Dakshina

Album Review

Experts say that, used correctly, the human voice is capable of great healing, and Indian-born mantra singer Deva Premal has taken those innate abilities to the top of the new age charts for years. Working with her musical partner, Miten, the soothing, low-toned vocalist has had private audiences with the Dalai Lama, and has worked with celebrities from motivational speaker Tony Robbins to Cher. The soothing and hypnotic eight tracks of Dakshina will no doubt prove another triumph with Premal's base of yoga students, therapists, and alternative health practitioners. It begins with the contemplative, somewhat mournful, and simply produced "Om Hraum" before expanding in scope with the richer harmonies and instrumentation of "Om Namah Shivaya." Other tracks like "Homage to Krishna" and "Guru Rinpoche Mantra" slowly and beautifully blend dreamy ambiences with rich, ultra-soulful vocal textures. The sweet taste of India abounds in the instrumentation throughout, making this a geographic as well as inner spiritual journey.