Qareeb
| Qareeb | ||||
|---|---|---|---|---|
 | ||||
| Studio album by Najma | ||||
| Released | 1987 | |||
| Genre | Urdu poetry, Indian music, ghazals | |||
| Label | Triple Earth Shanachie | |||
| Producer | Bunt Stafford Clark, Iain Scott | |||
| Najma chronology | ||||
| ||||
Qareeb is an album by the British Indian singer Najma, released in 1987.[1][2] It was issued in England by Triple Earth Records before being picked up for an American release by Shanachie Records.[3] Songs from the album appear in the Stephen Frears film Sammy and Rosie Get Laid.[4][5]
Production
[edit]The album was produced by Bunt Stafford Clark and Iain Scott.[6] It was recorded in England, with Najma setting traditional ghazals to her own melodies.[4] Triple Earth envisioned a jazzy recording, while Najma fought to keep the emphasis on her voice and the poetic recitation.[7]
Critical reception
[edit]| Review scores | |
|---|---|
| Source | Rating |
| AllMusic |  [8] |
| Robert Christgau | A−[9] |
| The Encyclopedia of Popular Music |  [4] |
| The Rolling Stone Album Guide |  [10] |
Robert Christgau wrote that "the overall effect is twofold: gentle culture clash and sheer physical beauty."[9] The New York Times thought that, "in [Najma's] lower and middle ranges, she commands the solid aim and tonality of a pop professional, yet she bounds off up the scale like a rock singer who wants to see how far she might go ... Najma's producers are right up-to-date in this era of digitally influenced recorded pop; in strongly etched strokes, they exaggerate the presence of a few instruments rather than accumulate a mesh of many textures."[6]
The Washington Post wrote that "sweetly insinuating tones waft above the lilting electronic keyboards and skipping percussion of the tablas on tracks like 'Neend Koyi'."[11] The Chicago Reader praised Qareeb's "rolling, funky bass, its circular violin figures, and its expressive saxophone," writing that Najma's "incredible" voice "never grew tiresome."[12] The Gazette deemed it "a unique and masterful release."[13]
Track listing
[edit]| No. | Title | Length |
|---|---|---|
| 1. | "Neend Koyi" | 6:42 |
| 2. | "Jane Kis Tarha" | 6:17 |
| 3. | "Dil Laga Ya Tha" | 5:48 |
| 4. | "'Apne Hathon'" | 5:26 |
| 5. | "Zikar Hai Apna Mehfil Mehfil" | 6:29 |
| 6. | "Karoon Na Yad Maga" | 8:54 |
| 7. | "Har Sitam Aap Ka" | 9:11 |
References
[edit]- ^ "Najma | Biography & History". AllMusic.
- ^ Mereson, Amy (29 Oct 1989). "East Meets West: Najma combines the classical song of India with jazz and Western pop". Part II. Newsday. p. 17.
- ^ Ellingham, Mark (July 25, 1999). The Rough Guide to World Music. Rough Guides – via Google Books.
- ^ a b c Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 6. MUZE. p. 108.
- ^ "Blend of Jazz and poetry makes East meets West". Toronto Star. 4 Aug 1989. p. E4.
- ^ a b Hunter, James (April 2, 1989). "Najma: An Old-New Voice in International Pop Music". The New York Times.
- ^ Snowden, Don (18 May 1991). "Najma Popularizes Sounds of India". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 11.
- ^ "Qareeb - Najma | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
- ^ a b "Robert Christgau: CG: Najma". www.robertchristgau.com.
- ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 495.
- ^ "Sirens of the Old World". The Washington Post. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
- ^ Cox, Ted. "Pop: Year of the Woman II". Chicago Reader.
- ^ Feist, Daniel (11 June 1989). "World Beat: Beating a track to the world sounds begins with research". The Gazette. p. H6.
