The Bhaktidevanta Book Trust
www.templebhajanband.com
Apparently in the lively yoga scene of Southern California, the Temple Bhajan Band is a hot ticket. It's not hard to imagine why, listening to this spirited album. Like Afro-American gospel music, this Indo-American counterpart is passionate and soulful - and it rocks. Compared to the ascetic chanting of Krishna Das (America's superstar of Hindu devotional music), Mantra Yoga is Party music.
Central to the band's appeal is lead singer Sura. With the voice of a gritty East Indian crooner, you would never know he's a white American guy who used to play folk music.
At times, as on "Vasudeva Para Veda," Sura hits an ecstatic stride that brings to mind the late, great Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan. In contrast, female lead singer Mahalaxmi dasi bears an unmistakably Western accent and a voice as virgin pure as Sura's is old spice. But, unlike Sura, Mahalaxmi's mastery of Eastern scales is less than pitch-perfect.
While the songs and instrumentation on Mantra Yoga are steeped in India, the occasional Western touch - like the Claptonesque guitar licks on "Hare Krishna" - blends right in. In this very pleasing set of devotional songs, the Temple Bhajan Band succeeds in being spiritual without being monotonous and tuneful without being saccharine.
It is so obvious they have the vibration and years behind them. (Eyes of The World Yoga Providence, RI)
I felt like I was in an ashram again. (Compassionate Yoga Northampton, PA)
Again, I'm impressed with the combination of Indian with more western styles, such as the rock'n'roll feel of Sva Gatam Gange. Loka Samasta was a personal favorite. (Atma Center Cleveland Heights, OH)
This is beautiful chant. Traditional, relaxing. (Yoga Energy Thousand Oaks, CA)
This was a very nice surprise. (Mid Peninsula Yoga Burlingame, CA)
One of my students felt very healed after listening to this. (Northwoods Yoga Rhinelander, WI)
liked a lot (A Gentle Way, La Mesa, CA)
I was surprised and impressed by the pranic potency within which this CD seems to have been created. The chants were sincere, the mixes elegant, and the cellular impact quite loving. the devotional intensity was palpatable.
(High Performance Yoga, Tarzana CA)
Like the mix of chants, a nice introduction to Bhajans. (Yoga RX, Steamboat Springs, CO)
liked authentic feeling of this one. (Dharma Delta, West Monroe, LA)
liked the mix of chants; a nice introduction to bhajans (Highland Lake Yoga, Hendersonville, NC)
Very transcedental and good to listen to. Synergy Yoga Center in Miami Beach, FL
Like the chants & call and response. Yoga and Healing Oasis in Seacrest, FL