The music combo of brothers Salim and Suleiman Merchant are quickly becoming the new go to guys after hitting successful notes in KAAL. But who exactly are these guys and why does their music sound too good to be true? Are they ripping off other artists, like everyone else in Bollywood?

To answer the latter question…NO! They’re tunes so far have been original compositions. We actually have heard of Salim-Suleiman before. The duo worked as background music composers while programming and arranging music for numerous albums. Sadly their work doesn’t get too much recognition, considering how a music programmer or arranger can dramatically change the makeup of any song (as a pure assumption, I’m sure they have changed many songs but never got due credit). To point out the obvious the pair have “composed, arranged & programmed” all songs in FASHION.

With successful albums such as KAAL, NEAL N’ NIKKI, AAJA NACHLE, DOR and CHAK DE! INDIA the brothers can put FASHION towards the top.

The album starts with a club banger ‘Fashion Ka Jalwa’ and who better to lend his voice than Sukhwinder (he’s still trying to get over his “Dard for Discoing”). As a hip-hop oriented track, Sukhwinder’s powerful voice and style are a perfect fit for the title song. If this one takes off, I’m sure Ramta Jogi will be looking towards Salim-Suleiman for more hits. The remix version of this song (yes there are five remixes, one for each original composition…that sounds like a big ladoo of fun!) isn’t anything special, they add a faster beat but the tempo of the original works the best.

Things slow down a bit with ‘Mar Jawan’ sung by Shruti Pathak and Salim Merchant with lyrics from Irfan Siddiqui. Best track on the album hands down! Salim-Suleiman restrain themselves from going overboard and keep a consistent pace while Shruti’s soft voice adds a soulful punch. The remix version kills the impact of the song, but then again that’s the purpose of a remix version.

Mohit Chauhan (from the band Silk Route) and Neha Bhasin come together for ‘Kuchh Khaas’ (lyrics from Irfan Siddiqui). Not the greatest piece from Salim-Suleiman but at the same time it doesn’t become too overbearing. Had they given this song an acoustic feel (with the guitar in the background the entire time), it would have made a world of difference (similar to what Rahman did in ‘Kabhi Kabhi Aditi Zindagi Mein’). The remix for ‘Kuchh Khaas’ is a complete disappointment.

Salim Merchant decides to take the responsibility of singing in the techno based ‘Aashiyana’.  The best thing about Bollywood music composers are the different genres they throw into each song, making it a delicious ‘kichidi’. Oddly enough Salim-Suleiman had some jazz/blues toward the three and a half minute mark. This is a decent song but it requires a club-based audience to truly embrace it. The remix turns out be very dull, the original would have done just fine.

Instrumental songs are rarely appreciated by the masses since…well there’s no singer. But for those hardcore music lovers ‘Theme of Fashion’ is very sweet icing on an already sugar filled cake. When heard in the actual film the song will reveal itself probably during runway scenes and in climatic events. The most impressive feat for this track is the haunting sound of the santoor Salim-Suleiman use as the main hook, while keeping it a club song. As if this wasn’t fast enough Medeival Punditz lend their hand in the remix of ‘Theme of Fashion’. For the first time a remix on the soundtrack works, and it’s no just few kicks or claps added here or there. The Medeival Punditz did a great number on the original.

Overall it’s disappointing to see only five original compositions from the highly talented duo, but their quality of work speaks volumes.  A huge minus factor are the pointless remixes (except for the Medeival Punditz one of course), this could have easily been a six track album rather than ten. FASHION is for sure a must have and hopefully Salim-Suleiman’s upcoming works ROADSIDE ROMEO and LUCK will be released very soon. Key tracks: ‘Mar Jawan’, ‘Fashion Ka Jalwa’, ‘Theme of Fashion’ and ‘Kuchh Khaas’.

Rating: 4 out of 5 stars

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