Music: Star Rise

Artists: Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Michael Brook remix

I`d bought Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan and Michael Brooks` "Night Song" last year, a pleasant enough compilation of
Nusrat & Co.`s superb vocals set to Brooks` soothing, if somewhat unadventurous guitar chords. I enjoyed the
album, but wasn`t enraptured. When I saw that some of Britian`s foremost underground Asian DJs - Talvin Singh,
Aki Nawaz, FunDaMental, State of Bengal, Asian Dub Foundation - had reworked the tunes from both "Night
Song" and "Mastt Mastt" as a tribute to Nusrat, I couldn`t resist buying "Star Rise", and I have to say that it`s worth
every penny I spent on it.


Critics had accused Nusrat of selling out, of adulterating the purity of qawali music with modern, Western
instrumentation and orchestration. Nusrat always defended himself by saying that he sang in the pure classical
tradition, remaining true to his roots. I wonder what the critics would have to say about this album, which is about
as far away from the original qawali tradition as you can get! Drum machine, bass, synthesizer, and electric guitars
have all been used here by the various artists. But instead of an unholy mess, you get the sounds of jungle, dance,
hip-hop and funk masterfully augmenting and highlighting the vocal abilities of the great maestro. The result is akin
to that of taking a Mercedes-Benz and filling up the gas tank with rocket fuel.


Wait till you hear Joi`s "Sweet Pain Remix" - this is easily the most electrifying track on the album, with Nusrat`s
voice soaring high above a hardcore jungle beat, which eases between double and single time to keep you off guard
throughout. In "Mera Dil, Meri Jaan Remix" done by Talvin Singh, Nusrat`s voice emerges through a scratchy
house rhythm, like the sun shining through morning fog. Aki Nawaz`s "Longing Remix" combines the traditional
harmonica and flutes with synth over a lazy backbeat, and Nusrat`s voice tying it all together. "Tracery", remixed
by Nitin Sawhney, features spoken vocals, free-floating synth riffs for an ethereal atmosphere, and a cool, light
jungle beat to drive the track forward. And the classic "Nothing Without You / Tery Bina Remix" done by the Dhol
Foundation and FunDaMental has been given a beautiful, space-like effect, as if Nusrat was now singing it from
the heavens above, the sound waves spiralling through space to reach us here on earth below.


Unlike previous efforts to remix Nusrat`s songs, like Bally Sagoo`s "Kinna Sonna" and "Mera Piya Ghar Aya"
which take the whole song and mash it clumsily with Western instruments - to somewhat cheesy effect - this
compilation is cool, classy and clever. The artists take what they want out of the vocals, and using the range of
electronic instruments, effects, and beats, create a vast, compelling canvas in which Nusrat`s voice is still the most
superior element. It manages to be irreverant and respectful at the same time - irreverant of the "rules" of this
Eastern tradition, while respectful of the heights to which Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan has been able to reach in his
career. "Soundz for your poundz" is definitely what you`ll get if you buy this album, so take a trip to the
underground with Nusrat as your guiding star, and you won`t go far wrong.