When I get sent music, I don’t always read the accompanying press releases so that I can make my own judgment with a fresh mind, uninfluenced mind. Hearing ‘The Calling’ for the first time, I was totally confused.

Forced to read how this song came about and the explanation for it, this is what I found out.

The group Maan was created when The Royal Shakespeare Company hired a group of musicians to perform in their production of ‘Much Ado About Nothing’, for the Shakespeare World Festival.

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At the end of October in 2012, although the production was over, the 5 gentlemen continued under the name ‘Maan’ taking the spirit and acronym of ‘Much Ado About Nothing’ with them.

The thing I liked when reading the information about the band was that they all played a very active part in creating the track.

There is; violinist and vocalist Nawazish Ali Khan, guitarist and producer Parmjit Sahib, drummer Kaz Hussian, Percussionist Vikaash Sankadecha and Musical Director, Producer and Pianist Hinal Pattani.

Altogether these guys are determined to create something new and unique and I can confirm, ‘The Calling’ is nothing like anything I have heard before.

If I was to say, the track is like someone resurrected Amy Winehouse and put her into a studio with Rahat Fateh Ali Khan, you would probably think I was mocking the song but what I’m trying to get across is that they were/are both artists that epitomize their genres.

Anjana Srinivasan is the female vocalist in this track and her voice so well developed that although her voice at first seems better suited for an English track, it surprisingly works here.

My Verdict: I have to admit, I’m still quite undecided about whether this new genre of ‘Sufi blues’ is going to work but this song doesn’t fall short of being a well produced song and if the group continue with the passion they show through ‘The Calling’, they may very well be the pioneers of something great.