Race Music Review

Flashy gadgets and gizmos, enthralling car chases, sweltering hot babes, dare-devil stunts...hot-shot rollicking soundtracks! RACE has all in it that would make it this year's first musical "blitzkrieg" from the master-blaster kid of DHOOM. This Abbas-Mastan's musical thriller proves to be lavish opulence of its kind as it comes in a 2-CD offering (16 soundtracks) with array of talents like Atif Aslam, Taz, Apache Indian in its consequential tracks. It has shades of composer's earlier blazing upbeat works but still the fervor of hitting high and big on dance floors gets extra-terrestrial. The electrifying feel of "hard-rock" concert "razzmatazz" makes mood eclectic as flashy prelude to title track "Race Sanson Ki", the splashy and rip-roaring thunderous track about "race" of life and death. After the scorching success of "Cash" (CASH) and "Dhoom Machale" (DHOOM), the vivaciously energized vocals of Sunidhi Chauhan shows jubilance in its tempo while Neeraj Sridhar's subserviently meek and enthused chorals of "Allah Duhiye Hai" makes it a hot-shot hit track. The electronica cum hip-hop flows concocted with blazing electric guitar riffs makes it an enthralling affair. The second version has "club-house" disco impact where accelerated tempo camouflages well with frivolous tempo and thrilling vocals. "Race is on my mind" follows route and trend of "Dhoom Again" (DHOOM 2) for being flashy English version to the title track with added upbeat electronica cum hip-hop arrangements. Do experience frenzied emceeing of words like "Body like Snake-charmer" with tantalizing disco-beat fillers and inspired kick-drum beats in its remix version and get yourself energized for another floor hitting track. It was eager anticipation by many to expect ostentatious conglomeration of Atif Aslam and Pritam but finally it arrives in soft-rock stylized mushy ballad "Pehle Nazar Mein". It's analogous to "Pehla Nasha" (JO JEETA WOHI SIKANDER) for its syrupy first-look romance but the feel is truly "soft-rock" where inspired guitar riffs make palpable chemistry with supple orchestrations. Atif Aslam's echoing and resounding vocals are sheer delight and makes it presence in another two remixes version. "Pehle Nazar Mein (club mix)" has pub dancing impact where echoing vocals bangs sluggishly with disco beat fillers in setting mood for the occasion. The "lounge" mix disappoints as it needs to be melancholic for creating "relaxed" feel but it's rather accelerated and turbulent in its flows. The solitary instrumental work "Race Theme" is "ring tone" friendly track and will certainly be mood-enlightener as background score but certainly not as impressive as "Dhoom Machale" (DHOOM) signature tune. It has typical Abbas-Mastan's thriller "killer" connotations (similar to HUMRAAZ signature tune) where one anticipates thrill and intrigue in compelling moments. Pritam's earlier carnival treats like "Dil Laga Na" (DHOOM 2) and "Signal" (BHAGAM BHAG) gets contemporary packaging in similar mood but with average impact in "Dekho Nashe Mein". Shaan, KK and Sunidhi Chauhan throttles out the zest but neither composition nor its over-heard arrangements make any gripping impact. The "Latin Mix" has engrossing Latino carnival bling in its preludes and interludes but lackluster lyrics and insipid musical moves fails to add charms. The over-enthused tempo is better option for its animated exhibit in its "club" version with enthralling drum-beating and beat juggling thumps creating commotion of affairs on floors. Pritam earlier had Peter Andrea's "Mysterious Girl" refurbished in "Tere Bina" (BHAGAM BHAG) and now the similar calypso cum reggae fervor comes with added zing of Punjabi pop lingo of Taz (lead vocalist of "Stereo Nation") and Apache Indian in "Mujh Pe to do". This "beach-party" carnival is high on upbeat Punjabi and hip-hop in its frenzied chorals and arrangements while Sunidhi's svelte vocals add feminine touches. It fails to be as captivating as Taz's earlier hit Punjabi numbers like "Naachenge Saari Rat" or "Gallan Goriyan" but surely be invigorating style quotient of the album. The contemporary "bhangra" beat loaded "club" version fails to enthrall for its routine disco thumps but will certainly be a DJ's delight work. Seduction, oomph gets ample dosages of strikingly sensuous vocal moves from new talent Monali in "racy" and intense "Zaara Zaara Touch Me". It has glimpses of wicked "Paisa Paisa" (APNA SAPNA MONEY MONEY) and naughty "Bad Boy" (PYAR KE SIDE EFFECTS) for its sluggish sensuous vocal moves where Monali inspires Britney Spears, Jennifer Lopez stylized lingo in a backdrop of whirlpool of frenzy emceeing and hip-hop rendition. It's "Asian R n B mix" version had added fillers that makes it slightly sluggish and picturesque for promotional video slot. Do expect some foot falls making merry on dance floors when snazzy emceeing and enthralling disco beat fillers makes mood merrier in its "club" version. Pritam's swashbuckling work in RACE will positively be making all eyeballs of tinsel-town gluing to this magnanimous musical outburst that promises some really rip-roaring and explosive musical chartbusters. It's likely to first hi-profile show-stopper of the year with tracks like "Race Sanson Ki", "Zaara Zaara Touch Me" and "Pehle Nazar Mein" guaranteeing promising results. Racy...indeed very Racy!!! Courtesy : Yahoo