Sifar

        The artwork on the CD insert shows Lucky Ali traveling along an artist's depiction of the old coast-to-coast American Route 66. A  paragraph describing the album and Lucky Ali that "every song on this album is another step on his journey". Going with this thought, the best way I have to describe this album is thatit in fact is a rather cathartic journey for the listener as well. After the awesome though short in length "Sunoh" comes an album where Lucky even betters himself, a feat which I never deemed    possible. 
       The "O Sanam" of this album is definitely "Teri Yaadein" which jumps right at you once you press the play button. At once you realize that Lucky's trump cards - his smooth vocals, perfect original musical arrangements, and heart felt lyrics are back, though this time with some very cool vocal harmonies thrown in as the cherry on top. Every one of the 10 songs on this album is a gem meant to be treasured, and each one has a distinct musical flavor to it. "Baadalon Ki Gehraae" and "Mil Jaan Se Kabhi" touches Lucky's untapped upper range (something which I think should be tapped a lot more). The soft beat combined with the few strains of hard rock and the crescendo that occurs throughout the latter song  make a perfect combo. The style of the Carribean-esque/reggae music in "Dekha Hai Aise Bhi" and  "Nahin Rakhta" surprisingly suit Lucky very well. "Dil Aise Na Samajhna" and "Tum Ho Wohi" combine the western and desi styles (though in different ways) well in the orchestrations. "Jheel Pe Jaise" is a typical desi ghazal with some atypically good music. The guitar in "Mausam" is awesome and Lucky does a great job with the number. The album ends with another one of my favorites - the African-influenced "Suntey Hi Rehtey". Again - we have the cool harmonies (at their coolest here) with some awesome orchestrations again - the perfect end to a perfect album.  Special mention must be made of the guitar (by Mike McCleary and Lucky himself) which is like the walking stick along the journey of this album Listening to these songs - you feel as if Rehman and Yanni got together to do some of their finest work and got Gulzar to do the Urdu lyrics.  That's what I mean when I call this album perfect. But the best description I can give comes from the CD insert itself - 

" Sifar - Containing nothing, it encircles everything.Without a beginning, without an end, it stretches from emptiness to infinityand back again".