Rasa - Union

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Music reviews of Union

Music Review: The Reservation Yogis
Rating: 3 Stars

Having spent over a decade analyzing the best and worst of new age music, I long ago decided that the only worthwhile artists of the 80s were Dead Can Dance, and to an extent, Enya. In the 1990s we've seen Lisa Gerrard, Vas, and Loreena, but other than that I haven't really experienced anyone who has that *special something*. Yes, theres Susheela Raman and a few artists from the Real World Catalog, but apart from that, theres been no real force in New Age music, unless of course you love the 'fluff', into which I would heap Yanni, Vangelis, some of Enya, and almost all of the new Sheila Chandra stuff.

Rasa's work here doesn't do much to salvage their tarnished reputation as "white tourists in Krishna Suits". While such specimens are indeed a welcome sight (at least to me), theres something about the delivery that is profoundly contrived, extremely artificial. At one point, it all seemed no better than Yanni's self-indulgent show before the Taj Mahal a few years ago, where the main star turned out to be him, and not the music. Rasa's two main players aren't posterboys for the New Age industry (yet) unlike their Scandinavian counterparts in Secret Garden, but I must say that they come across as a little too eager for my liking. The music is pretty enough, and there are brief moments that shine, but overall there is something sorely missing.

Lead singer Kim, unfortunately, will never make it to my world-diva list. "Union" is a series of Sanskrit scrolls set to music, and Kim's diction is all but criminal. Listen to the first track "Kabe Habe Bolo", with its beautiful instrumentation and rhythm - and also notice how her voice lends absolutely nothing to the divine composition. In places, I actually wanted her to stop singing so that the music could take over instead. Thankfully, in patches, the music drowned out her voice, which you could call a blessing, but like all blessings, this one suffered the invertendo complex - most of the songs here are sub-par digital recordings that sound like they've been taped off a cassette (if you're looking for quality New Age recordings, you should go to Real World or Putumayo, and steer clear of Hearts of Space, which is the one this is on).

Most of the songs on the album are very long. I suppose you could call this yoga-class fodder. Doubtless there are many instructors who use this in their sessions. Good for them. But as a work of art, or even as a passable new age music concoction, "Union" is quite a hideous little contraption. And thats the best I can say for this, really. I am rather suprised though, because their last album 'Devotion' was a beautiful, soaring album of Krishna Bhajans and devotional hymns that were wonderfully recorded. I'd give that album a 4. I'm giving this a three because I know what Rasa are capable of, and this is not one of their best efforts. The reviews here that wax eloquent are almost embarrassing.

If you're really interested in some great New Age stuff, check out "Salt Rain" by Susheela Raman, "Vol.2" by Afro Celt Sound System, "The Seven Steps to Mercy" by Iarla O'Lionaird, and "The Isle of Dreaming" by Kate Price.

Description of Union

Alternative Rock CDs

• Music > Styles
• World Music
• New Age
• Pop