though it will sound best when you hear it on the first go.
Rupam is selling this album in the name of “World Music”. The real story is something else; actually he had no time to do justice to these tracks which where written so many years ago. This song demands bass lines, an absolute necessity to cranck up those breaks appearing at continous intervals, but where are those?? There’s a void, and he precisely tried to feel up by taming down his voice and making it mechanically generated. Cunning Calculated techniques can only make it the love of few weeks for the average listeners, but it can never be “Na-Hanyate”.

RockBaaj: Sounds like those good old Avril Lavigne songs of “Holdete” school days; the perfect combo of Punk Pop sound and Funky lyrics. The school goers will like it. But alas! Bass lines are coming from Keys. Actually I am listening to this trend in Bangla band scenario from this album called “Tuchho” by “cactus”; that if you don’t have it find an alternative and flaunt it!

One more thing, Rupam has this typical non-Bengali-non Hindi and definitely non-English accent which gets exposed time and again. Listen to “khuje peyeche ekhane” part, specially “peyeche”, it does not sound like a Bengali pronunciation. Trust me!



Kokhono E pothey: There are few songs in this world which are beyond time, beyond billboard rating and beyond everything; because they are eternal. “Come as you are” by Nirvana is one of those songs. This Nirvana classic defines the fine lines between your ownself and your friend and will continue to do so for ages. Rupam has crashed, damaged and brutally murdered that image of friendship by manipulating this song as a song of lost love. How could he do that to Kurt? This is not expected from him.

Bedwetter: Not interested! "Jolsha Ghore Khudito Kukur" !!

Bhyapsha Blues: Superb Track! Now one tip: Have 5-6 pegs of whisky in you body, soul will feel “Bhyapsha Blues” better! I am speechless about this track. Every word, every line, Rupam’s amazing modulations of voice through out this “Mountain” song, the whole composition; B-B is Just an “Out of this world” collage of music and lyric and off course the life that has gone beyond.

Why??

Ans:
1. “Krimi”
2. “Ulongo bass Guitar Badok”
3. “Daari Katbe ki Katbena ei dondhe je Mohapurush”
4. “Biye Bari”

Baaki ta bujhe nao !!

Joan of arc: A song dedicated to bangla rock and all those hick-ups, criticism and debacles it faced since it happened here. “Juboti o oshoti” bangla rock’s favorite soldier Rupam Islam has done a commendable job to pay tribute to its princess, who is yet to die.
The intro sounds superb, the fingering is just damn good, and who ever did it kudos to him. The song has every quality to be a pick of RJ’s because of its simplicity. The song is very hum-able and good to ears.


The album sounds superb when simple and very untidy when there’s something pushed rather than thought about. But who cares as long its bagging another “Best Pujo album” award from ABP platform.