This two-disc set is divided according to its usefulness to the listener. Disc one is the choice for the yoga part and is perhaps a slightly active version of peace. The booklet even shows a number of hatha yoga poses to try while singing along to a selection of
chants
that invoke various divinities by repeating their names over and again.
Jai Uttal
sings to the young cowherd deity
Lord Krishna
on his
fusion
-laced
"Gopala"
and
Bhagavan Das
praises
Ram
with a melodic groove, while
Dave Stringer
offers a quiet prayer to
Lord Ganesha
, the elephant-headed boy who removes obstacles. Both tracks from
Krishna Das
honor
Lord Shiva
, one being a previously unreleased, rhythm-based "prayer" to his fierce Rudra incarnation. Two lesser-known artists also make fine contributions --
Wah!
Diana Rogers
, both of whom have sung as part of the
Krishna Das Kirtan Posse
over the years. So you've got all that energy out and now you are ready to meditate or be passively peaceful? Pop in disc two and chill on out. The aural landscape painted by
Drala
is a bit on the
new age
side, but calming nonetheless.
Benjy Wertheimer
and his esraj (a
classical Indian
string instrument) lay down two pieces based on the alap (a
musical statement), though the specific
ragas
are not named. The disc closes with the legendary "Emperor of Melody,"
Ali Akbar Khan
. A master of the sarod who has been performing since 1936,
Khan
offers
"Morning Meditatio,"
which originally appeared on his 1990 release
Journey
. ~ Kelly McCartney