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.
here i m to clean up the forums
as per sir's request