Devotion

Rasa | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (April 11, 2000)
• Original Release Date: April 11, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Hearts of Space
• ASIN: B00004SBWU
• Also Available in: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (37 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #89,290 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

16 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Generally satisfying, July 31, 2000

By A Customer

This review is from: Devotion (Audio CD)

A generally solid debut CD from the group Rasa. "Devotion" is easy on the ears, and probably well- suited to meditation or relaxation activities. Lead singer Kim Waters has a wonderfully melodic voice, and Hans Christian is a well-known musician in the genre. While the songs on the CD are all quality recordings, professionally done, what is missing are any up-tempo pieces as might be found on a CD by Dead Can Dance or Vas, and as a result the songs tend to blend one into the other after a while. Also because of the sameness of the songs, there's little differentiation in the emotions evoked by the music. So while I like the songs that are on here quite a bit, it's a CD you have to be in a certain mood for to appreciate fully.

15 of 16 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars lovely, lyrical, and lack-luster, April 6, 2003

By 

Kevin Conare (Philadelphia, PA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Devotion (Audio CD)

Kim Water's voice is very pretty. Hans Christian's instrumentals are wonderfully subtle and create the real East-West fusion here. Though I can feel their devotion, I am much less enthusiastic than many of the other reviewers.

Bengali Vaishnava songs, the inspiration for these songs, are known for ecstatic devotion, intense longing, and/or deep pathos. You won't find that here. Instead, a meditative exotic atmosphere replaces the soul's passionate call to the divine. Very spiritual, but not capturing the "rasa" I would have expected.

Most of these melodies in this album are based on the melodies and interpretations of that the Radha Krishna Temple(s) and George Harrison produced around 1970. These are all really great. I am a little surprised that none of the editors' comments acknowledge the source material and inspiration for these songs.

12 of 13 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Amazon's New Age album of the year in 2000!, November 3, 2001

By 

Sarah - See all my reviews
(TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (VINE VOICE)   

This review is from: Devotion (Audio CD)

I'd never heard of Rasa before reading Amazon.com's top picks for last year. "Devotion" was the winner for New Age. I was surprised to see that the record label of Rasa was Hearts of Space; I have been listening to Hearts of Space CDs for over ten years.

I rushed out to buy Rasa and it has not left my CD player since. Mystic, stirring, spiritual, relaxing. "Devotion" speaks to something in me that other New Age/Indian CDs don't. More than traditional music, this is a spiritual journey through India.

Kim Waters' voice is entrancing, reminding me a bit of Loreena McKennitt occasionally. Her voice comes in smooth waves that crescendo with the music. Kim does not, however, sing with the modulation of the Indian style, rather with her own brand of intonation. I wouldn't mistake her for a classically trained Indian singer, but she has a very fine voice that suits the music perfectly.The instruments are a blend of Indian traditional and synthesizers/modern percussion.

Rasa is my favourite New Age group. Their new CD "Union" was released a month or two ago and if possible it's even better than "Devotion." Their music is a blend of fantasy, spirituality, mysticism, and the sounds of India.