Search - Najma :: Vivid

21st C. Fusion

Robert Carlberg | Seattle | 09/15/2005

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Across the span of her five albums Najma Akhtar has been moving further and further from her ghazal roots. "Vivid" finds her suspended in a deep club mix of percussion loops, phat synthesizers and hip-hop beats. She layers her voice into choruses and call-and-response episodes in addition to singing soaring leads, and her voice is still one of the purest, most gorgeous instruments in music.



When she sings in English the lyrics detract from my enjoyment because they're pretty twee, but more than half of the album is in Urdu and I have no idea what she's saying."

Najma - an old English guy's impression

Tempus Fugit | 11/06/2006

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I first heard Najma at a festival last summer, being first struck by some brilliant soprano sax playing and then by a stunningly soulful voice. I sent off for 'Vivid' and 'Pukar' (reviewed elsewhere).



On first listening to 'Vivid' I was rather disappointed, the numbers seemed rather rambling and shapeless with interminable long - held synth chords. However, on further listening I have come to enjoy the unexpected harmonies and the rhythms add some much-needed life to the texture. The Asian Gothic element is exotically bizarre and I really like the artwork on the booklet!



Good to listen to when you want to totally relax and doze with a bottle of wine, as an antidote to Frank Sinatra!"