Customer Reviews

Breath of the Heart

5 star:		(27)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(3)

 

 

To my mind this the best Krishna Das cd yet. It has been interesting to watch his music evolve over his four cds. This latest one is basically straight up Hindu devotional chanting, with very nice accompaniment, and excellently produced. Once again all the kirtans have the extended lengths that he used on the "Live on Earth" album, and this allows the chanting time to fully develop. Along with that, this cd comes with the really nice production values of being recorded in the studio, that were sometimes lacking on the "Live" cd. It is always with mixed feelings when I hear someone say that one cut is so good to make a cd worthwhile in itself, but I do say that about the first kirtan of the cd - "Baba Hanuman". Krishna Das opens it with a very beautiful, slow esraj and flute accompaniment, and then rolls into an ecstatically sweet Rama/Hanuman kirtan. It is a definite heart opener. There is no doubt that when the eventual "best of Krishna Das" cd comes out, "Baba Hanuman" will be on it (if the different record companies agree). Like the "Live" album, on this cd there are a number of chants that have appeared on his previous albums - but I for one don't mind. Particularly this "Jaya Jagatambe" (here called "Ma Durga") is his best version yet. And KD has included nice versions of my own personal favorites from his first cd, "Kashi Vishvanath Gange" and "Brindavan Hare Ram". My only complaint is that a couple of the chants eventually get a little too uptempo for my taste, but hey, those who like to rock out to the name will get off on them. If you like Krishna Das, buy this album. If you don't know him yet, and are interested in "westernized" traditional Hindu devotional music, buy this cd. Both in terms of its production and its heart, it is beautiful.

If the heart could speak, these are the words it would say. I returned from a yoga camp this summer after hearing the first track off this CD over and over again as I lay on my mat at the end of my practice. I eagerly awaited its arrival in stores (literally counting the days!) and bought several copies for friends (it IS that good!) I listen to A LOT of music; sacred and secular, and Krishna Das knows the soul's own voice- the one you cry out with without knowing-the one that has always known you. These melodies will stick to you in your sleep and in your dreaming-as you wait in line at the grocery store- they will be a strength for you from the drone of daily life-and yes- the first track, "Baba Hanuman" and the catchy "Ma Durga" are both more than worth the price you will pay for this CD. This is his best yet- your heart will open into a thousand little pieces. But don't be afraid! Get it!

This is such an amazing Cd and Krishna Das is such an amazing artist with a true gift from God!! The first track is well worth the price. From the very begining until the end this CD will slowly melt away all those knots strangling your heart and leave you with a very warm fuzzy feeling. If your stressed or upset with the world pop this CD in and it will be impossible to stay upset for to long:~)
I think this is definately his best Cd yet, it is very well produced and you can tell he has matured as a composer of Hindu Kirtans.
Very Well done Krishna Das! Love Ya!!

Krishna Das' "Breath of the Heart" offers another facet of his artistic skill in allowing chanting to be heard in a way that is meaningful to Western ears. This music exemplifies the pure longing of the heart for all that is spirit. What I find so moving about this particular CD is the feeling it evokes, which is one of steadiness, devotion, longing, purity and beauty.

The wonderful thing about his past CD's is that he is a skilled and creative musician and his interpretation of chant into sounds that those of us in our culture would find pleasing is a great service. His past CD's have elements of fun, joy, drama and great feeling for the expansive realm of chant. This CD is very direct and deep. The music is confident and draws one in to a very special inner place. But it is the feeling one remembers about Breath of the Heart. Listening to this feels like being a part of a sincere heart to heart interaction with what is most meaningful and important. Thank you, Krishna Das.

The release of KD's new CD couldn't be more timely. It is just the tonic to help us open our hearts after September 11th. Each chant is extermely powerful, with the passion rising as they progress. This is not a passive experience. It is impossible to just listen. You are drawn in, and as you join in the chants, your heart opens to it's own divinity. The instrumental arrangements add more subtle power. It is one of this years most important and powerful CD releases. Buy it, and then buy more for your friends.

Count me among the new members of the posse. The excerpts you can listen to here don't do this CD or the music justice. These are chants and naturally, they start slow and roll on to a full boil like a pot of water on the fire. By midway, things are usually rockin'. The pieces you hear on Amazon are the warming and don't represent.

This is unusual music for me to have in my collection but a friend made a workout tape and included the first track from this CD. It's as hypnotic as they come and I was hooked from first listen. It's not just me though. I play music for my class of 250 students before each lecture... I mean, we have a great sound system in the lecture hall, why not use it, right? I put Krishna Das on one day and received over 20 requests about the musician. On a very good day I might get two but this track perked the students right up.

If you've ever heard Enigma and thought it sounded at least somewhat interesting, next time you want to try something new, gives this CD a gamble. And then try to get the chants out of your head.

On the 21st of Sept, we were supposed to go & see Krishna Das in Manhattan. Needless to say, we decided not to make that trip. Sept 28th, I got to hear him on his new CD "Breath of the Heart"..My trip to work wasn't long enough! #5, Om Namo Bhagavate Vasudevaya is fantastic, with well played djembe speeding things up, and as you chant along, you get a wonderful head buzz. The addition of guitars, bansuri and violin add a reverent, sweet tone to most of the music. He's helping to lighten my saddened heart.
Be sure to read his liner notes, they are great & inspired...
The photo on the back is enjoyable...he looks like an old blues man...:)
Next CD, I'd love to hear something to Saraswati and Ganesha..help expand understanding of other dieties.
If you've liked his other CDs, I don't think you'll be dissapointed.

This is a vibrational banquet of God crazed devotion that will burrow into the marrow of your bones. Krishna Das is beyond tapped in, with cuts like Ma Durga. Your swelling heart will float up into your glottis. Amrita will drip down the back of your throat. You'll dance in an ecstatic rapture as Grace (endogeonous opiods, if you are of a practical, scientific bent) showers upon you. Get a dozen copies of this CD to send to your friends. It is THAT good.

I never write reviews but I sure read them. I can't help myself this time. This CD is so extraordinary that I have to try. For someone who grew up in the 60's and through some amazing musical times, I am totally blown away by this music. I had never heard Kirtin chants... I thought they would be very foreign and weird sounding... this music is so deep, so reverberating and so HIP too! I can't get the chants out of my head, and it's WONDERFUL! I carry the CD from the house to the car to work and back again...I finally had a chance to play a cut (number 5) for my 25 year old daughter and she listened for about 2 minutes and said "I HAVE to have this CD NOW... I'll give you anything!!!!"
We both just sat in the car listening and smiling and laughing out loud... it's hard to sit still!!! It's as though a smile is starting down deep in your stomach and just won't be suppressed...I am so thankful for finding it ... and for Kirshna Das and his inspiration... and his gift... You have to hear this!
You can definately believe all these reviewers.... times ten!

This is a direct quote from my 7 year old. I added CD this as well as "Pilgram Heart" to my wish list and was suprised when they both arrived in a box for my children. I have this in the cd alarm to awaken gradually to a peaceful, heartfelt morning. It's playing when I wake my daughter. At bedtime, I turned the cd on and my daughter looked peacefully up at me and proceded to tell me about her dream where a boy found a key, opened a door and then he and his family began to sing this song (Babu Hanuman) It was so beautiful. I asked her what was so beautiful and she replied his singing, It's so beautiful. It is.