The soundtrack Afghan Star offers fans achingly poignant tracks on "Chashem Ba Rahat Dil Ba Yadat" and "Baaz Aamady Al Jaane Man" with Ahmad Zahir’s rich vocals and intricately lacy compositions and hipper, pop tracks like Jawid Sharif’s "Amelaket Ba Gardan" and the brightly colored "Police" by Wajiha. Stunning vocals open and close Arash Howaida’s "Laila" before giving way to a sharply mesmerizing rap performance set to a kick ass Afghani beat. "Sang Baaraanam Makun" by Nazir Khora blushes lovely with a male and female singing duo, while the retro 1980s pop sound on Wajiha’s "I Used to Love You" turns everything you thought you knew about Afghans upside down.
Simon Russell’s brilliant and lonely instrumental landscapes created on "Meeting" and "Homecoming" braced against Tahir Showquee’s infectious "Yaar Bewafa" simply works, capturing that vastness of land and space that exists in between cities. It’s a bit like looking out onto the beauty of the countryside of Afghanistan and turning the ear to hear a bit of what your bus driver is listening to.
Equally dishy and delightful are the whirlwind of colors on Naghma’s "Mata Chal Ne Raze" and Rafi Naabzada and Hameed Sakhizada’s "Sabza Ba Naaz Mea Ayad." Closing Afghan Star is Arash Howaida’s pounding, brassy extravaganza "Alah Alah."
Beyond just the sheer delight at hearing music once again coming from Afghanistan, Afghan Star is a reminder that it’s hard to fight if one is too busy clapping and singing along with your favorite Afghan Star. Aah, if it were only that simple.
Buy the CD:
- In North America: Afghan Star
- In Europe: Afghan Star
