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(Images from the
"Chal Buleya" video)








2009.10.21 - Mekaal Hasan Band / Saptak

I really like the new album by Mekaal Hasan Band, called Saptak. Their musical spectrum is much more colorful than it has ever been.

A while ago, I watched the video for Chal Buleya on facebook and fell in love with it instantly. I liked it so much that I "shared" that video on my facebook page too. (Watch the video on MekaalHasanBand.com)

The tune is profound and intense as Mekaal Hasan's other works have been, and yet it successfully incorporates fashion elements. He's been known for superb progressive rock productions mixed with Pakistani traditional music, but on Chal Buleya, he is also bringing flavors from other surprising sources: Bossa Nova, Drum n Bass, Reggae, Soft Rock, for instance. The vocal refrain in the chorus is very compelling. (One of my facebook friends described it as "addictive".) I think this tune is one of the most important events that happened to music in this decade, and it will be a classic on the global scale for a long time to come.

Sanwal is another vivid footage of Mekaal's new music endeavor. It has some very
fascinating melodic figures in guitar parts mixed with Reggae beats. It's sort of Arabic, East-European, Asian and Caribbean, all at the same time. I think I'm also hearing mandolin. It's mysterious, stylistic, intelligent and unique.

Bhageshwaari is an interesting mix of The Meters-esque funk guitar, slap-bass and Pakistani traditional vocal. And it's pop. Very pop and fine. I don't think you can easily mix those particular three elements AND make it pop. It takes a lot of skills.

You maybe suspecting that I'm writing all this because we are both from Berklee and I feel obliged to support my schoolmates. Don't be mistaken. This is a great album. I've been aware of his works since 2000, and I really think he had a creative break-through with this release. And that's why I'm so passionate about it. It has this fine balance of substance and style.

Buy Saptak on CD Baby | Mekaal Hasan Band website | Become a fan on facebook | Mekaal Hasan on facebook | Mekaal Hasan on Wikipedia | MHB Youtube channel

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