Breath of the Heart

Krishna Das

Product Details

• Audio CD (September 25, 2001)
• Original Release Date: June 5, 2001
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Razor & Tie
• ASIN: B00005O7SI
• Also Available in: Audio Cassette
• Average Customer Review: 4.5 out of 5 stars See all reviews (34 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #93,985 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com's Best of 2001
Perhaps not as pretty as previous studio releases, Krishna Das's Breath of the Heart nevertheless captures the ecstasy, devotion, and life-affirming qualities of chant. Ably abetted by rap and rock producer Rick Rubin, Das joins with a choir dubbed the Kosmic Kirtan Posse, featuring the East and West Coast Posses, a group of some 50 members including Mike D of the Beastie Boys, while instruments as diverse as harmonium, Hammond B3 organ, violin, guitar, cymbals, and drums play backdrop.

Das and friends, through their gorgeously imperfect music, manage at once to exalt the divine and spotlight the inevitable suffering of the human condition. The core of Breath of the Heart--the lengthy "Kainchi Hare Krishna" and "Ma Durga"--successfully marry the sacred and profane, the temporal and the fixed. --Paige La Grone

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

57 of 59 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Krishna Das' best yet, October 1, 2001

By	Prayer Flags in the Woods (Humboldt County, CA) - See all my reviews

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.

41 of 41 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars If the Heart could Speak, October 18, 2001

By	"mickasa" (Boston, MA) - See all my reviews

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!

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pure Bliss!!!!, October 9, 2001

By A Customer

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!!