GUBI SANDHU
Sold My Soul

Album Rating: 3/5

Bhangra powerhouse label, UntouchablesUK return to the streets with their “2003 album of the year” award winner Gubi Sandhu. UntouchablesUK who are known for such products as RDB, Indy Sagu, and Sahara try take 2004 out with a bang. Vocalist Gubi Sandhu who smashed it on his first album called “Dil Karda” is back to show that it wasn't a fluke and brings his sophomore title, “Sold My Soul” as the test. The 8+2 track album features the voice of Gubi himself and does a pretty good attempt at an impression of a singer. (Yes, an impression because he's not going to leave you with goosebumps).

So I rip open the packaging and just wanted to get to the disc, as the mug shot of Mr. Sandhu on the front sleeve with the title didn't really “float my boat”. I just wanted to shake my neighbors up with the sounds of dhol and bass. I pop the CD into the tray and press play, which gives me just enough time to sit back and wait for it to hit me with its best shot.

The introduction (one of the +2 tracks mentioned above) isn't one of the most exciting or innovative of tracks to begin an album, in fact it's quite mediocre and ‘cheap' sounding and I just wasted 54 seconds of my life. However I have faith that it'll pick up after that. (Gubi, sort that out mate!)

“Mahi” is our first real track and starts off with dialogue that sounds quite familiar but can't point out the Bollywood film that it appears in (contact me if you know where it's from). Anyways, once the groove kicks in, its clear that UntouchablesUK are going all out for another anthem. The attempt backfires, as the track comes off sounding tired and wasted. Gubi tries his best, but his voice fails to grab you like his previous tunes. The production doesn't venture into any new territory, as it's the usual bass-driven, quick drum pattern, keyboard heavy formula. It's got a catchy feel to it but just doesn't get me into the mood of kicking this out of the good old Pontiac.

We move onto “Aaja Ni Aaja” and from what I've heard about this track, that it's the one that should have me moving. Lets hope so or Mr. Sandhu's mug shot will become my table's newest coaster. The beats per minute jumps up a few notches from the previous track and actually drives to have you moving any moment. The dhol beats kicks into the familiar beat and actually gets it on point! Gubi's vocals are decent on this track and have gained some credibility again. I'll give “Aaja Ni Aaja” a passing grade.

Track four brings out the production of B21's Bally Jagpal and it shows on the cheeky humor Bally is typical for in many of his songs over the years. Gubi again hits this one in the bulls-eye with “Kinni Sohni”. I'm actually liking this one and don't mind giving it another go around before I move onto the next track.

Before I can move on to “Yaad”, a telephone call interrupts my progress and so I let “Kinni Sohni” go for yet another appreciated spin. A couple of minutes later I'm back and getting the voices of a lovely voice from a female who goes by the name of Dilpreet Virdee. She can call herself whatever she wants, she's got a sweet sounding voice and carries the song on well. I've got to point out that I've seen the video for this album and this song makes an appearance in it. Overall, a decent laid back song that you could have you thinking about a “special” friend.

Next up, “Sanjana” is yet another track about a girl. Gubi must have been hurting on topic generation day I guess! If you listen closely you'll hear a sample from Kevin Lyttle's popular female-friendly song “Turn Me On”. “Sanjana” just doesn't do it for me, I don't care what girl this one's about, I'm sorry but next.

Now I realized how can any desi artist these days release an album and not feature the voice of legend Cheshire Cat who has probably appeared with almost every desi artist out there for the past 15 years. Gubi Sandhu becomes another one to the list and brings in the Cheshire on “Akhan Billian”. I can't always seem to understand Cheshire's lyrics because of the way he flows but I could care less as he's got that distinctive sound that has you wanting to put the volume up from where it is. This one rates as an average song as well.
The remainder 2 tracks (“Chori Chori” and “Viah”) aren't even worth talking about, as they are just crap! The first tries to feed on the club/house genre and just ends up going hungry while the other tries to go the traditional route and just continuously gets beat on like a Detroit fan at a basketball game. (I couldn't resist getting that in here).

We conclude with what is supposedly an ‘outro' track but is just really an advertisement for UntouchablesUK's current and upcoming projects. Sounds like a space filler to me and after realizing that the 8 songs total about 31 minutes, it actually is.

Overall “Sold My Soul” isn't what I thought it would be and with only 3 pretty good tracks (“Aaja Ni Aaja”, “Kinni Sohni”, and “Yaad”) I guess it's difficult to repeat the same success. The biggest downside of this album is that there there's actually only 8 songs, half of which are worth listening too and there is no new innovation. If Gubi sold his soul on this one, the devil better have gotten it for cheap. I give Gubi Sandhu's “Sold My Soul” as an average 3 out of 5.

Tracking listing:
1. Intro 2. Mahi 3. Aaja Ni Aaja 4. Kinni Sohni 5. Yaad (feat. GI Jatt & Dilpreet Virdee)	6. Sajana 7. Akhan Billian (feat. Cheshire Cat) 8. Chori Chori (feat. GI Jatt) 9. Viah 10. Outro

Reviewed by Ankur Sood
(the Desi Underground Project)