Tumi Sushanta Mukhopadhyay and Subir Nandi Music 2000; Rs 75

Sushanta Mukhopadhyay and Subir Nandi come together with 14 songs from the Prem and Puja parjaye of Rabindranath Tagore. Through this album they uphold Tagore as the Lover and the Devotee merged into one soul. They pick seven songs each and execute them excellently. While Sushanta sings Nishi na pohate, Tumi robe nirobe, Ogo amar chiro achena or Tumi sondhyar meghamala, Subir goes for Tomar aamar eei biraher, E moho abaran khule dao, Majhe majhe tabo dekha pai, Tumi je aamare chao. With two voices having their own distinctive quality, they do justice to the compositions. As the songs are alternately arranged it makes for pleasant listening, providing a happy variety at the same time.

Nishithe jaio phulobone Sumit Raga; CD, Rs 60

The album leaves you a bit confused. The name of the singer is Sumit, the inlay confirms the same, but the voice is that of a female. Well, that’s the uniqueness of this album. Sumit sings in a female voice (though he speaks normally) and you wouldn’t know till you are told. Sounds strange, but for Sumit, singing in the high, that matches the female tonal quality, is more comfortable and he seems to have honed his skill to a certain level of perfection. Here he sings excellent compositions by S.D. Burman like Baje na bashi go, Mono dilo na bodhu, Nishithe jaio phulobone, Tumi aar nei she tumi, among others. The songs, however, do not follow the original track, always, and his own gayaki interferes with the original score. But more often than not Sumit does justice to the songs he has sung here.

Madhuparna Das

Monalisa Morphine Cosmik Harmony; Rs 45

A collection that works well with the college canteen crowd, exactly as one of the numbers by RK of the RK and Prasenjit duo (the lead and backing vocals in this album), also goes. The numbers are peppy and peppered with emotions and dreams that all young hearts beat to, whether it’s the romantic pining for Monalisa in the title track or the despair in Ami ek here jaba manush/Amai ekla jete dao. Has a romantic feel, which does not really linger, but lasts at least through the nine songs in the collection.

Deepali Singh