Search - Ashit & Hema Desai, Karsan Gathia, Soli Kapadia :: Meera: Gujarati Bhajans of Saint Meerabai I

Hema Desai at her best

Neema | Seattle, WA USA | 02/08/2003

(4 out of 5 stars)

"The devotion of Meera-bai is captured in the moving lyrics and the lilting sweetness of Hema Desai's voice. All numbers by the women are great - Neesha Upadhyay sadly has but one number. Yet it is sung in her high-spirited unique style and a gift to the album. If only they could use less of, or completely remove the sound of the 'pava' - it hurts the ears and is so so unpleasant. Also unpleasant are the irritating speeches and narrations of Karsan Gathia and Kapadia. Karsan seems to be ordering around - total lack of gentleness and Kapadia is almost lusting in her speech. Both have a common focus of best ever pronunciation than the spirit of the words.
What would make this tape the best would be just Hema Desai and more of Hema Desai. She does the Gujju's proud...for the first time have I seen such immense talent in female vocals in my Gujarati culture. This tape definitely makes a good morning drive-tape to work...get transported to Mewar in the times of Rana and see Meera with her tanpura walking rusty streets with the glaze of Krishna love in her eyes...singing 'Govindo praan amaaro re'...yes beautiful...very.."