CD Review: Donna De Lory's 'Universal Light'

Donna De Lory
Universal Light
Self-Release

The contemporary kirtan and dance princess, Donna De Lory, brings life to songs inspired from the heavens above on Universal Light. This album contains a dozen songs with remixes from some of the hottest DJ's and maestros around, including Carmen Rizzo, Atom Smith, Drumspyder, Willie Lewis, David Starfire, Freq Nasty, and Dub Kirtan Allstars. "Gayatri Mantra," "The Offering," "Praying For Love," "Jai Mata Kali," "Om Namah Shivayah," and "Luciana" are more dance-centered tracks. There is a trip-hop-infused version of the Christian classic, "Amazing Grace," while "Om Tare Tuttare," "Amma," and "By Your Grace" are more down-tempo and kirtan-influenced with lighter melodies and rhythms. Donna's vocals are bright, clear, and most of all--universal! ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Vasily Evhimovich's 'Hurdy Gurdy, Accordion, and Vasily Evhimovich'

Vasily Evhimovich
Hurdy Gurdy, Accordion, and Vasily Evhimovich
Sketis Music

Vasily Evhimovich is a talented vocalist, accordion player, and hurdy-gurdy specialist on his latest recording, Hurdy Gurdy, Accordion, and Vasily Evhimovich. Vasily brings in a few other vocalists for acapella singing. Most of the time, Vasily plays the accordion or hurdy-gurdy along with the vocal segments. Based on the Volga River, Vasily recorded the album in his studio workshop. The folk songs originate from the Oka River region, as well as Belgorod, Northern Russia, Siberia, and Tatarstan. The drone of the accordion or hurdy-gurdy provide contemplative and entrancing moments between purely vocal parts. Over seventy-minutes of music and nineteen songs round out the album. The song titles are translated in Russian and English on the album back. Fans of Russian vocal music, folk music, and traditional instruments will find it most satisfying. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Stranniki's 'Light Moon'

Stranniki
Light Moon
Sketis Music

Stranniki is a Russian folk group that resurrects Slavic folklore songs by utilizing an array of folk music instruments and ancient melodies. The vocals are often arranged like chants with several singers singing at once in a choral fashion. The result is a sound akin to Finland's Varttina. The instruments are performed in a very artistic manner by paying close attention to historic styles and folk arrangements. Besides vocals, there is a gusli, okarina, jaleika, whistle, bansuri, bawu, kalyuka, quena, kaval, gajde, guitar, bass, drums, and assorted percussion. The contemporary instruments are a great companion to the traditional instruments. Each tune is fresh and inventive. There are only forty-two minutes of music on the album, but it is never boring. Fans of folk music, Slavic and Russian vocal music, traditional instruments, and contemporary Russian music will love the history presented by Stranniki. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Vasily Vecher's 'Siberia Land - Russian Traditional Songs Of The Western Siberia'

Vasily Vecher
Siberia Land - Russian Traditional Songs Of The Western Siberia
Sketis Music

Named after St. Basil's Day Eve, one of the most popular Russian traditional feasts, Vasily Vecher perform and study the culture of Western Siberia's peasant culture from the 16th to 18th centuries. The music contained herein is purely vocal without any instrumental accompaniment. Anyone interested in world chants, liturgical compositions, European folk music, and Slavic singing traditions, in addition to Siberian and Russian musical styles, will love it. The entire album is nearly fifty-five minutes long. It is a mix of solo and group vocal accompaniment. The songs are sung in Russian with English title translations on the back cover. There are Cyrillic Russian notes and lyrics throughout the liner booklet. This is a great ethnomusicological recording of historic significance, since it highlights the musical and vocal traditions of a bygone-era, but it is produced in a contemporary time. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Nawa's 'Ancient Sufi Invocations & Forgotten Songs From Aleppo'

Nawa
Ancient Sufi Invocations & Forgotten Songs From Aleppo
Lost Origins/Electric Cowbell

The first volume in a series to examine ancient Sufi, Christian chant, and secretive orders, Ancient Sufi Invocations & Forgotten Songs From Aleppo traces obscure and previously unreleased vocal music through various forms, including dhikr, maqam, and mowashah. The entire album is vocally-produced and it was recorded in a 500-year-old house in Aleppo, Syria. The musical recording was created by Jason Hamacher. However, the unlikely path of a punk drummer and photographer to capture the ancient Sufi singing styles of Syria was a wild proposition that eventually came to fruition. The six long tracks are only about a half-hour in total running length. Still, the music lingers on in a repetitive manner that reaches far beyond the thirty-minute mark. The songs are evenly-divided between ancestral dhikrs and maqams. Anyone interested in Sufi music, Syrian music, and chanting traditions from around the world will relish the historical delicacies inherent in Nawa's first release. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Deva Premal & Miten with Manose's 'Mantras For Life'

Deva Premal & Miten with Manose
Mantras For Life
White Swan Records

The soothing sounds of Sanskrit mantras are eloquently and meditatively-captured throughout Mantras For Life. Deva Premal is the lead vocalist and tanpura player. However, Miten is also a vocalist and guitarist. Manose adds vocals and Bansuri flute to the mix for a truly thought-provoking and calming production. There are additional instruments, including cello, keyboards, santoor, harmonium, tabla, drums, bass, wurlitzer, fender rhodes, and other vocals. The hypnotic and swirling melodies and rhythms encapsulates the human spirit in an accessible and serene manner that is unsurpassed in most of today's music. There are a dozen tracks, which are mostly mantras. The repetitive nature of the songs ingrains a spiritual presence throughout the deliveries. The liner notes include Sanskrit and English descriptions. Anyone interested in kirtan, yoga, chant music, and hypnotic, trance-inducing compositions will love the music of Deva Premal, Miten, and Manose. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Ensemble Tirana's 'The Bridge That Links Time'

Ensemble Tirana
The Bridge That Links Time
Frea Records

The polyphonic a capella group, Ensemble Tirana, hails from Albania, but their influence is deeply rooted in Balkan life and society. The new album contains over one hour of music over eighteen tracks. The songs are mostly instrumental with only minor accompaniment on flute and cifteli stringed instrument. Founded in 1994, the group contains tenor, baritone, and bass-baritone vocal arrangements. The six-member group is comprised of Nazo Celaj, Hyso Xhaferaj, Dionis Delia, Edmond Lila, Luan Sula, and Ervin Kastrati. The music incorporates historical chants from the seventeenth century. Anyone familiar with polyphonic singing will find enjoyment in the vocal tracks, while others will be yearning for more instrumental prowess. However, the vocals are great and present a great historical story for a modern era. At any rate, Ensemble Tirana inspires all to take a listen. Ensemble Tirana is the bridge that links the past with the present. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Baird Hersey & Prana's 'Sadhana'

Baird Hersey & Prana
Sadhana
Bent Records

The multiphonic, yogic, and kirtan-influenced vocal traditions of Tuva, Nepal, Tibet, and India are showcased with a variety of singers from different backgrounds on Sadhana. The new album, which means 'practice,' is a deeply-meditative romp into the yogic center of the universe clearly inspired by vocal traditions and nothing else. However, a few instruments pop up from time to time. Notably, drums, konnakol, ghatam, kanjira, and other percussion. Some of the singers include Amy Fradon, Kirsti Gholson, Baird Hersey, Julie Last, Julian Lines, Julie Parisi, Joe Veillette, Peter Buettner, and Bruce Milner. The trance-inducing vocal melodies are fairly angelic and spiritual with extended vocal-lines and various pitches that flow seamlessly throughout. As a bonus, Krishna Das is featured on the final track, "My Foolish Heart." Fans of world chants, tantric music, Central Asian music, kirtan, yoga, meditation, and spiritual music will find Sadhana divine beyond belief. ~ Matthew Forss    

CD Review: Temple Bhajan Band's 'Like A Lotus'

Temple Bhajan Band
Like A Lotus
Self-Release

The California-based, Temple Bhajan Band, creates moving and religious kirtan chants and songs with a numerous cast of vocalists and instrumentalists. Some of the instruments include cello, bass, flute, tamboura, sitar, mrdunga drum, cajon, ektar, harmonium, guitar, and sax. The drone of the harmonium and meandering drum beats combine with the repetitious chants to form a memorable and awe-inspiring musical journey. There are nine tracks in all, but two of them are spoken word tracks with minimal instrumentation. The other vocal tracks include, Nam Pankaja, Jaya Radhe, He Govinda, Hare Krishna 1, Haraye Nama Krishna, Jaya Jaya Sita Rama, and Hare Krishna 2. The songs are rather traditional with many of the songs familiar to those into kirtan, yoga, or chant music. The songs are complex and highly-textured with sounds from South Asia and lyrics in English and Sanskrit. Like A Lotus is a remarkable album for the inner soul seeking outward happiness. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Harnam's 'A Fearless Heart'

Harnam
A Fearless Heart
Self-Release

Harnam brings us poignant kirtan and yoga tunes on his latest release, A Fearless Heart. Harnam is a vocalist and guitarist. Harnam is joined by Ram Dass Khalsa on vocals, guitars, slide guitar, bass, piano, keyboards, percussion, and programming. Lakshmi Light is a guest vocalist, along with Siri Kartar Singh on pedal steel. These light mantras are blissful, peaceful, and memorable tunes of spiritual pleasure. There are seven long tracks with lush melodies, sparkling guitar work, and angelic programming that is earthy, authentic, and natural to a tee. The Sanskrit songs are often repeated throughout each song to create a higher sense of awareness. Everyone should be aware of Harnam’s musical gifts. Let me introduce Harnam to the world! ~ Matthew Forss  

CD Review: David Newman & Krishna Venkatesh's 'Re-Bliss: Stars Revisited'

David Newman & Krishna Venkatesh
Re-Bliss: Stars Revisited
White Swan Records

David Newman, also known as Durga Das, is a talented kirtan chant artist from Philadelphia. Krishna Venkatesh is a New York-based composer, producer, yoga teacher, and former electronic band member for Think Tree. Relying on a mix of funk, jazz, and eclectic electronic music that is driven by the soul and an inner bliss, Krishna adds a variety of groovy textures to the new album. David adds vocals, guitars, keyboards, and percussion. The eight long tracks are inspirational, relaxing, and meditative with a steady melody and trip-hop/jazz-inspired embellishments. The contemporary compositions combine a bit of dance grooves, electronic music, and blissful adventures that are catchy and void of faults. The duo showcase what really can be done when two blissful hearts come together and play music with a deeply meditative groove. Now is the time to bliss yourself. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Various Artists' 'Bhakti Fest' [2-CD]

Various Artists
Bhakti Fest
White Swan Records

The new double-disc recording, Bhakti Fest, highlights some of the most memorable and Om-inspired kirtan tracks from the genre's biggest stars. You will hear Jai Uttal, David Newman, Sean Johnson, Sita, C.C. White, Govindas & Radha, Prema Hara, and The Mayapuris. There are trance-inducing tracks with repetitive mantras and soul-calming melodies. The driving melodies of simiplistic percussion, harmonium, some guitars, and angelic vocals make the music come to life. There are four tracks per disc, but the release as a whole is not too short at an hour-and-a-half. The melodies and rhythms have lasting effects for sure. The glorious vocals and immersive quality of the music is without a doubt one of the best kirtan releases of the year. If you want to add a little bliss in your life; then Bhakti Fest is the key. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: David Newman's 'Stars'

David Newman
Stars
White Swan Records

David Newman is a talented musician popular in the blissful world of yoga music. His contemporary guitar stylings and repetitive vocals with equally repetitive mantras, combined with the beautiful voice of Mira, makes Stars an album well-worth a listen. A mix of English and Sanskrit vocals are used sporadically throughout. The catchy melodies and light guitar work are enthralling to say the least. The nine tracks represent a good mix of rhythms, styles, and innovations with touches of piano, horn, and percussion. David is a kirtan chant artist, Bhakti yoga educator, and a singer/songwriter. His wife, Mira, is a noted singer in her own right. She adds a touch of beauty to the album that is very melodious. If you are seeking balance in your life, then reach for the Stars today. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Various Artists' 'Playful Yoga'

Various Artists
Playful Yoga
White Swan Records

The music for yoga today is more than gongs, flutes, and sitars. Instead, the folks at White Swan continue to produce divine yoga music with modern instrumentation and traditional rhythms and instruments. Playful Yoga contains music by Steve Halpern, the rap stylings of MC Yogi, plus Wynne Paris, Dave Dale, Nadaji, EarthRise SoundSystem, Don Shiva, Prem Joshua, Omkar, Maneesh de Moor, Gary Stroutsos, Face, and Laya Project. The upbeat melodies are inspired by Eastern traditions with sparkling melodies, thumping tablas, electronic embellishments, and uplifting vocals good enough for any kirtan session. Omkar's opening and closing Tibetan bowl sounds satisfyingly open and close the album with meditative and peaceful consequences. The album's brainchild is Dee Marie, an accomplished yoga therapist that compiled the songs based on their effectiveness in her practice. This is a perfect album for an introduction to the contemporary yoga music sounds permeating the airwaves and subconsciouses of intelligent listeners around the world. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Jack Harrison's 'The Enchanted Island'

Jack Harrison
The Enchanted Island
Nutone Music

Jack's three-decade history devoted to Irish folklore is a major influence for The Enchanted Island. In this case, Irish folk melodies combine with Sanskrit and Indian melodies and mantras to create a unique blend of musical bliss. Two cultural areas meld together; forming a blend of music that is meditational, devotional, and inspirational. The seven tracks run nearly fifty-minutes long. Each track contains a few notes describing the history and meaning behind the songs in English. Jack sings in Sanskrit and English. A variety of strings, wind instruments, guitar, bass, and backing vocals round out the package. Highly-recommended. ~ Matthew Forss