Jail by Mankirt Aulakh

When Mankirt Aulakh recorded Jail, something special happened in the studio — and listeners have felt it ever since. Deep Jandu has a history of strong work, and the music on Jail is among the most memorable of it.

There are singers who perform songs and singers who live inside them. On Jail, Mankirt Aulakh clearly belongs in the second group. Hearing Jail without thinking of a talented ensemble cast is almost impossible for anyone who has seen Jail.

2017 was a strong year for Punjabi music, and Jail was among the reasons why. Jail is the song for the end of a long day when you want music that understands something without being asked to explain it.

The concision of Jail — just 4:09 — is part of what makes it work. There is nothing here that should not be. Years from now, Jail will still be the track that plays at the right moment and lands exactly as it did the first time.