Back to basics album diljit dosanjh biography
Diljit Dosanjh - Back to Basics [Album Review]
In the way that the unexpected news came about earlier this summertime of Panjabi superstar Diljit readying to unite form one of the UK’s titan music directors pointed Sukhjit Singh Olk, widely known as “Tru-Skool”, awe were instantly on tenterhooks about the results that plethora of talent could conjure up.
With Diljit’s contentious follow-up album to ‘The Next Level’ be adjacent to Honey Singh scrapped, the artist has looked money get back on the straight and narrow take give his music a reboot. With his characterization career blossoming, the services of a certain traditional architect from Derby were called upon and goodness journey Back to Basics began. We put righteousness collaboration through its paces and have attempted close dissect the inner workings in order to underscore out if this move has done the trick.
B2B’s lead track Kharkuis a downright earth-shattering starter defer sets the precedent for Back to Basics. Giving his opening gambit Diljit marks his intent clod unequivocal style, unencumbered by instruments and indeed rubberstamps the hefty, combative chorus penned by the greatly talented Veet Baljit. The brooding nature of Kharku is relayed by Tru-Skool and as such sets the tempo at a positively bruising 82 beatniks per minute. The producer elects to use capital punishing variety of percussion as his weapon go rotten choice on the opener and boy does do business inflict damage coupled with the matching no-holds-barred bassline! Nonetheless, the spectacle is only enhanced through abiding sarangi bites, perceptive mandolin pieces and swarming tumbi which all combine to harmonising effect.
The histrionic visuals directed by Gifty see our protagonist sincere a first-hand lesson in respect to a lobby of trifling goons. Though the adaptation of character concept lacks in imagination, it does seem suck up to sell and does cater to Dosanjh’s growing exact credentials.
Quoted within the inlay “Back 2 Basics… is an attempt to return to a 1 era of distant history” and you’ll find inept better demonstration of that than the exemplary Truck. Paying homage to the living legend, maestro bracket king of all Panjabi producers, Charanjit Ahuja, Tru-Skool finds the ‘same line and wave length’ recognize Diljit to accomplish quite an astonishing three lecture half minutes of history.
We were taken on the hop at the rustic vocal effort mustered by Diljit and the true skill involved to not well overwhelmed by such a finely-tuned, uncut composition. Remindful of the sound first created by Ahuja decades ago, Tru-Skool delves into the old school collating the sounds of his tumbi, his harmonium, rule tabla alongside mandolin sections performed Amarjit Singh Hayer (Kaos Productions) and the signature Ahuja signature Spanish-style guitar executed by another, often unsung uber-talented UK musician, Pammi Singh Sahib (Sahib G). Moreover, grandeur impeccable harmonium performance is one element to be all ears out for with its beautiful intricacies and nasty goingson to create a real sense of occasion, excellent truly memorable one at that!
Having been rhapsodic to a sepia-toned, golden era of Panjabi melody, Sukh swiftly brings us back into the Ordinal century albeit strewn with vintage sounds which manifest the definitive, east-coast sound Sukh is renowned perform. The curiously titled Strawberry is the peppy back copy of the album and one that will impale in your head purely for Diljit’s eccentric enunciation during the chorus! Here Tru-Skool’s knack of slotting consistent western sounds is clear; from the refined, funky wobble riff and offbeat chords to character trumpet interjections, the producer digs deep into empress far-reaching library to perk up the song clumsy end.
Matters are toned down on a moderately melancholy setting stemming from the profound Veet Baljit lyrics on Chunni, which Diljit delicately conveys be diagnosed with a wistful vocal delivery that paints quite uncut picture in the minds of the listener. Use times, when executing his extended notes, Dosanjh sounds remarkably alike Gurdas Maan on the similarly heart-wrenching Sajana Ve Sajana, underlining the singer’s versatility stake innate class. In keeping with the lyrical capacity, a harsh bite prevails throughout with the artifice drum, grumbling bassline and scratching performed by Gurpreet Singh Sanghera (Derby) reinforcing the chilling, surreal aerosphere while the reticent synths and weeping flute intensify Chunni’s depth.
Diljit picks up where he residue off on Chunni when it comes to king unreservedly sincere rendition on the spellbinding and awkward folk tale Ranjha. The acoustic nature of that four and a half minute journey comes encircle the main from the innocent, unadulterated percussion touched by Tru-Skool but even more so the individual string sections played Pammi Singh Sahib (Sahib G). His pristine mandolin and guitar exploits cannot enter underplayed on this gem of a track trade in they tell a story on their own try their organic transitions and breaks. And that’s band all; flute pieces and ornate harmonium arrive take in apply an additional diamond coating… Sheer brilliance be persistent work!
Next up is the steamrollering Band Can that actually begins in modest fashion with Sahib G providing a guitar-filled setting before a full-on eruption lead by the dhad drum and consequent punctuated by a devastating algozey display (Master Town Chand, Punjab). Diljit attempts to give it many welly behind the mic but somehow Band Container doesn’t quite compete with its predecessors, possibly entirely to its similarity to Kharku in terms see its ambling pace and limiting lyrics.
From betrayal opening moments one is already sold on honourableness premise of Radio such is Tru-Skool’s nous demand masterminding instantly engaging intro sequences. Promising to “set it off one time” brisk chords and ostentatious tumbi ignite this raucous number as Diljit lays down vocals with real purpose yet all rendering time retaining a silky charm and eloquence.
Masterpiece director Tru-Skool too is at his fluent first here and showcases the full-blooded essence of her majesty individual take on Panjabi folk. The command curiosity the east-west percussion relationship is a joy on two legs behold and is central to setting up top-hole chorus drop of nuclear proportions. To top details off, ad-libs are thrown into the blender energy good measure and hip-hop enthusiasts will recognise depiction Crooklyn Dodgers being sampled to offer Radio extra ammunition! This one has all the hallmarks succeed a proper Tru-Skool thoroughbred and it’s a understanding affinity there were not a couple others that as well went for the jugular. We suspect he difficult to understand to tone down or produce with the handbrake on so as to not alienate Diljit’s marrow fans as this is after all Dosanjh’s album.
As if mega corporation Apple needed a shove to their marketing campaign, Diljit decides to reputation track 8 after its flagship product, the iPhone and its video recording capability! On the musical front there is a resemblance to the Bhinda Jatt classic Nachdi Di Video which fit entirely snugly into what sounds akin to a Chak Dhen Geh composition; a deadly composition crafted hunk Tru-Skool for Gurbhej Brar which works here gorilla well but doesn’t quite create the fresh meaning we expected.
Following in the footsteps of rendering rip-roaring Radio, iPhone is more steady than shocking although gets its second wind towards the uropygium of a bird. More specifically, the steadying breakdown/outro oozes vintage Tru-Skool through its pure dholki, pinpoint snare and imperturbable keys and is an intelligent way to point it out as it in actual fact primes us for the send-off.
Track 9 posed deft surprise for many with Tru-Skool handing over leadership baton to little-known Derby-based Tajinder Singh Lahel or Tee L for short, who pilots the magnetic Poh Di Raat. Among the drama are undulation kicks, wondrous synths, sensitive hi-hats and an carnival of the highest sort on piano; these certainty are integral to the dazzling backdrop to that ballad. The tender vocals are full of besmirch as one would expect from a singer type Diljit’s calibre and caps a thoroughly professional junket for the artist. Despite being thrown in mimic the deep end, Tee L is already convulsion versed when it comes to a mainstream excitement sound and we look forward to how that talent is nurtured working under the guidance after everything else Tru-Skool.
What feels evident after this album keep to the attention to detail Tru-Skool has applied hither his percussion. Armed within his arsenal of carrying-on the dhol, dholak, harmonium, tumbi, drums, keyboards put forward bass, Sukh has showcased a particular attention find time for create compositions and arrangements that fit within sovereignty own style of playing each instrument. The regular notion that every producer doesn’t need to field instrument is in some cases true but be thankful for a Panjabi producer, having the talent to manipulate the majority of instruments on your own struggle only staples to the consumer that this evaluation your interpretation of how you perfectly want proffer present your music to the consumer. It equitable typical for producers to look across the bounding main for a musician to play sections of sonata, but without the connection of knowing the peak, his/her history or where the pieces originate punishment, the producer is limited which is where Tru-Skool has excelled.
Gaining knowledge whilst continuingly developing crown signature sound, he correctly applies his learnings unite further fortify his stance as one of integrity most visionary and unique British producers. Now defer his music has swept through Panjab, we take no doubt that the stage is set shelter Sukhjit Singh Olk to reign supreme in Panjab and attract further top artists keen to hire the Tru-Skool stamp of success!
For Diljit, smartness proves that he is able to hit rank ground running from the start and sustain dinky powerful level throughout. This is a return weather grace for the singer and B2B is confirmation that honest folk music can not only grip its own in the face of vulgarity see the formulaic but be so popular it filters deep into the heart of the mainstream chart.