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Lamas Chants - Dubbel CD

Marking the 10th year since this popular Buddhist chant album was first released, this reissue ups the ante by featuring an expanded format. The first disc is a re-mastered version of the original album. The second features unreleased live performances by Gyurme and keyboardists Rykiel and Loy Ehrlich between 1995 and 2001, and it's this second disc that is truly intriguing. Recorded in caves, cathedrals, concert halls and open air festivals, the quality of the recordings is excellent. Mostly chanting and occasionally doing some long tones, Gyurme's voice again seemingly embodies a mix of the human and the holy during his prayers for healing, purification, liberation and peace--he's particularly spectacular on his solo intro to "The Mantra Of Padmasambhaval." Musically, Ehrlich seamless fills out Rykiel's ambient backgrounds, and two do a fine job accentuating the drama and majesty of Gyurme's voice, only overpowering it on the opening "Sacred Words Of Liberation." This is definitely a reissue that deserves to replace the original. --Tad Hendrickson
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Originally released almost a decade ago, The Lama's Chants is a landmark recording that blends the serene, humble singing of Lama Gyurme with ambient synthesizer backdrops by Jean-Philippe Rykiel. Although creating a tasteful blending of Eastern and Western cultures is always a balancing act, The Lama's Chants is a wonderful example of how moving the results can be when done correctly. Lama Gyurme's voice is in the medium ranges and has a melodic quality to it, which makes listening to him very hypnotic. The synthesizer work of Rykiel is very non-obtrusive, swirling in the backdrop and acting to enhance Lama Gyurme's voice rather than exist as a separate entity. Included in The Lama's Chants are two discs - the first offers songs for awakening and enlightenment (the original Lama's Chant CD) and the second presents a series of cuts that were performed live at concerts during the late 90's.- The Lama's Chants CD dramatically reflects Lama Gyurme's deeply devoted commitment and education in spiritual life as expressed through his music. Lama Gyurme has produced a very hypnotic CD in his The Lama's Chants.