Amazingly beautiful!!
author: Justine
I listen to this album constantly....in the car and in the house. The chants are set to wonderful music. The song that has touched me the most is Baso Mere, and when I read the meaning it is basically asking for the ability to see the divine in everyone - what a beautiful wish!
Read more...
Once in a very blue moon...
author: Steven Cain
Having heard a number of fine western musicians interpreting eastern mantras, including the excellent Deva Premal and Yoko, I was pleasantly surprised to find that Maitri have created an original set of interpretations that stand with the very best I have heard from other artists.
Whereas the Deva Premal duo have a fairly standard, recognizable sound from track to track and from album to album, based around one female voice, Maitri capitalize on the interweaving of two female voices and a much bolder and varied choice of musical arrangements, especially in their use of guitar.
The album begins strongly with Shri Ram and maintains the quality and creativity throughout, including tight, rich harmonies on tracks such as Baso Mere, the almost Philip Glass-like hypnotic repetition of Siva Mantra and the equally compelling quasi-Peter Gabriel/Kate Bush World feel of Samastha Lokah.
The Indo-Jazz/World backing tracks are second to none and the musicianship, likewise. These are extremely refreshing interpretations of many classic mantras, and the ever-shifting yet complementary styles make for an album that never grows stale. There is so much depth here that I found myself being reminded of everything from high-end Sixties psychedelia, especially Jefferson Airplane’s finest work, such as on Medicine Buddha Mantra and Vande Gurunam, to Philip Glass and the mighty John McLaughlin’s Shakti.
Being a major fan of Sheila Chandra and Susheela Raman, it takes a lot to impress me, but Maitri have managed to do that and then some. These are brilliantly nuanced performances from a band that would be sheer dynamite ‘live’. More, please.
Steven Cain, author/screenwriter, One Star Awake and Sirius Moonlight.
Read more...