 While
listening to The Sketches' debut album Dastkari, one has to keep
a really open mind, because while one element will impress to no
end, another just might disappoint to the point of wanting to chuck
your headphones and play Solitaire on the computer instead.
The Sketches have taken a spiritual route with their introduction
to the world in 'Maujood', the first single off Dastkari to be released.
'Maujood', according to the CD inlay is a piece from Shah Bhitai's
ultimate compilation of poetry, Shah Jo Risalo, and is sung in perfect
devotional style a la Allan Faqir. One finds oneself warming a little
to The Sketches with 'Maujood', even though as a matter of personal
opinion, devotional-fusion music aka 'sufi rock' is a bit done to
death and just seems pretentious at times, but perhaps that is just
because of the connotations the genre has attached to it thanks
to the sufi rock pioneer and over-doer of Pakistan.
'Maujood' seems to be sung from the heart, and the music accompanying
it has the perfect mix of solemn undertones layered over with more
uplifting sounds. Lead vocalist Saif really wraps his voice around
this one, and perhaps the fact that the Sketches boys hail from
Jamshoro, Sindh, has something to do with the fact that they really
feel Bhitai's words and hence are able to articulate them in music
as well as they do.
On the other hand, The Sketches seem to be really into the pop-rock
genre, as is evidenced by all the songs on their album that are
not of devotional nature. Once again, purely as a matter of personal
preference, some songs are way better than the others - hence for
the purpose of this review, let's play Dastkari on shuffle. The
one song that really puts a smile on one's face for its pleasing
opening riffs is 'Bhool Chuka'. For about 23 seconds, one is all
geared up to be The Sketches' biggest fan. And suddenly Saif's voice
cuts through the pop-y guitars which feels like a jolt of epically
nasal proportions. Suddenly, one is forced to wonder if The Sketches
are actually a band that is meant to produce purely sufi rock/pop?
A new option appears with 'Kabhi', which a sort of diversification
on the Sketches' sound. True, 'Kabhi', like 'Subha' or 'Bhool Chuka'
is pretty pop-rock as well, but this is 'rock' as Shankar-Ehsan-Loy
might envision it. At which point I would like to add as a side
note that it is sometimes hard to understand what exactly is being
sung - perhaps it is a bit hard to focus on the lyrics with the
music drowning out Saif's voice more often than not, or maybe the
quality of Saif's voice tends to garble words. Whatever it is, it
needs to be addressed and fixed. On the other hand, 'Kabhi' proves
that The Sketches will be quite good at producing songs that will
win favour from audiences that like the musical offerings from Rock
On or My Name Is Khan, and that audience actually makes up a big
chunk of the subcontinent.
'Ek Insaan' is slightly on the rock side, with heavier riffs, and
very straightforward vocals without too many twists. The problem
with this might be something that a friend who has heard the song
said: "this sounds like a bunch of friends just jamming",
she had remarked.
'Ek Insaan' is a cut and dried rock tune, yes, this is where though
The Sketches' one true failing becomes painfully clear: they lose
out on lyrics. Whomever it is writing the words to their beats (apart
from Bhitai or Sarmast), is doing a job that any angst-ridden adolescent
could do. Granted that a lot of the songs on Dastkari are more towards
the 'inner peace' frame of mind, they however, end up sounding a
little juvenile.
Just when The Sketches start to bum one out a little, 'Haq Maujood'
pops up to prove once again that these boys have talent, maybe it's
a little raw, maybe just a little unguided, but it's definitely
there. 'Haq Maujood' was penned by Sachal Sarmast, an 18/ 19th century
sufi poet who believed only in the reality of god and the rest to
be illusions. The words are poignant - the music, not half bad.
Maybe AC/DC when they were kids, but it is a start. And that really
brings one back to an earlier thought on The Sketches.
With the faults that their debut venture possesses, perhaps the
most gripping thing about The Sketches is the passion, and conviction
with which they sing. Now when they rock out they might sound like
Metallica pumping with Estrogen, and Saif's vocals might just be
more twangy than one might like - but Saif and Naeem sing and play
confidently, as if they are convinced that there is no way for their
music to take them but up, and rock has always been about the attitude,
hasn't it? And simply because the Sketches are so sure they will
do well that they send that vibe across their music, one must overlook
the flaws and hope they will tighten their act and do better with
any future work. Because they have the skill, they just need some
education.
*****Get it
NOW!
****Just get it
***Maybe maybe not
**Just download
the best songs
*Forget that this was made
|
