Customer Reviews

The Essence

5 star:		(39)
4 star:		(3)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(2)

 

 

I have a large CD collection, including many, many New Age-type CDs. This is one that I come back to, again and again, in a hundred different situations. It soothes me on a plane, it makes wonderful background music for almost anything except housecleaning, and just generally makes me feel good.

A diverse collection of people have heard this and loved it, from my mother-in-law to neighbor kids. I played it continuously when my grandmother was ill and dying, and while I'm not sure what it did for Grandma, all the caretakers and family members said that it brought them great peace.

I'm buying "Love Is Space" today as a gift for my mother, who also loved "The Essence". If you are looking for something with a beat and a variety of tunes, look elsewhere, but if you want hauntingly beautiful healing music that washes over you in soft waves, then buy Deva Premal.

For years now I have encouraged people to use play lists to provide a soundtrack for work, recreation and contemplation. If done properly, they can quickly put your mind and subtle systems into perfect alignment to carry out whatever you want or need to do. Constructing play lists has become so much easier with the advent of the iPod. One of the fun things about iTunes is being able to see how many times you have played a particular song.

I was a little surprised to see that I had played the crown jewel of this collection - the Gayatri Manta - well over a hundred times over the last five years or so. Deva Premal's interpretation of this famous piece is extraordinarily fine, as is the entire album. It is almost impossible not to be uplifted by her amazing voice, which is rich, resonant and deepened by the most extraordinary sub-harmonics. Indeed if you are not, it may be a helpful pointer that something is not going quite right in your body or in your life, and that it's time to get some guidance about how to help yourself.

So much more than music, this is sound therapy.

"My favorite CD to do yoga to is Deva Premal's 'The Essence'. As a matter of fact I drive my teacher crazy because it's the only one I want to listen to! I can't wait for the new one to come out!"

Cher, Academy Award Winning Actress

When I walked into a local shop and heard this music, I stopped - almost frozen in my tracks... afraid that if I breathed I would miss something. Someone on here wrote "not as passionate as the cover suggests"? I can't believe anyone would think that of this CD. It's the kind of music that opens you up and spills into you and through you. No matter how often I listen to it - I never tire of the songs.

I heard that Deva Premal does American tours occasionally, and I plan to be there if she comes through my town. :)

This CD is delicate and pleasing. The instrumentation is light. Deva Premal's voice is pure, fluid, and joyful, though not as "passionate" as the cover art might suggest.

Track 6 is a standout. It is mostly instrumental, with a light, jazzy texture, and for Deva it is evocative of a rainforest retreat she and her partner attended. It is one of the sunniest pieces of music I've heard in a long time; just try not smiling while you're listening to it. Track 7 is also delightful, a lovely African folk song celebrating the mother of all Goddesses. Track 7 highlights the positive feminine energy which Deva projects throughout the CD.

For me, this CD has an eclectic, New Age flavor, the kind of CD Enya might record if she were a Brazilian living in Denmark. Even though some of the lyrics are sacred chants, the music does not seem to be deeply rooted in the yogic traditions -- in contrast, say, to the music of Krishna Das and Jai Uttal. (I mention those two artists in many reviews; I'm sorry if that's tedious to anyone!) I was a little disappointed by what I perceived to be a lack of spiritual passion, but nevertheless, this CD is definitely pleasant music which will lower your blood pressure and put a smile on your face.

I heard this today in my yoga class and I think her music is just beautiful. My instructor let "Tumare Darsham" play repeatedly, and I liked the song so much that I asked her for the name of the artist. Never considered myself to be a New Age fan at all (extra emphasis on the "at all") but the combination of her voice and the music makes for something I think any true lover of music can appreciate.

This CD was playing softly at workshop I did recently and the music coordinator jotted the name down on the back of my nametag. When I got home and ordered it I was not prepared for the lush beauty and power of Deva and Miten. I have since ordered every single one of Deva and Miten's CDs and they are ALL MAGNIFICANT. Deva's soothing voice and the fantastic arrangements make this an amazing CD to play while loading the dishwasher, healing a client, AT WORK or as a meditation itself. Recently myself and a group used her beautiful Gayatri Mantra in a world healing - and it was so powerful, we were all vibrating when we finished. I cannot say enough about how powerful this CD is, and Deva's music is in my life.

I discovered this CD during a yoga class at a meditation retreat in the Blue Ridge mountains of Virginia. The beauty of the music struck me right away. I interrupted the teacher in the middle of class to find out what was this wonderful music. Bought the CD as soon as I got home. That was two months ago. Now I play it and play it and can't stop playing it. It's just extremely soothing and I don't get tired of it. My favorite is the classic Guyatri mantra. It's magic. Go buy this CD and do some spiritual healing.

This music is for everyone interested in sacred chant. If you've not experienced yogic chanting this is a great CD to start with,
very assesable. Deva's voice is lovely, each track, or song, is soothing, easy to sing along with, and you come to the last song feeling brighter,and happier. The background music is light, perfect for allowing Deva's beautiful voice and haunting chants to hold center stage. You will want to share this heart healing music with loved ones, it's the best selling CD in my Yoga shop! Her second CD, Love is Space is also highly recommended

My yoga instructor often plays track 1 at the end of class while we're resting in savasana--listening brings me back to that feeling of pure bliss and awareness. The whole disk is beautiful.