Search - Rajna :: Ishati

Musical Mantrazzzzzzzzzzzzzz...................

Peter Manale | LOWELL, MA United States | 06/15/2007

(2 out of 5 stars)

"After listening to the music samples and reading the glowing reviews comparing this group to Dead Can Dance, I could hardly wait to get this CD in the mail. I thought I was on the verge of my lastest new "find." Alas, my expectations were too high. While the group does have a clear, crisp, distinct, exotic sound, they don't seem to know what to do with it. Imagine each sample you hear above repeated over and over to cover between 3 and 4 minutes of time, and you will begin to get a better understanding of what the songs in their entirety are like. They sound more like "mood" pieces (or soundscapes), with very little variation within each song and between all the songs themselves. The selections come across as directionless, repetitive and, (even after repeated listenings) ultimately boring. As far as the comparisons to Dead Can Dance, I can only imagine this to be true if Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry (of DCD) were heavily sedated on tranquilizers while they worked on an album. Those looking for songs similar to the lively, complex, lush and exotic entries from DCD should look elsewhere. To help in your search, you might check out HADRA by the group Lumin, the group/CD entitled NIYAZ, Le SERPENT ROUGE by Arcana, or my latest find (!) SERAPHIM by Irfan."

From Holy to Projekt

D | 03/08/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"First song i ever heard by Rajna, was called "Rajna"... I felt like i was listening to music off the Gladiator soundtrack... and if you loved the music in that movie, and are into music like that, definitely buy any Rajna you can get your hands on... which is what i've been doing... i got into Rajna, when i bought a Projekt compilation... i got into alot of Projekt bands thru their compilations... i.e. Steve Roach, Mira, Rajna, Alio Die & Amelia Cuni (who are very similar to Rajna), This Ascension, and Lycia... there's more...The first time i heard Rajna, i played that song for about 4 hours straight... i was obsessed... Rajna leaves me wanting more... They are a journey for me... They relax me, and they take me on a trip... it's a good trip too... for anyone into meditation, tai chi, or India music, should def take a listen to this, if not buy it.... This is great stuff... however, i noticed a change in their sound. I own both "Ishati" and "The Door Of Serenity"... "The Door Of Serenity" was done by Holy Records, while "Ishati" was done by Projekt Records... The Door of Serenity has a really great sound... it sound really like belly-dancing like music, real authentic India sounds... basically, the song Djalambo like defines Rajna's sound to me... it's a great cd.. and it grows and grows on you. that cd leaves you wanting more as does Ishati... but when i listen to Ishati, that cd sounds darker in sound. it's almost as Projekt records told them to be darker cuase Projekt is a darkwave, Gothic label.. i wonder if Projekt made Rajna change their sound, or if Rajna changed it on their own... Ishati is a great cd, i love it, but compared to The Door Of Serenity, it def darker in sound... i was disapointed in that Ishati doesn't have the woman singing as much as The Door Of Serenity does... one of the reasons i love Rajna is cuase of the woman vocals... but this cd is still great...If you love Rajna, i would reccommend you listening to or picking up these artists: Alio Die & Amelia Cuni (the cd that has "Apsaras" on it), Steve Roach "Midnight Loom" (or any Steve Roach you can find)..., This Ascension, Lycia, Bleak, Estraya, Waterbone (highly reccommend this group, their newest cd called "Orion Prophecy", these guys do it right..., lots of chanting, if that's your thing...)All of who i listed can be found at projekt.com or New Earth Records."

Restorative music for the soul..

D | Lake Oswego, OR | 09/21/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was ecstatic to discover Rajna's first Cd was finally available, after first hearing them on the Seireenia compilation from Projekt last year. Though obvious comparisons to DCD will be made, the music of Rajna is faithful to the genre without sounding derivative. "Ishati" opens with the dramatic tension of "Kahar", an expectant instrumental that hints at the emotional power and intensity of this band. If lacking the vocal lower range of Lisa Gerrard or the ethereal beauty of Vas' Azam Ali, Jeanne Lefebvre's non-verbal lyrics nonetheless convey an authenticity of emotion and power that is completely convincing, without lapsing into any neo-Goth stereotyping. The musical synthesis of Indian, Tibetan, and electronic formats is masterfully transparent, technically proficient, and evocative throughout. Rajna's musical talents never seem to fully release their smoldering creative tension in this performance, and I believe they have many wondrous creations in store for us."