Mekaal Hasan by candlelight.

Saturday night was to be one evening to catch up with friends - listen to things to be done in this new year and jobs to be found and gifts to be dispatched. But this one evening was dedicated to a Pakistani band Mekaal Hasan Band(heard by the hosts the previous week).

The evening began slowly, even lumberously with each of us (first in the three of us and finally within the four of us) trying to establish a thread of conversation that would and perhaps could carry us through the evening.

Half a pint of beer and a plate of delicious kebabs later we were set. The lounge version of the band was in the music player and slowly we were unwinding. No words were needed.. amongst us ie... to unwind now.

Their music is an interesting blend. All out classical with a rock base (of course around here the band carries the misplaced tag of a 'Sufi band') The music was soulfull, languid, soothing and definetely merited more explanation and research.

Sitting in a darkened hall, albeit with about seven candles casting beautiful though unrecognisable patterns on the wall and one candle emitting lavendar fumes (which I am still waiting to get a whiff off), and listening to such plaintive songs definitely ensures that classical music is not yet dead, despite all the remixes that spring up every time you blink.

Five of them having played varied stuff individually , now, have come together to produce incredibly energetic stuff. At this point I have to add that the information on the band that I have is all second hand and cannot guarantee its authenticity.

But can definitely say this that while their lounge version induced enough pangs to make me go looking in music stores today (no their CD is still not available), their concert recording will be worth its weight in gold - energy and tempo of the live performance coupled with their music. All those who did manage to go for the concert - way to go people!