Machine Music Review: Doesn’t Quite Roar

At times, you are pained when the music of a particular film doesn't come anywhere close to the expectations. Machine is one such film. You expect the film to be racy with good techno sound to it. However, what you get to hear are tunes that are so listless that there is absolutely nothing to remember once the entire soundtrack is through. Composer Tanishk Bagchi and lyricist Arafat Mehmood get a huge platform in the form of an Abbas-Mustan film but unfortunately don't quite churn up tunes that would be memorable in time to come. The musical team's first presentation is Itna Tumhe which instantly reminds one of the Sanjay Dutt and Nagma song from Yalgaar, Aakhir Tumhe. The similiarites are quite stark, though thankfully it is only for the beginning portions as soon after Yaseer Desai and Shashaa Tirupati get to sing a different tune. One wonders though if the makers hadn't realized these similarities and instead opted for something different at least as the opening number of the soundtrack. As the second number arrives, you only further realize that the makers were perhaps sure about the kind of similarities they were dealing with. This is apparent all the more with Chatur Naar where even the opening words are straight out of Ek Chatur Naar [Padosan]. This one is given a party anthem feel by Tanishk with lyricist Niket bringing on youthful words and Ikka doing his own bat as the rapper. However, all said and done, a classic is suitably twisted around by the team comprising of singers Nakash Aziz and Shashaa Tirupati, and one is just left hoping that soon enough there is a stop on such experiments. Brake'an Fail is next to arrive and one word to describe the song is 'weird'. Put together by Dr. Zeus, this one has a strange mix of lyrics and singing by Jasmine Sandlas as there is absolutely no flow or tune in the offering which is meant to be a party outing. The song, which also has Rajveer Singh and Ikka pitching in, starts in one direction, meanders somewhere else and then eventually concludes at some other corner. Avoidable. A couple of love songs conclude this album which doesn't have anything going for it. Sounding quite similar, both are love songs with Tu Hi Toh Mera sung by Yaseer Desai and Tera Junoon rendered by Jubin Nautiyal. Put together by Tanishk Bagchi and Arafat Mehmood (with Mohammed Irfan also appearing as the lyricist for the latter track), they are as ordinary as it gets and though there is an attempt to give them a sound that belongs to today's times, eventually you don't even remember the tunes even after hearing them repeatedly. Last heard, Tu Cheez Badi Hai Mast Mast has been recreated for Machine. Surprisingly, one song which could perhaps have been something to cheer about is not even present in the album! Forgettable! Our picks: Tera Junoon