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Qareeb

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Qareeb
Studio album by
Najma
Released1987
GenreUrdu poetry, Indian music, ghazals
LabelTriple Earth
Shanachie
ProducerBunt Stafford Clark, Iain Scott
Najma chronology
Qareeb
(1987)
Ghazals By Najma
(1988)

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

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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

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Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic[8]
Robert ChristgauA−[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

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No.TitleLength
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

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  1. ^ "Najma | Biography & History". AllMusic.
  2. ^ 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.
  3. ^ Ellingham, Mark (July 25, 1999). The Rough Guide to World Music. Rough Guides – via Google Books.
  4. ^ a b c Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 6. MUZE. p. 108.
  5. ^ "Blend of Jazz and poetry makes East meets West". Toronto Star. 4 Aug 1989. p. E4.
  6. ^ a b Hunter, James (April 2, 1989). "Najma: An Old-New Voice in International Pop Music". The New York Times.
  7. ^ Snowden, Don (18 May 1991). "Najma Popularizes Sounds of India". Calendar. Los Angeles Times. p. 11.
  8. ^ "Qareeb - Najma | Songs, Reviews, Credits | AllMusic" – via www.allmusic.com.
  9. ^ a b "Robert Christgau: CG: Najma". www.robertchristgau.com.
  10. ^ The Rolling Stone Album Guide. Random House. 1992. p. 495.
  11. ^ "Sirens of the Old World". The Washington Post. Retrieved 25 July 2021.
  12. ^ Cox, Ted. "Pop: Year of the Woman II". Chicago Reader.
  13. ^ Feist, Daniel (11 June 1989). "World Beat: Beating a track to the world sounds begins with research". The Gazette. p. H6.