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: Deva Premal's 'Password'

Deva Premal
Password
Sounds True

Deva is an incredible kirtan vocalist with a pop-music side that is still steeped in the yogic traditions that made her popular years ago. Together with Manose, a Nepalese bansuri flute master and her partner, Miten, who is a vocalist and guitarist, Deva knows how to create inspirational and meditative music that is quite pleasing. The music contains a variety of instruments, including slide guitar, bass, piano, cello, keyboards, drums, congas, bata, and various guitars. The backing vocals on “Sri Nanda-Nandanastakam” are especially inviting. At any rate, fans of Deva’s previous work on Dakshina in 2005 may notice a bit of a departure. Still, the music may not be completely traditional kirtan, but its contemporary feel is what makes Password shine. ~ Matthew Forss