Rangeele

Rangeele is Kailash Kher's fourth album with the band Kailasa, which he set up with brothers Paresh and Naresh Kamath in 2004. He brings the voice, while they play bass, lead and acoustic guitar, and also provide the backing vocals and the arrangements. Kailasa describe themselves as a fusion band, and this collection of 11 original tracks features lyrics, sensibilities, themes and a feel that is distinctly subcontinental, yet is a potpourri of musical styles and instruments often far removed from the Indian origins of the group. Some of the overseas influences rising up above the musical parapet include rock, funk, electronic, reggae, blues, country, soul and even a light dusting of heavy metal. These are interweaved with various styles of Indian folk, devotional and Bollywood-style pop genres.

The backing on several of the tracks might, some listeners will feel, perhaps have been kept further back to give more space to the rustic, earthy, soulful, Sufi-influenced voice of Kailash Kher, which is the most appealing feature of the album. Kher's voice comes across here like a caged bird: restrained and rarely heard in its full glory. However, it reigns supreme on ‘Katha Gaan’, set to foot-tapping banjo-fuelled electronic country & western, with a strong Indian influence. ‘Yaadein Teriyaan’ is a haunting, sombre and intense ode to lost love and memories of Kashmir and its people. ‘Rangeele’, the title-track, is a clarion call to live life more freely, bravely and happily. My guess is that most people will find something that they like in here, while perhaps not being riveted to the whole thing.