AMG Review of Mantras for Precarious Times

Paula Carino
All Music Guide

Known for glorious, highly musical renditions of tradition Hindu chants, German devotional singer Deva Premal, with her husband, multi-instrumentalist Miten, is in an unusually straightforward mode on this 2010 release. Still striking the balance between artful presentation and reverence, Premal incants these healing chants 108 times each, but with minimal musical accompaniment -- less emphasis on melody and more on a reverberating, soothing hum. Her intention with this release is to support her listeners' daily chanting practice. To that end, she includes instructions for appropriate applications of each chant (removing obstacles, creating abundance, joy, and bliss, etc.). Her gorgeous and resonant voice -- familiar to #Battlestar Galactica fans from the opening theme music of the show -- is multi-tracked for maximum effect, and the result is a hypnotic listening experience, even for people who don't intend to chant along. If there is a "hit" here, it would be "Om Kama Pujitayei Namaha (Sacred Love Making)" which features a charming, raga-like melody and transcendent backing track.