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: Various Artists' 'Meditative Massage Music'

Various Artists
Meditative Massage Music
White Swan Records

The wholly instrumental release, Meditative Massage Music, is ideal for relaxing, yoga, listening, and thinking. It is reflective and blissful with a host of White Swan Records musicians, including Omkar, Gary Stroutsos, Damien Rose, Prem Joshua, Stevin McNamara, and others. The music is slow and meandering. The fluid movements of aural sound envelope the listener as the music soars to new heights. There are guitars, keyboards, Indian percussion, and Tibetan musical instruments that set the tone of great brilliance. The music is much more reduced than other contemporary releases that focus primarily on upbeat, urban, and hip-hop elements. As a whole, Meditative Massage Music is spot-on with reflective sounds and dreamy tones that awaken the spirit and encapsulate the soul. ~ Matthew Forss