There was once a resting place
Where our sweat was offered to its grace
There was once a tree shed
Where our tired mind could rest in place
Those who exchanged their joy and grief
At that time in these places of relief
Now gaze at each other with blank eyes
As if there is no more life
My country…My Land…My country…
Amrit Gurung, the singer and musician, takes his whole heart out as he starts to sing this title number from his latest album Mero Desh. [break]After Ghatana, Nepathya’s seventh album, which profiled the war victims in 2005, Amrit Gurung once more gives himself and his band Nepathya to the country through the eighth volume.
Produced by nepa~laya, Mero Desh is a complete musical package, rich in patriotism and a proper ensemble of powerful lyrics, sharp and neat compositions along with high scale clean vocal presentation.
Amrit Gurung was not planning to make the eighth edition like the other volumes were. He was rather preparing for some fun numbers and something new to serve Nepali music.
But when he started working out on his next album, the then political situation in Nepal did not permit him from diverting to any other issues other than national values that were going haywire during the said time. It was then that he decided to sing once again for Nepal and for Nepalis.
After thorough workouts for five years, Nepathya’s Mero Desh comes out as a fresh bouquet of love towards the nation. The title song written by Bikram Subba and composed by Gurung is powerful with its lyrics and the use of lead guitar is what makes this number mellifluous.
Narendra Rumba’s Kasaile Sodhe, the second number in the album is one of the most difficult tracks amongst the seven others. The vocal variation that Gurung takes during the music needs a special mention. What makes this number more special is its beginning.
The track begins slowly with minimum music, is poetic in style, and depends upon the vocal alone and gradually rises up its scale with the beats of madal, drums, keyboard and guitar.
Gurung slows down a bit in the third number where the music arrangement slightly seems to be dominating by voice at places while the fourth composition Rangin Chara, penned and composed by Aavas is one of the most melodious tracks in the ensemble.
The jugalbandi played between madal and keyboard alongside the lyrics by Aavas suits Gurung the best. The chorus part is carried equally beautifully on the rhythms of guitar. Aama, the fifth in the list starts more in a jazz style and develops into a rock music pattern.
Basanta Thapa’s lyrics Sundar Shanta Nepal is gifted with a proper orchestra backing, not too loud, not too slow.
The group vocal makes it more fun listening to. The use of percussions in the second last number Ukali Orali goes well with major chords of guitar and needs no more instruments to make it sound authentic.
Last but not the least, the remake of Gopal Prasad Rimal’s Rato Ra Chandra Surya should have been spared from a lot of electric guitar notes and drums. Not that the music arrangement is bad but it does not come close to its original composition by Amber Gurung.
All in all, Nepathya’s Mero Desh is worth buying at Rs 250.
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