Yatra

Kailash Kher | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 15, 2009)
• Original Release Date: 2009
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Cumbancha
• ASIN: B002IVLWFG
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (6 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #213,637 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Passage to India, November 17, 2009

By 

Amaranth "music fan" (Northern California) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Yatra (Audio CD)

Kailash Kher's "Yatra (Nomad Souls)" is a phenomenal album. In India, Kher is a celebrity; his Bollywood songs and commercial jingles are renowned; he's a judge on Indian Idol. In a sense, Kher is the Indian subcontinent's Susan Boyle. He's homely, yet he has an angelic voice. He's been deemed an heir to Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan; Oscar-winning Indian composer AR Rahman Slumdog Millionaire admires him.

"Yatra" finally brings Kher's entrancing music to the US. His music is a blend of Hindu/Sufi/Sikh devotional music,New Age,and reggae. There's easy listening, there are Bollywood tunes,nods to Middle Eastern music. Quite intoxicating. There's the passion of "Dilruba (Beloved)" and "Guru Ghantal"--the latter being a devotional to Shiva,the Hindu god of destruction. "Tauba Tauba (Mercy Mercy Me)" sounds more like it's from Baghdad than Bombay. "Bheeg Gaya Mera Maan (Cheerapunjee)" evokes the Indian state of Meghalaya,the wettest place on Earth with its near-constant rain (sorry,TWILIGHT fans,it's not an ode to Forks,Washington) "Piya Ghar Aavenge (My Love is Coming Home)" is a hypnotic,entrancing piece. It's bittersweet since it reminds Kher of his father who died last year. His father,a Hindu priest,chanted prayers as he passed away. "Rang Rang Me (Painted in my shade)" sounds like a jazzy,Indian-flavored American Top 40 song. In this case,it's a compliment,since it's a groovy,fun song. It's a praise to India that is at once profoundly Indian and radio-friendly. Then again,Kher is a Randy Jackson/Simon Cowell in his homeland. The joyous "Jhoom Re (Dance with me)" tackles serious issues with the chorus "the clerics pretend (to pray) five times a day but the lives of lovers are the purest prayers." The final two songs "Teri Deewani (Your Insanity)" and "Joban Chaalke (Overflowing Beauty)" are more acoustic and contemplative. The unplugged songs are jewels---so forget diva Katy Perry's attempt to sing without the help of technology MTV Unplugged (CD & DVD) Kher's voice soars. He shows his tremendous range and talent.

Kher can also be heard on the compilation Putumayo Presents: India singing "Naino Sey." Surprisingly,the comp doesn't mention this album. He's as capable of a quiet acoustic piece as he is of a rollicking Bollywood playback tune. Kher's liner notes are insightful and beautiful.

"Yatra" is one of the best albums of 2009. It's a savory Indian buffet!

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Kailash Kher Rocks!, October 30, 2009

By 

Aditya Pandit "adi" (Boston,MA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Yatra (Nomadic Souls) (MP3 Download)

His folksy voice married to Bollywood style music production yields a very enjoyable collection of songs. A must try if you want a taste of some folk sounds from north-west India fused with some western beats. It has some sufi gems that will just immerse you in sufi spirit and touch you in depths you don't know you have.

1 of 1 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars An excellent buy!, October 19, 2009

By 

Pete "Music Lover" (Rotterdam, NY, USA) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This review is from: Yatra (Audio CD)

This is an excellent CD; highly recommended! The vocals are "dead on" and the music intoxicating!