An eclectic mix of beats, layers, and chants.
Trevor Hall kicks things off this episode with an acoustic song from his release This is Blue. It is a story about the divine mother and father, Shiva and Shakti, and he sings about them in this context. The track is called Om Shakti Om. Next is new stuff from Chances r Good. One of the lines within the song – “so travel far, travel wide, you will always be inside the house of love”. More deep, chill sounds from him, perfect for meditating on the deeper aspects of life on a sunny afternoon at the park or the beach. The track is aptly entitled One Love. The opening set is capped off with east-meets-west fusion from DJ Drez. This is coming from his second Jahta Beat release, The Progression, with a track entitled True Self.
In 2001 Mike D of the Beastie Boys teamed up with western-born sadhu Bhagavan Das to produce the album Now. We hear one track from those recordings entitled Shri Krishna Arati. This contains the chant “Shri Krishna Govinda Hari Murari..”, names for connecting ones consciousness to the Divine through devotion. Bhagavan Das creates an ethereal, echoing space with his voice and ektara, and we also hear the sound of a bell and conch at the end of the piece. These are two items commonly used in the arati ceremony, which is a process of offering items such as incense and flowers to a form of the Divine.
Madeleine Bachan Kaur, sometimes known simply as Bachan, recently released a collection of music which she entitles Medicine Songs. These are a selection of songs used in types of sacred ceremony which originate from Central and South America. The track we hear is Aguita Que Vienes, a simple piece with guitar and voice, which explains the sacred and healing qualities of the water that flows on our Earth. Following are more Medicine Melodies from the album of the same name by Silvia Nakkach and Christopher Eickmann, with the track Shaman Journey. Singer, songwriter, and yogini, Morley is next with Keep Your Gaze Steady from her collaborative album Rhythms and Improv. “Keep your gaze steady my love, yours are the eyes that have seen God”. The track features tabla by percussionist Ehren Hanson. Capping off this set is another electronic reworking of Buddhist mantra recitation by Gary Azukx, this time with the Heart Sutra chanted by Jigme Khyentse Rinpoche.
The show ends with the Maha-Mantra set to a beautiful, mysterious tune in traditional style, and performed by Jagjit Singh & Chitra Singh. This track is coming from their album Krishna Bhajans.
Alternate MP3 Link – Mantra Radio – May 23rd 2013.mp3