Temple of Love

Rasa

Product Details

• Audio CD (February 14, 2006)
• Original Release Date: February 14, 2006
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: New Earth Records
• ASIN: B000E3LCQY
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.4 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (5 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #57,722 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Rasa return with another CD of dream hymns from India. Taking their early cues from the pop arrangements of the 1970 George Harrison-produced hit "Govinda" by the Radha Krsna Temple, they turn Indian bhajans or hymns into often intoxicating entreaties. As on previous discs, Hans Christian creates deeply layered orchestrations of cello, sitar, sarangi (a bowed Indian stringed instrument), electronics, and percussion. That's the pond upon which singer Kim Waters drops her chant melodies in one of those serene voices that descend from the heavens. While other Rasa albums tended toward the slow-trance electronica side of groove, Temple of Love had a dreamier, contemplative sound often free of rhythm. "Jaya Radhe" and "Parama Karuna" follow this path with Waters in a free-float over drones that unfold like colored smoke. But rhythm isn't completely absent. "Doya Koro" and "Om Purnam" have slow, seductive trance pulses that mix loops and Indian hand percussion. However, "Adharam Madhuram" almost heads into ethno-lounge terrain. The title of this album, Temple of Love, refers to the temples of Khajuraho in India, known for their erotic carvings and love stories. Rasa could have provided their perfect soundtrack. These aren't your standard Hare Krishna chants anymore. --John Diliberto

Product Description

"Inner divinity unveiled! A tantric twist to deep inner peace. Vocals and instrumentals in perfect harmony bring calm, serenity, and a universal connection to what body-mind-soul is all about. Let dreams become reality in every practice – in life!" – Hope Zvara, Yoga Teacher

Rasa’s latest release, Temple of Love, blends Hans Christian’s excellent meditative and ethereal instrumentation with the achingly beautiful vocals of Kim Waters, creating a distinctive style of classic, yet contemporary, Indian spiritual music. Hans Christian is a classically trained musician originally from Germany. In early adulthood he moved to Los Angeles and quickly became connected in the local music scene. When he met up with Kim Waters in Northern California, they began to develop their own sound that fused her voice with his musicianship. Kim Waters is a distinguished singer and illustrator whose publications include Illuminations from the Bhagavad Gita and The Butter Thief. She has been singing devotional songs of the Vaisnava saints for many years, inspired by the mystical teachings and rich cultural heritage of India. On Temple of Love, Rasa echoes the soothing, hypnotic aspects of Indian spiritual music, adding modern production while maintaining respect for! tradition. Ideal music to facilitate relaxation, meditation, & yoga.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

10 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars More sinuous, sensual Indian fusion from Rasa, September 29, 2006

By	Brianna Neal (USA) - See all my reviews

This is the gentlest and quietest of Rasa's recordings of Indian devotional songs, and perhaps the one best suited for deep meditation. The tone of "Temple of Love" is a bit more whimsical and spacey than that of previous albums, with more synthesizer ambience and less emphasis on drum beats. Kim Waters' voice glides and croons above a symphony of gentle instrumentals, overdubbed by Hans Christian on a multitude of stringed instruments ranging from cello and Scandinavian nyckleharpa to Indian sitar and sarangi, not to mention keyboards and ethnic percussion. Though unique unto itself, Rasa's music was developing a tendency to all sound the same after a while. This dreamy, laid back album is a welcome departure, with some new modes and melodies, and different orchestrations. That being said, the first track "Jaya Radhe" (while not at all the same as the similarly named "Jaya Radha" from the previous album, "Shelter") does sound very similar to something I remember hearing on an earlier release, but I can't place it. The other songs, however, are fresh and new. For more by Rasa, try "Light and Spirit," Hans Christian's solo venture into the world of Renaissance polyphony, with his unique blend of cello, nyckelharpa and sarangi overdubs in tow. It's an interesting twist on the repertoire!

5.0 out of 5 stars Devotional Music, December 21, 2009

By	Jyoti "meditator" (California) - See all my reviews

Amazon Verified Purchase

This is my favorite of all the Rasa's albums. The music is exquisitley beautiful both in vocals and instrumentation. The sarengi (Indian violin) is most evocative of devotion. This album can be used in devotional practices, meditation, yoga or relaxation. The "Temple of Love" lives up to its name.

7 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars A Journey of Transcendence, June 7, 2006

By	Lucy Destin (San Antonio, TX USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Amazon Verified Purchase

Rasa's latest offering creates the space for the listener to not only transcend universal consciousness but to actually FEEL the the cellular structure relax and align to the memory of Oneness. It's a carefully crafted process - tracks 1-5 set the stage so gently the mind doesn't quite realize what's occurring, track 6 is "lift-off," tracks 7-9 afford the opportunity to live in that state of eternal remembrance. Many, many thanks for sharing this amazing gift, Rasa!