 This one could well be dedicated to the Mumbai rains. Those who have been stuck in home for an entire weekend gone by could well think of giving this instrumental album a hearing. Especially so when you have maestros like Shiv Kumar Sharma, Rakesh Chaurasia, Vanraj Bhatia, Rahul Sharma and Ranjit Barot contributing with a track apiece.
When Shiv Kumar Sharma is credited for a track, one can be rest assured that it would be a soothing 'santoor' ride to follow. The same happens in 'Walking In The Rain' which would make any heart, young or old, indeed take a walk in the rain. The beauty of the track is that it is not just 'santoor' that keeps the mood alive, there are also numerous accompanying instruments that make this truly Indian melody the one that you want to give a repeat hearing. Along with Pt. Hari Prasad Chaurasia, Shiv Kumar Sharma had created innumerous beautiful tracks for Yash Chopra. After hearing 'Walking In The Rain', one just wishes the same happens again.
Rakesh Chaurasia, nephew of the Pt. Hari Prasad Chaurasia, gives a rather slow, though soothing beginning to 'Veil Of The Moist Waft'. Mood created by the track is that of the early morning though there are some sad undertones too that make one feel if it was just the right follow up to a happy 'Walking In The Rain'. At the beginning of the album one had got an impression that 'Monsoon Magic' would be an out an out feel good album but 'Veil Of The Moist Waft' turns out to be for those who look for loneliness on a rainy day.
'Earth and Water' is the next track to follow which is put into place by veteran Vanraj Bhatia. One looks at the inlay card in disbelief as the credits read the track's duration to be over 19 minutes. Astonishing, and something which could as well be a record. This is the reason why one waits patiently for the mood to be created even as almost 5 minutes pass by with an extremely slow movement in the proceedings.
One wished by this time to witness something new unfold but Vanraj Bhatia's composition continues to tease. Later 'sitar' comes into picture around the middle of the composition and finally there is some pick up in the proceedings. After a couple of minutes follows the sound of flute which makes it a peppy outing that only drives the track to the hills with cool wind making you feel as if you were into the middle of some scenic beauty. With 3 minutes remaining in the track, 'sitar' makes a comeback while being aided by slight western touch to the arrangements and takes 'Earth and Water' to the closing mark.
Rahul Sharma, who is easily the numero uno when it comes to churning out one 'santoor' album after another, is heard in 'Rahul's Rainbow' and yet again one can only bow in appreciation. After the impact his father created in 'Walking In The Rain', he only adds on to the excitement with a soothing track that has the sound of rain drops in the background. An irresistible piece to hear, it bears Rahul's hallmark and justifies the track to be titled on his name.
Ranjit Barot, who has been around for more than a decade and makes an occasional song or background score for a Bollywood flick, is heard in 'Rainswept'. The first track in the album that has a vocal accompanying the tune [the man who sings is not credited though], 'Rainswept' is based on a folk tune based on Western region of India [Rajasthan/Gujarat] and yet again brings a soothing feel with it. A piece that lasts for full 8 minutes, it turns classical towards the middle of it's play while bringing on the folk flavor once again before it ends.
'Monsoon Magic' is not as much magical as one expected while picking it up from the stands. Father-son pair of Shiv and Rahul Sha
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