I have listened to Yanni and recently ARR.Since both Yanni and
Rahman are heavily into ambient, new age music.
There was something different about ARR....improves his instruments
, sound effects , SYNTH usage, recording and sound engineering and
... instruments of AR Rahman ..he uses heavy sound effects...space
age effects.s that of the digital age....His compositions are an
intriguing cocktail of musical pieces that literally blow your
mind. His music is unique in its offbeat instrumental interludes,
unconventional harmonies, and use of distinct perfect voices and
thumping rhythms
It (sound engineering) is certainly a science. ARR is a good
technician behind it who determines the right variables for a
particular effect. (I say this not becos I am a sound engineer, but
I attended some recording sessions in my friends studio). If it
were some science with fixed formulae, u and I can learn them and
use it all the time,ARR's strength lies not only in his perfect
sense of melody and rhythm but also in his immaculate sound
engineering...Very intelligent, smart and creative...
For research purposes i bought his old CDs from Serangoon at
discount prices
TAAL -
Rangeela -
Daud
Bombay Dreams
Vande Mataram
Warrir of heaven and earth
I think he is an all rounder, I mean his grounding is very very
solid. He knows Indian classical music, he is in touch with Indian
folk music, he knows about western music and he has really studied
western classical also. He knows about Middle Eastern music. And
electonic types of pop and techno So there is no wonder you see
different colours in his songs.... His range of imagination is
expansive.