Saroor

By Afsheen

The Paki pop music world's doors open. WELCOME!

Enters Rizwan-ul-Haq with Ahsan Qizalbash as SAROOR with their debut album also titled 'Saroor'.  Rizwan (ex-VS guitarist) is not new to this world. He departed from the music scene in '95, only temporarily to return with Ahsan and 'the requisite melismatic vocal acrobatics'.

With much anticipation, this joint production by the duo was not easy. Rizwan explains, "Actually we had funding problem at the recording stage. Then the two of us have done all the work ourselves. Even the sequencing of songs has been done by Ahsan himself. Also, as we wanted to give it our best try we were more keen on trying till we got what we wanted rather
then rushing out with an ill-prepared album." (The News)

So what is this album, Saroor, all about?

The album is called 'Saroor' but the title song is Teri Galli.  All nine songs have been sung by Ahsan and Rizwan as a duo.  The collection is comprised of some mellow love songs presenting some melodious tracks. The album commences with Teri Galli and this song is the lemon-meringue pop, light and frothy! Warning: you will get hooked to it!

It was strange lending an ear to this album.  I say this because after listening to Teri Galli quite a few times, I said to myself, "iss album key saray ganay achay hongay." But, guess what, I was wrong! Unfortunately, 'Teri Galli' is the only song that you will enjoy to the max. Rest of the tunes are mediocre and the lyrics are very elementary. Ijazat, Chori Chori, Phoolon Kay Mausam and Har Dam are some passable buttery harmonies. With the song Saroor, I ended up singing this familiar English tune. 'Pardesi' is the annoying tune that I just could not stand, and there is a double dose of this gritty track in the album - double the torture!   

The guitars do crank up, the keyboard sequencing is plausible, the music is somewhat winsome, but the album just doesnt reach the awe-inspiring heights.  Maybe those past melodramatic reviews of the album have contributed to the hype.  But all in all, listen to it for Teri Galli. You definitely will not hate the album. I give 'Saroor' one thumb up and one thumb down!

Now that Rizwan and Ahsan have stepped in the Paki pop music world, and are enjoying their stay, if Saroor-1 didn't do wonders for them, then lets hope Saroor-2 will!