Asar

Pakistani singer Muslim Shaggan comes from an impressive lineage of vocal musicians in two ways. Firstly, his grandfather and teacher was the great Ustad Ghulam Hassan Shaggan and, secondly, through this he belongs to the prestigious Gwalior gharana. Given this it is only right to think that this might be an impressive recording, and the tracks here back up that assumption, comprising what is a very intimate album and a brave solo undertaking. Accompanied only by a tanpura and harmonium, he performs traditional ‘light’ vocal pieces, from thumri to ghazal, showing off what is, fittingly, a light but beautiful voice, and a prodigious technique. It is not flashy, but as anyone knows who has performed, it is the small, and fundamental, details that show you are in the presence of something special. The minimal setting gives no place to hide and makes you concentrate on the voice itself, which means that although many of the tracks are very similar, you are drawn into the music and the performance becomes very present.