Aaina Jhyaal: Mirror and window of Nepali folk tunes (Review)

BY K BEDESHWAR

As I headed to the studio of Paleti to listen to Nepathya’s songs from their new album, “Aaina Jhyaal,” I continuously wondered if it was too early for this celebrated band to release an album, because their “Mero Desh” was released only a few months back. But all my wondering and pondering got shooed away as soon as I started listening to their compositions.Certainly, “Aaina Jhyaal” is a better ensemble than “Mero Desh” which completely focused on various socio-political conflicts that the nation was going through for a decade.



“Aaina Jhyal” is a beautiful treat to the ears, with some of the finest compositions backed up by power-packed words, and performed by a household powerful voice. A collection of 10 numbers, what makes “Aaina Jhyal” a must-buy is that after quite sometime, this 9th volume by Nepathya reminds you of those original flavors of the group that presented in its yesteryears’ box office thrillers like “Nepathya” and “Bhedako Oonjasto.” With the band’s lineup changing now and then over its two-decade journey, Nepathya certainly had to go through various hurdles to maintain the branding of the band.

With “Aaina Jhyaal”, it seems like Nepathya is back in form. Often popular for promoting traditional Nepali folk instruments, Nepathya’s “Aaina Jhyaal” beautifully assembles the tunes of folk instruments like madal, sarangi, flute, damphu, and tungna.
As you start moving from one track to the other, the compositions turn more graphical to you. Nepathya has mastered in picking up local folk tunes and melodies in this ensemble that makes the whole album sound rich in a variety of tunes. In addition, the compositions are complimented beautifully in the diction of singer Amrit Gurung, who has worked hard on understanding the typical ways of pronunciation of words in different ethnic communities of Nepal.

The first track, Palla Gharka Baika Chaandika Kanganaa, makes you understand the lifestyle of the Karnali and Gandaki regions through typical words picked from the communities and sewn with the tunes of madal, tungna and piano. Sailaijyu, the second track in the volume, picks up beautifully in the chorus. A percussion-based composition, this particular track is good at high notes.The drooling of the drums is a little too much in Jogale Hunchha Bhet, the third composition. Though the drum overshadows Gurung’s vocals to a certain extent, the rhythmic pattern of the lines are taken care of innovatively to justify the musical trends practiced in south Gorkha

Nepathya to Rock Kathmandu After Seoul

Good news for the Nepathya’s fans, after long time they are back to rock Kathmandu after Seoul. According to a nepalaya press statement, the band is ready for a concert in Kathmandu at the Academy Hall on September 28.

The concert in Seoul was a huge success, states the statement and even heavy rainfall did not stop Nepathya fans from reaching the Dong Guk University Auditorium to witness their band perform live in South Korea after five years on September 22. The show coincided to mark Korean thanksgiving holiday – Chuseok.

Along with evergreen numbers like Chekyo Chekyo, Euta Chitthi, Jomsome Bazaar, Resham, Lampate Surati, Yo Zindagani that enthralled the crowd. Nepathya also sang Siranma Photo, Salaijo, Palla Gharka and Jogale Huncha from their latest album, Aaina Jhyal. The band’s frontman Amrit Gurung, interacted with the audience and shared his travel stories,states the statements adding that time and again he requested all to live united and in harmony.

“Wherever we may be, we are Nepalese first, I request all Nepalese living here to stay united as Nepalese and not divided in numerous societies,” the statement qouted Amrit Gurung as requesting hinting towards the 63 societies Nepalese have in South Korea where the official Nepali population is under 10,000.

Nepathya Come Up with Aaina Jhyal

Nepathya’s ninth album titled Aaina Jhyal was launched on september 14 at Nepalaya. Amrit Gurung, the band’s front man, who is a great lover of folk songs, has come up with the album that has folk influences in the majority of songs in the album. Most of the songs are written by Amrit Gurung himself.

The album was launched in the room where the band usually rehearses, jams up, composes and arranges their songs. Amrit Gurung dedicated the album to all his friends and people who helped him during the long journey of 20 years since the band was formed.

Kiran Shrestha, director of Nepalaya, hosted the programme. Seven songs of the album were audio previewed with photographs taken by the singer for the visuals.

The new album is related to his travels. The folks songs have touched different cultures, traditions and music of people whom he met during his journeys. Amrit said “I love travelling and it is important for those who compose folk songs. It teaches you about the lives of others. You experience and see the reality”. His music reflects his journeys. The singer, who has no musical figure as inspiration, learnt from listening to other people sing.

”I have no teacher as such. Simple people singing anywhere are the people from whom i have learnt and they are my inspiration,” said the singer.