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The high chanteuse of chant, Deva Premal is a pillar of originality in the grand garden of Indian music. You might say that she's to Sanskrit Mantras what Enya is to Celtic music. Her smooth soulful voice, which resides in the lower octaves, haunts atmospheric, lightly rhythmic, ethereal soundscapes skillfully crafted by her partner Miten. Together they take listeners on a journey into the depths of the soul that doesn't forget to make a stop at the heart. The music's easy on the ears, spiritually provocative and contains enough mass appeal to make even the yoga-phobic stir. Throw in a duet with Jai Uttal ("Om Ram Ramaya") and you have an album that will get anyone's chakras in an uproar. SOUND CLIPS Hari Om Shiva Om, Om Tara Tuttare, Om Namo Bhagavate
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In the pantheon of Indian chanters, it's doubtful that you will find one more illustrious and esteemed than Krishna Das. With each kirtan, he inspires people around the world to trade material desires for spiritual enlightenment. BREATH OF THE HEART features Krishna Das' tried and true blend of music - Indian tablas and harmonium mixed together with Western instrumentation like guitar, cello and violin. The list of supporting artists reads like a whose who of contemporary Indian music: Wah! on harmonium, Benjy Wertheimer on Esraj, Lili Haydn on violin, Ty Burhoe on tabla, Steve Gorn on bamboo flute, among others. The results of this ensemble are quite fruitful - BREATH OF THE HEART is a harmonically pleasing, life-affirming offering of chant music. With its natural rhythmic tendencies and a penchant for lyricism the album, works as an ideal primer for the kirtan novice and an uplifting excursion for the seasoned fan. SOUND CLIP Kainchi Hare Krishna, Krishna Das-Baba Hanuman
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In modern qawwali music, or at least that of the last 50 years or so, you will not find a more illustrious figure than the late Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. The possessor of a voice beyond description, Khan dazzled listeners all over Asia with his intense displays of emotion and soon, thanks to the help of WOMAD and Peter Gabriel's Real World label, the entire world. THE LAST PROPHET is one of the superstar's last pure qawwali albums recorded before his death in 1997. The album features four tracks in which the ecstatic cries of Khan take center stage against an energized backdrop of harmonium, drums, handclaps and a rousing chorus. SOUND CLIP Maki Madni, Teri Bandi
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by Robert Gass & On Wings Of Song A mantra, or chant, often starts out up in the head, where you’re thinking about it. You think about the word—how to say it or what it means. Then the word begins to go down the throat, into a physical experience of the sound itself. Next it starts to move down into the heart. And, eventually, it becomes the engine that’s running you. You’re not singing the sound—the sound is singing you, bringing you closer and closer to another plane of consciousness. SOUND CLIP Om Namaya, Om
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We are not fans of typical "New Age" music, and although this CD has sometimes been compared to "New Age" music, it is anything but that. It is one of our favorite chant CD's to put on when we want something more musical and melodic, rather than brash and clanging as many chant CD's can be. It blends Wetern synth sounds with the soothing melodies of Tibetan lama Gyurme. SOUND CLIP HERE
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This is in our Top 5 All-Time favorite CD's. The enveloping beauty of these songs of rapture will wrap you in delicate waves of sonic beauty. Rasa's voice is deeply enchanting, and no matter what genre of music you love most; this CD will have something to offer you. Delicate sounds weave throughout this sonically spacious album with a touch of India. SOUND CLIPS Arati, Bhajahu Re Mana, Gopinatha
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Rasa exists in the same sphere of the Indian music world as Deva Premal - that of music that vocally calls to mind ancient Vedic traditions, while instrumentally heading in a contemporary, somewhat ethereal direction. SHELTER features the porcelain voice of Kim Waters singing beautifully delivered Sanskrit chants, while the duo's second half, Hans Christian, constructs sonic atmospheres of string instruments and moody ambience. The music's heart is in Vedic spirituality and listeners who embark on this aural journey will no doubt be touched by the sense of devotion made apparent by this album. Transcendent, sensual, elegant - this is one of those albums that will make you long for your next meditation session.
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Tibetan musicians who can appeal well beyond the realm of strictly devotional music are scarce. So Yungchen Lhamo's wavering voice is especially startling on Tibet, Tibet, where she unwraps her mid-range vocal roll across wide-open fields. She also sings through the low-end fog of monastic chanting, replete with the clanging cymbals and fundamental rumble. An astonishing smoothness arises from Yungchen and the monks' combined voices, and even when she's soloing, which she often is, Yungchen keeps herself both silken and sharp. SOUND CLIP HERE
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