The first thing that strikes you about this album is that it is really very experimental. Anu Malik should be applauded for trying to do something that is so different from the current trend today. The music just like its promos so far is definitely dark and haunting.

Yeh Raat gives you a feeling of what the whole album is all about. Anupama manages to give a definite uniqueness to the song. Very dark!!!! So also is the Aaja Gufaaon Mein song. Vasundhara Das is a revelation here. Along with KK she manages to exude just the right amount of sultriness required for this number.

One doesn't get to hear Shubha Mudgal sing very often for Hindi movies but it looks like she made an exception for Aks. She is a treat to hear in Raat Aati Hai. Great music together with Shubha Mudgal`s magical voice make this song worth listening to over and over again. Hum Bhool Gaye has two versions. The first one is by Hariharan. Classical music interspersed with western instrumentation and English lyrics thrown in succeed in catching and holding onto your attention. Just goes to show how much Anu Malik has evolved as a music director. Chitra lends voice to the second version on Side B.

What can one say about Banda Bindas. A gypsy song, Latin song???? It is difficult to put it under any such category. KK is very good and along with the music makes the song come vibrantly alive. Bhala Bura is not a song as such but rather a dialogue by The Big B himself who sounds really menacing here. Wonder if he is like that in the movie too!!!

Full marks to Anu Malik for creating this Ramleela. What`s more is that he has managed to rope in Nandita Das to sing as well. Her untrained earthy voice adds to the menace and drama of this whole Ram Ravan episode. Amitabh Bachchan and Kavita Mundhra provide able support. The album ends with Rabba Rabba by Sukhwinder Singh and Vasundhara Das. Another musical delight.

A great buy. Just go get it if only to experience the different levels Aks takes you to.