Neeyum Nilaavum

Another album of ghazals in Malayalam! After Umbayee, now it is the turn of Shahabas Aman, who sings his own compositions along with Gayatri, to experiment with the ghazal idiom. There are 9 songs and the lyricists vary from Poovachel Khader to Shanavas Konarath. Needless to say, all the lyrics are "sweet nothings," inane.

Apparently, Mr. Aman is yet to mould a style of his own. In some of the songs he imitates Ghulam Ali, where as in some other tries to be another Hariharan.

The title track "Neeym nilaavum" is the only saving grace, which is quite an enjoyable, simple melody, and that remains the only reason anyone would like to want to grab this album.

Publisher: Manorama Music.

Kavyageetikal

A reprieve from the stuff that is churned out routinely by the music mill. This album is a musical presentation of poems by a galaxy of eminent poets. The album comprises of Sandharsanam (Blachandran Chullikkad), Souhridam (D. Vinayachandran), He Baansuri (ONV), Safalamee Yatra (N.N. Kakkad), and Nandhi (Sugatakumari).

Souhridam, Safalamee Yatra, and Nandhi are outstanding in their musical interpretation. The music is by Jaison J. Nair and three of the poems come out beatiful in the silken voice of G. Venugopal.

The album has been published by Manorama Music.