One of the open secrets of the Nepali music scene is that many of the blind /accidental/ roving singers one meets on the street or trail from Mechi to Mahakali have, in general, more soul and musicianship than most newcomers who dominate the airwave. But apparently they are not marketable enough in the day and age where attitude, looks, airs of sophistication, screaming fan base, and sound engineering count for a lot. Lok-Dohori, which has gone mainstream sound like factory productions with teams of songwriters working round the clock - Tin Pan alley style - to knock out formula songs for Dhaulagiri Cassette Centre or other such labels. Which is why I hear more heart-touching songs from amateurs on my trek in and around the kathmandu valley rim and Kaski than from radio or slickly packaged albums. Much better to consult truck, taxi and bus drivers that ply Nepal's highways and roads about the current state of music than read some dry pontifications from scholarly types like Anup Pahari, writing from half way round the world. This is not to say that the scholars and factory-style productions have no role to play. Different strokes for different folks. But that's not where it's at for me. Karmapa