A delightful afternoon tea party of melodic meanderings - Jashn is an irregular tapestry of musical notes that still rings pure when put together. You have Sukhwinder Singh's robust riffs rubbing voices with Ustad Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan's resounding brilliance, embellished by Javed Akhtar's poetry. Each track in the album is a catalyst to a musical progression - from one level of understanding to another.

Sukhwinder Singh plunges headlong into the experience right at the beginning. His Aa mujhe chhoo le is in no mood to be laboured. He is a lover in a hurry, as he grabs each word of the song he penned himself by the hand. The tune runs helter-skelter, but Sukhwinder has a watchful eye on it, taking it on course. Aa mujhe chhoo le is a lover's happy lament.

Then we have Shankar Mahadevan's handpicked utopia Maine ek khwaab, which he has set to music. He is not very ambitious, mind you, and neither is Akhtar, who sheds the usual grandeur of his poetry. Maine ek khwaab seems like a Freudian ditty, but its innocence and simplicity is refreshing. Stringing dreams is like walking on a railway track on a rainy day, peanuts in hand. It is that simple.

Jashn's carpet of brilliance is not evenly spread. There are a few easy come, easier go elements, which manifest in the form of Kamaal Khan's Ho gaya pyaar tumse. It does not match the towering elegance of the stalwarts, but, it has a reassuring quality that soon stays. Shazia Manzoor's Yeh vaada raha is much more finely etched, since it is set to music by Nusratsaab, but her exploration of the track is very casual. She has almost let the composition slip from her fingers, but just about.

Nusratsaab does the tucking-in honours, as it is time to close. His Din mein kab socha is not one of his best works, but the sheer power of his vocals holds you in sway. The lyrics by Javed Akhtar are adequately poignant. They touch many a raw nerve, but the touch is silken.

Jashn is a fine juxtaposition of the harrumph and the hmmm. It is unhurried in some parts and races through in others.