For those seeking something fresh-sounding from Indian pop of the early 1990s,
Najma's Atish wouldn't be a bad choice at all.
Najma, a charming and very likable singer, is far from predictable on this eclectic CD, which combines Indian music with Western elements. Traditional Indian instruments such as the tablas and the dholak successfully interact with electric keyboards, bass, guitar and the soprano sax on
Atish. For
Najma (who sings in English on the very pretty "Faithless Love," but more often, embraces one of the many Indian dialects), everything from jazz to Scottish/Celtic music is fair game. ~ Alex Henderson