Guru Dass met Yogi Bhajan in 1971 when he was 17 years old. Since that time he has been practicing Kundalini yoga, and traveling the world to train teachers and create communities. In the yoga music world, it's very common for artists to merge ancient mantras and ragas with the modern musical influences of their own cultures. Guru Dass does just that, bringing his 25 years in Spain to the music of his new album, Namo. With gorgeous instrumentals and uplifting vibes, Namo is a great album to add to anyone's yoga music collection.
Namo opens and closes with “Ong Namo Guru Dev Namo” and “Long Time Sun.” While many of us have likely heard countless versions of these tracks, they are no less wonderful this time around. Guru Dass' “Ong Namo” has some Spanish flair, with a fantastic guitar line that gives it a really unique feel. And all of the voices on “Long Time Sun” really make you feel as though you're singing with a bunch of friends at the end of class.
One of the extended tracks on Namo is “Akhan Jor.” If you have a regular practice of reciting Japji, or you participated in the Spirit Voyage Japji Global Sadhana, these words will be quite familiar. If not, Guru Dass' version of this pauri will inspire you to learn it! This is another track with great musical accompaniment, and is incredibly energizing and uplifting.
One track which really stood out, and which I hit repeat for numerous times was “Crimson.” Here, Guru Dass covers Snatam Kaur's beautiful rendition of this song. While staying true to her melody, he brings a different energy to the words. Where Snatam's version expresses a tender devotion, Guru Dass's version has a joyful energy. The backup vocals and fun instrumentals bring to mind a spontaneous outburst of singing.
At the heart of the album are two versions of the same mantra. It might seem a bit unusual to have the same mantra repeated, but each version brings a different energy to the album. “Joy – Ad Gurei Nameh” brings the joy of doing something you love that is very comforting and familiar. It's not the joy of ecstatic dance, but rather a more peaceful and grounded joy. “Heart – Ad Gurei Nameh” feels tender and has a sweetness to it that really does connect you with your heart center.
“Wahe Guru Jio – Techno” is really fun, and feels like a bonus track on the album. It has a great beat and really high energy, making it perfect for challenging kriyas or active yoga practices. It would also be wonderful for a yoga dance party! While the groove is a bit different from the rest of the album, the spirit of joy and fun fits right in with the other tracks on Namo.
“Pavan Guru” has really cool instrumentation, and nice flute playing which gives it a nice, airy feel. But as the track progresses it also has a sort of funky, energetic, swingin' instrumental feel. It's really fun to listen to! The chanting of the mantra is very powerful, and the whole track has a great energy overall.
Guru Dass has also included two of his own English songs on Namo. The first, “My Hands Are Empty,” is a sweet devotional song. The lovely keyboards and beautiful backup vocals really help to create a powerful mood of devotion and love. The track “Who Cares” is incredibly catchy, and you may find it sticking with you throughout the day. One line that stayed with me was “In their quest for happiness some end up in Hell.” This line was a great reminder for me that too much grasping after things or results will lead to difficulty.
Guru Dass said that Namo is all about Divine Love. Rather than trying to fill yourself with external things, surrender to Divine Love and be filled from within. After listening to Namo, I'm sure you'll feel the same way! To find out more about Guru Dass and to purchase Namo, visit www.spiritvoyage.com today!
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