The sophomore album from perennial Punjabi favorite
Daler Mehndi,
Dardi Rab Rab presents a surprisingly varied fare. The album opens with sheer dancehall beats for the title track. Following up are more stereotypical bhangra works of the subcontinental form (rather than the British version). More exotic strains are taken up in conjunction with electronica as the album progresses, as in "Bole Ni Bole." The methods bounce around a bit from song to song, but the result remains the same ultra-high-energy pop.
Mehndi's vocals tie the songs together, using a powerful tenor with an incredible sense of phrasing. Fans of bhangra should already have this one really, but newcomers should be pleased as well. ~ Adam Greenberg