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Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Dance artists have been weaving ethnic sounds into their mixes for a long time now, but few bring Cheb i Sabbah's ardor for the source material. On Devotion, there are only sparse cues you're dealing with a dance artist at all. As on past releases like 2002's Krishna Lila, Sabbah stays out of the way to let sitars and tabla rhythms drive the music instead of beats and basslines. He doesn’t mix so much as round out the material, adding integrated production cues to perk western ears up around patterns and phrases. The repetition of Middle Eastern ragas and drones conjures a relaxed trance state, and Sabbah’s delicate touch only accentuates those pre-existing ambient textures. Devotion, while very much in keeping with that strategy, tweaks it somewhat with a softer, lither feel. There is still dark mystery on songs like "Aaye Bhairav Bholanath" and the minimalist, record-closing title track. But songs like "Koi Bole Ram Ram" and the dub-influenced "Haun Vaari Haun Varaney" have an airy quality, and that light-headedness defines the record. There is ample material here for other adventurous DJs to build on, but the gracious tranquility cultivated here stands just fine on its own. –Matthew Cooke
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Most Helpful Customer Reviews
10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Nectar of devotion,
By Amaranth "music fan" (Northern California) - See all my reviews
Amazon Verified Purchase(What's this?)
This review is from: Devotion (Dig) (Audio CD)
DJ Cheb I Sabbah's "Devotion" heralds the Algerian mixmaster's welcome return to Indian devotional music. Cheb I Sabbah has mellowed over the years;this new album shows how he has matured. It's an electrifying album,a divine love song. He named it in honor of Carlos Santana/John McLaughlin's "Love Surrender Devotion";he dedicates it to "the sole aim of sharing&spreading tolerance,peace,love&understanding." It's healing mystical music. DJ Cheb I Sabbah powerfully blends the Hindu,Sufi&Sikh traditions of India.
"Devotion" opens with the rhythmic,lilting "Jai Bhavani" that gradually grows to a climax. "Qalanderi" has a soft groove that blends Indian classical music with reggae's shuffling beat. "Haun Vaari Haun Varaney" is a calming musical journey. One could imagine it playing in the background for meditation&yoga. "Aaye Bhairav Bholanath" is a musical fraternal twin to the opening track. It's similar in its chanting that grows to a rhythmic climax. However,its electric effects make it almost worthy of the dancefloor. The closing,the eerie "Devotion" suffuses the sounds of Varanasi,the "city of light" with electric effects and an underlying rhythm. "Devotion" is more soothing&New Agey than its predecessors "Shri Durga" (Indian techno honoring the warrior goddess Durga) and "Krishna Lila" (slightly more acoustic,honoring Krishna,an avatar of Vishnu). It would be perfect music for a spa,or meditation&yoga. The songs flow naturally into each other. "Devotion" is a mystical Valentine's Day album,evoking the spiritual/sensual love play of the lover and the beloved.
10 of 12 people found the following review helpful:
3.0 out of 5 stars
Not as hot as his other stuff,
By
This review is from: Devotion (Dig) (Audio CD)
One reviewer said that Cheb has mellowed over the years, I agree, he has mellowed but not for the better. This album seems a bit soft when compared to classics like Durga and Krishna. Its not in the abscence of dance songs that he has mellowed, I never liked his dance songs, its just that so far this album doesnt seem to try to put you in contact with the gods. Its very soft and somewhat fluffy. It seems more like its simply Adult Indian contemporary rather than ancient Indian brought into the quantum era, like his other albums. Maybe it will grow on me, but so far I'm still on terra firma, and that obviously is not a good thing. I was worried when I saw the albums cover that it might be soft, and it seems like my worst fears have come true.
6 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I have everything by Cheb i Sabbah,
By Johannes Climacus (Fairway, KS, United States) - See all my reviews
This review is from: Devotion (Dig) (Audio CD)
This follows in the footsteps of Krishna Lila. Wonderful stuff. The most sensitive "remixing" of Indian music I know.
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