CD Review: Yungchen Lhamo and Anton Batagov's 'Tayatha'

Yungchen Lhamo and Anton Batagov
Tayatha
Cantaloupe Music

Tibet's golden voice, Yungchen Lhamo, joins forces with Russia's post-minimalist pianist, Anton Batagov. The two unlikely paired up to form a unique blend of Buddhist devotional and folk music with equal pairings of classical and jazz. The rather minimalist recording does not include many instruments, as the human voice takes the lead. The piano melodies are rather reduced and soft. There are seven total tracks on the album. Many of the songs are over eight minutes long. The long songs tend to enrapture listeners into a devotional trance that is angelic and melodic in the same manner. The spacious rhythms and melodies reflect an Inner Asian and Russian ambiance. Anyone familiar with yoga music, Tibetan chants, religious vocal music, Russian piano music, and world fusion from this part of the world will love Yungchen's long-awaited follow-up to Ama. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: MC Yogi & The Sacred Sound Society's 'Pilgrimage'

MC Yogi & The Sacred Sound Society
Pilgrimage
Mindful Talent/White Swan Records

MC Yogi lights up the charts with blissful banter that is performed in the style of hip hop, rap, urban, and South Asian-inspired styles. The largely contemporary work contains a plethora of genres, including dance, electronica, street music, rap, rock, hip hop, klezmer, and pop with a nice dose of jazz. The music is similar in tone to the Beastie Boys--if they were yogis. At any rate, the electronic wizardry, record scratches, boisterous horns, rock drum-kits, and harmonium-inspired melodies create an energetic appeal to young yogis the world over. The incredibly catchy and divine "Jai Sita Ram" contains a steady, but slow beat with Sanskrit vocals and a droning harmonium. There are nineteen incredible tracks with lovely flutes, percussion, urban jingles, and danceable riffs that are sure to awaken anyone's darkened soul. Let MC Yogi & The Sacred Sound Society lead you on the path to enlightenment with their latest, poignantly-titled devotion--Pilgrimage. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: MC Yogi's 'Elephant Power'

MC Yogi

Elephant Power

White Swan Records

MC Yogi is a yogi hip hop star in the world of transcendental music today. Elephant Power is a highly melodic hip hop album with various guest musicians, including Bhagavan Das, Jai Uttal, Krishna Das, Rita Sahai, Sharon Gannon, and Sukhawat Ali Khan. MC Yogi's lyrics touch on Eastern philosophy and Buddhist teachings. This is not your typical hip hop album that praises lewd language, violence, and non-sensical lyrics. Surely, MC Yogi is a guiding light and intelligent lyricist with a wise tongue and spiritual presence. MC Yogi is the vocalist and harmonium player on the album. However, a range of instruments are used by others, including the ektar, conch, bells, dotar, bansuri flute, tabla, dholak, guitar, turntables, bass, and drums. Elephant Power is a weighty album of profound stories and catchy melodies in English and Sanskrit. This is perfect for the younger crowd, but older adults will find comfort in the musical message, too. Let MC Yogi tickle your chakras with the hip hop of Hanuman! Also available: Elephant Powered Remixes and Omstrumentals [2 CD]. ~ Matthew Forss