One’s just experienced Kailasa, and one’s inclined to agree with diminutive singer Kailash Kher when he says he’s chosen that name for both, his debut album and the band he’s formed, because it means Swarg, or Heaven. Forget about the play on his own name there could have been no better name for the place Kher’s debut album takes you to on your very first listen.

Some albums grow on you, but only a very few have the power at the first listen to lunge for your solar. And Kailasa, without doubt, belongs to the latter category, and definitely the best non-film album released so far this year. By far and a great, long distance.

Soul Beauty and Power  one wonders how one voice, and that too a rasping one, can be such a  beautiful blend of perfection. Kher answers that on each and every track of this brilliant album.

But before we get into individual tracks, get this: Kher is also an extremely competent lyricist, having written as many as 5 of the 8 songs on this album. With musician-singer-composers Paresh and Naresh completing the troika on Kailasa, the new band definitely seems equipped for long and popular career.