Music review: The Bartender is sensuous and soothing

Film: The Bartender
Album: Mikey McClearey
Sony Music
Rating: ****

Mikey McCleary gave us a slice of his genius with the Shaitan song  Khoya Khoya Chaand, which we do agree was one of the best remakes that was offered in long, and, very importantly, was nowhere close to the coldly complex tunes that most DJs churn out  — contributing to our general aversion towards ‘remakes’ and ‘remixes’. But this one, as Mikey describes it, embodies “classic Bollywood… shaken not stirred”.  

The well-designed cover (a man’s hands preparing a drink while a saree clad woman sprawling on the couch, with her stilettoes on, in a sepia shade) speaks aptly of its content.

Version recordings of 10 classic old songs, including Khoya Khoya, The Bartender opens with the track Yeh Raat Yeh Chandni Phir Kahan, which just makes you long for more and you cannot help but surrender to listening to the rest.  Chalte Chalte Yun Hi Koi and Jaane Kya Tune Kahi would perhaps qualify as the best picks.

Retaining the classic element of these yesteryear’s songs, McCleary has very admiringly upped the seduction quotient without tampering much on the form and structure.

Contributing singers Anushka Manchanda, Monica Dogra, Sagarika Mukerjee, Suman Sridhar and Mauli Dave have done a good job too.

Sensuous and soothing at the same time, these tunes can clearly work like a temptress and set the mood right!
—Shreya Badola