Yatra (Nomadic Souls)

Kailash Kher had picked up a massive following in India (and with expatriate communities) long before making a U.S. debut, but in itself, that doesn't necessarily provide a free pass to a good international release, especially with the stereotypes of Bollywood music behind him. In fact, Kher's success has come in no small part from being somewhat different from the bulk of Bollywood's other songmakers. Where much of the genre is formulaic, poppy, and seemingly manufactured, Kher reveals a tendency for vastly more soul, as he does on Yatra. His songs sound crafted, his vocals taking from Hindustani classical forms (dhrupad, most notably) and Sufi qawwal, and there is perhaps more Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan in his voice than there is Mohammed Rafi (there's even a stray harmonium in "Kar Kar Main Haara"). The result is a surprising one. The songs float, with mere hints of more modern traditions buried within more timeless sounds. The music grooves rather than bounces. The backing vocalists sway and swoon rather than shout. The sound is actually casual, while Indian music tends to be anything but — Bollywood is often hyperactive, and classical music is often more rigid (though it flows, the rules are always followed). If one has ever wondered what Khan would have sounded like in a modern setting (aside from the various electronic remixes), Kher may be the answer. With basic dance tracks, touches of bhangra, long and soulful ballads, and even a couple of outstanding bits of acoustic dance, Yatra has a little of everything and a few items that are entirely unexpected. This may be the sort of album that only comes around once every few years, and one with something to hear that's completely new and special.