May 22, 2008 04:21 PM
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Fuzon(read Fusion), started their career with Shafqat Amanat Ali behind the mic., Emran Momina(Emu) with compositions and keyboards and Shallum on guitars as the initial line up. Their first album came out in the year 2003 by the same name as the band and was a big hit. Some songs which made them popular among the youth were Khamaj, Tere bina, Aankhon ke Sagar, Mora Saiyaan etc.
Two things which differentiated them from other emerging rock bands were - 1) Heavy usage of keyboards which gave depth to their songs and 2) Rich vocals by Shafqat who is fluent in Hindustani classical music. All of their songs played around classical raagas and had some great aalaaps by the great Shafqat.
When I picked the copy of'Journey', the album whose review I am supposed to write, I was disappointed. It was not because of the songs, I did not even put it in my CD player, it was because Shafqat was no more a part of Fuzon, and this album features a new singer Rameez. I was not sure if he could even touch a fraction of genius which Shafqat has.
As I sratred playing the CD, my disappointment started to fade. The songs are so good, so fresh and so musically rich that you feel everything is just perfect.
The album has 10 songs. I am arranging them as they appear on the CD:
- Neend Na Aaye** - A bit overdone clasically but a great composition. Has some great chord sequences by Emmu on keyboards. For the readers of mouthshut, I would like to mention that please do not be disappointed by this song after listening to it once. This is the best song of this album and you will start feeling it after listening to it 3-4 times. Rameez is at his best on vocals and Shallum's solo piece of guitar as second interlude is just mind blowing. Rating - 5/5
2. Suna Suna - Normally love ballads hit their chord right among the girls, but this one is for boys too. The song is soft with some good pieces of electric guitar. The use of strings(played on the keyboard by Emmu) is fantastic and as with the first song, Rameez is superb behind the mic. **Rating - 5/5
Tu Kahan - This is a two stanza song where both the stanza are reverse in meaning. A great song with some straight forward rock style arrangements of guitars and drums. Sounds like songs of Strings or may be Nazam Shiraz. This is an okay song but mind it it is okay as compared to the previous two songs. On absolute note, it is a good song.Rating - 4/5
Dholna - Finally the first punjabi song of the album arrives. Hey but dont go away, this is not the balle balle kind of number, instead some innovative rhythms, good guitar sequences and nice chord progressions on keyboards mark the way for one of the best punjabi song of the year. Rameez displays his fluency and comfort on Punjabi and sings some nice classically styled "harkaten" in this song.Rating - 4.5/5
Abhi Hum Kahan Hain - A nice song. This is all I can say about this song. All the ingredients are just perfectly mixed but this is no different from the previous songs.Rating - 4/5
Teri Yaadan - Some good electronic arrangements, heavy use of metal guitars and un-orthodox beats make this song a must hear. The beauty with a Fuzon song is s sudden dip towards melody. The song starts off a bang and one feel that it is a loud number but it turn its way towards being a melodious number. -Rating - 4.5/5
Jo Dil Ne Kaha - With words like "Jo bhi ho ab to nao chali", this song is an okay song. It is a slow number which sounds good but one can make out easily that it is clasically overdone with vocals.Rating - 3.4/5
Aatish O Aab - My personal favourite. The most innovative song of the year, this song is basically an inspirational song which says - "Aatish-O-Aab main hoon, ab mera khwaab main hoon". The rhythms and instrumentals are perfect in this song especially the piano solo by Emu immediately followed by guitar solo by Shallum which is in turn immediately followed by vocals.Rating - 5/5
Paree - The music sounds a bit like the late 90s and early 200s. This is a song made to appease your girlfriends or wives. Play it when they are around and whoof, love is in the air. A romantic number which has a core base of rock arrangements over 8 beats.Rating - 4.5/5
Chhoo Le - Voila! La Samba! The keyboards and drum sequences make this song an out and out latino samba kind of arrangement but the vocals just fust hindustani classical melody in them. This is a foot tapping number which is motivational by its nature. A good composition to end the album.Rating - 4.5/5
Overall, **the album is a must buy album for anyone who is interested in music and tells music as his hobby in interviews.
*Rating - 4.5/5
*Hello all mouthshut users. This is my first review after a break of more than 2 years. Please rate it and let me know if my bones are still young:)
Keep writing -
Himanshu aka madsadman
