CD: Shri Ram

On the follow-up to their much-beloved OM NAMAH SHIVAYA, Robert Gass and On Wings of Song perform two affecting renditions of the sacred Hindu "Sri Ram Jai Ram" mantra. The first version repeats the OM NAMAH formula by presenting the chant as a temperate choral hymn garnished only by acoustic guitar and subtle percussion. Unswerving rhythm and gentleness create a soft bed of sound for meditation, massage, or other healing work. The second version is where things get interesting. Rendered in a more traditional Kirtan style, the chant starts off slowly and builds in tempo and intensity over the course of almost 30 minutes. Sweet vocals are undergirded by the drone of a tamboura. About a third of the way through, the vocal chant is replaced with a more insistent call-and-response section, as sitar and tabla emerge in the mix. The tablas are joined by shakers and hand-cymbals and the pace gets wild. The end of the track restores the peaceful sparseness of the beginning. This second track is ideal for chanting along or dancing.