CD Review: Baird Hersey & Prana with Nexus's 'Chiaroscuro'

Baird Hersey & Prana with Nexus
Chiaroscuro
Bent Records

With an album title implying contrasting dark and light imagery, one can quickly determine that this is going to be a wonderful musical journey. From the onset, the deep, meditative tone of the harmonic singers and spacious, resonating tones of vistaphone, xylophone, vibraphone, drums, gongs, glockenspiel, marimba, and a few others, make the album shine beyond belief. Whether one calls it new age, meditation, world music, or some other moniker, Chiaroscuro is highly-textured and mystically magical throughout. It is seemingly inconceivable to compare to anything else, because it is that good. The final three tunes are reserved for mostly vocal medleys without much instrumentation. The beautiful sounds of the instrumental and vocal tracks remind one of a solemn film score. Perhaps, even the film, American Beauty (1999), comes to mind. Still, the album stands alone and above the rest with fanciful, deeply-enriched, and meditative tones that intrigues, as much as it inspires. Great for fans of film scores, meditation music, yoga, throat-singing, and new age concoctions. Excellent! ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Laraaji's 'Ambient 3: Day of Radiance'

Laraaji
Ambient 3: Day of Radiance
Glitterbeat

Ambient 3: Day of Radiance was originally released in 1980. Producer, Brian Eno resurrected the album conceived by Laraaji, a masterful zither player, dulcimer connoisseur, pianist, and keyboardist. This recording displays the timelessness of Laraaji's electronic and ambient styles. The melodies are atmospheric, spacious, and scintillating. The zither and autoharp sounds are very magical and entrancing. The album is divided up into two sections: The Dance and Meditation. The three tracks of The Dance contains more upbeat, dreamy, and melodic ambient tones, while the last two songs of Meditation contain a more spacious, atmospheric tone. As a whole, Ambient 3: Day of Radiance possesses a great selection of instrumental gems that are relatively repetitive, which is not a negative here. The nature of ambient, electronic, and atmospheric music is varied, but ever-changing. Whether the true quality of music is indeed ambient, Laraaji knows no bounds when creating beautiful works. Oh yeah, and the production credits of Brian Eno don't hurt either. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Avasa & Matthew Love's 'The Road'

Avasa & Matthew Love
The Road
White Swan Records

Husband and wife-duo, Avasa & Matthew Love, present us with a gracious album of inner peace led by catchy pop hooks and spacious thematic constructions. There is a contemporary vein running throughout the album, but there also is a historical foundation with yoga-inspired melodies and vocalizations that transcend time, space, and genre categorization. Avasa & Matthew lead vocals, guitar, and harmonium, while others perform on tabla, esraj, flute, violin, mandolin, bass, and percussion. There are supporting vocals by a number of artists, including Jason Mraz. As with many other White Swan Recordings, The Road follows in a similar path to Deva Premal, Miten, Krishna Das, and Liquid Bloom. The symphonic choruses and sweet vocal lines are repeated in parts to add another layer of bliss and satisfaction come over any listener within earshot. The glorious vocals and catchy hooks will grab hold of any listener and never let go. Essentially, The Road is very, very good. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Megan Chaskey's 'Naam Radiance'

Megan Chaskey
Naam Radiance
Heartways Music

Produced around the basic structure of Naam Yoga meditation, Naam Radiance is a collection of Sanskrit-soaked compositions that feature wistful sounds and glorious melodies that are transcendental and soul-soothing. Almost an hour of calming music is included on her new album. Her vocal delivery is delicate, purposeful, and amazing. Of course, there are South Asian influences, but there are also world fusion embellishments on guitar, bass, piano, percussion, celtic harp, and cello. Each song is meaningful on a deeper level, but they be easily enjoyed with passive listening. One need not be a yoga expert or practitioner to appreciate the multi-factoral songs. As a whole, the recording is light, airy, spacious, and pleasantly-delightful. Anyone with an interest in contemporary yoga music will love Naam Radiance. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Nadaka & Gopika's 'Surya'

Nadaka & Gopika
Surya
Raga Mantra

Nadaka & Gopika's newest release, Surya, contains beautiful, contemplative, and aural-friendly vedic mantras with the light and energy of the sun the primary focus here. The instrumental tunes contain some of Gopika's Indian vocals, but Nadaka's raga guitar, guitar synth, and added vocals add an avant-garde and experimental element to the mix. The duo are joined by tabla, violin, percussion, and sampling on most of the tracks. There is a transcendental quality to the sound that creates a sense of deeper calm and new age spiritualism. The South Asian and Sanskirt-soaked album is meditative enough to be wanted by yoga fanatics and world fusion fans everywhere. There are eight total tracks that range from four to nine minutes in length. There are some electronic subtleties that remind us of the modern era; but nothing is too overdone or overt here. Experience inner and outer light with Surya. ~ 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: Wah!'s 'Opening To Bliss'

Wah!
Opening To Bliss
Sounds True

The music of Wah! is rich with bliss and steeped in meditative qualities inherent in yoga practices and kirtan performances. However, Wah! tones it down a bit and reflects on mostly previously-released material from Saravasana, Saravasana 2, and Saravasana 3 albums. The music is highly-meditative and soaring with glistening whistles, assorted percussion, string drones, and electronic keyboards. Anyone familiar with Wah! will notice her vocal inflections right away. Her previous release, Maa (2010), was a more upbeat yoga pop collection, which is not what Opening To Bliss tries to be. This is meditative music with some throat-singing and an eclectic mix of peaceful instrumentation that is sure to astound everyone who listens to it. There are eleven total tracks that run nearly one hour and ten minutes long. Most of the music is in Sanskrit. Don't miss the bliss with Wah! ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Mercedes Bahleda's ' Path To Bliss'

Mercedes Bahleda
Path To Bliss
White Swan

Based in New York, Mercedes Bahleda incorporates meditative mantras with Hindu, Sanskrit, and yoga-inspired overtones into remarkable kirtan songs. There are seven songs that run about a total length of one-hour. There are loads of heavenly vocals and instruments. For instance, the harmonium, tabla, djembe, violin, cello, guitar, tampura, kalimba, and piano make an appearance on several tracks. The upbeat tracks present the listener with soul-inspiring and soul-defining songs and harmonic textures that transport anyone who listens to the message into the outer realms of humanity. A skilled teacher of devotional music, yoga, and meditation, Mercedes is glad to perform blissful music and teach it to fellow listeners. This is an album that will be loved for all that it is...and more. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Various Artists' 'World Yoga'

Various Artists
World Yoga
Putumayo

Anyone familiar with the relaxing qualities of yoga will be familiar with the music that goes along with it. Our friends at Putumayo have put together an incredible collection of soothing, relaxing, and creative music for yoga--or other relaxing ventures. The music is culled from a variety of musicians, including Sona Jobarteh, Quentin Dujardin, Deva Premal & Miten, DJ Drez, Ara Dinkjian, Geoffrey Oryema, Kelsang Chukie Tethong, Stevin McNamara, and others. The quiet, reflective, and mood-quenching music incorporates scintillating guitar work, vocal harmonies, transcendental arrangements, and contemporary spiritual influences that astound listeners and rejuvenate souls. With musicians from diverse regions as Gambia, Wales, Portugal, Mali, Armenia, Sweden, Tibet, Uganda, and others, World Yoga is truly a global collective of musical styles for the yoga genre. Overall, the music is meditative, vocal, instrumental, and serene. In fact, I cannot stop listening to it. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Nazarenes' 'Meditation'

Nazarenes
Meditation
I Grade Records

Steeped in Rastafarian grooves, produced by a St. Croix native, and two brothers as singers, Noah and Medhane Tewolde, come from Addis Ababa, Ethiopia. The European-based brothers incorporate pan-African elements, island grooves, Jamaican jive, and pop-funk creations. The reggae-inspired album contains jazzy influences, funky beats, and vivid vocals with meaningful lyrics and spiritual connotations. The lyrical worldplay and dancehall sound showcases Nazarenes diverse song repertoire with a laid-back, funky feel that is anything but boring. Fourteen Jah-inspired musical tracks showcase the great amount of creativity and soulful inspiration that give Meditation a shining element that succeeds without a doubt. "Mamy Blues" is an album favorite that seems to combine the pop music styles of Ethiopia and West Africa with the sincerity of French blues and a little Caribbean ambiance. Anyone interested in the music of Jamaica will find happiness on Meditation. ~ 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: Gary Stroutsos' 'Oasis'

Gary Stroutsos
Oasis
White Swan Records

The third recording, Oasis, showcases the meditative and New Age qualities of the bass flute and desert rim flutes. Nine tracks spanning nearly an hour in length display the musical journey through ocean water and the American Desert Southwest. The solo recording features the eerie drone of a sitar-like instrument with ocean waves on "Forgotten Seas," to the contemplative stylings of "Empty Sky." The Oasis title is a good indication for the purpose of the music--as it reflects the meditative and serene melodies of a heavenly existence free from distraction and noise. The quietly-fluid sounds are not particularly ear-catching or pop-laden, but rather, portray a blissful beauty of sweet, instrumental sounds. Fans of flute music, Native American, and New Age music should pick up a copy of Gary's latest work. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Masood Ali Khan's 'Hang With Angels'

Masood Ali Khan
Hang With Angels
White Swan Records

Masood Ali Khan is a meditative master of Sanskrit chants and instrumental repertoires. Masood is joined by various talents with vocals and instrumental accompaniment, including Go-Ray Duke, Steve Gorn, Monica Page, Lisbeth Scott, Visvambhar Sheth, Kamaniya Devi, Suzanne Sterling, Sheela Bringi, and others. The result is a very thought-provoking and relaxing album with eleven songs that will enrapture the meditational, new age, yoga, and world music crowds. Most songs range from six to eight minutes in length, though "Om Asato Ma" and "Bismillah" are both under four minutes. The angelic vocals may in fact be angels, but the music certainly spreads its wings throughout. This is not your typical driving beats, or electronic project, as the tunes are relatively sparse on instrumentation and embellishments. Hang...is actually pronounced 'hung' and it is a drum. This is perfect music for a yoga warm-down session. Recommended tracks: "Dharma Wheel," "The Breath of Krishna," "Jai Bhagavan," and "Sat Yam Shivam Sundaram." ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Girish's 'Diamonds In The Sun'

Girish
Diamonds In The Sun
Independent Release

Girish is an American vocalist, guitarist, keyboardist, and harmonium player with a relaxed, yet intelligent approach to music creation. Specifically, Girish studied yoga, meditation and ancient Sanskrit texts and chants, some of which are incorporated throughout the album. Importantly, this is not a lack-luster attempt at spiritual enlightenment through music. Instead, Girish produces lively, Sanskrit and English-language tracks with pleasant rhythms and folksy vocals all performed under the larger umbrella of the New Age/World Music label. Girish is joined by a plethora of musicians with instruments ranging from the esraj, mandolin, sarangi, piano, violin, and various brass and strings. Altogether, Diamonds In The Sun is a 'brilliant' album in a genre all its own - appropriately defined as 'yoga-pop'. The title track would probably be a perfect single for the genre in a yoga-pop Top 10 list. Listen to Girish bring light into your world. Shine on, shine on! ~ Matthew Forss