Signs of Life 2008: Best Music
Jolie Holland - "Mexico City"
Cory Chisel & The Wandering Sons - "Tennessee"
Seven Best Things About Beyonce's “Single Ladies (Put a Ring on It)”
Live at Paste: Duncan Sheik
There’s no great secret here, but I’ll spell it out. I’m a Christian who has very little use for Christian music. Although some of my favorite music has been made by Christians (U2, Bruce Cockburn, Vigilantes of Love, Tonio K., Innocence Mission, Mark Heard, Peter Case, T-Bone Burnett, Sam Phillips, Buddy and Julie Miller, Over the Rhine, not to mention Sister Rosetta Tharpe, Blind Willie Johnson and Ralph and Carter Stanley), the Contemporary Christian Music genre in general, and the Worship Music wing of that genre in particular, holds little appeal. There’s too much imitation of Fleetwood Mac circa 1975, and too much wince-inducing, sub-Hallmark “apple of my eye/wind beneath my wings” shite. When it comes to music that actually connects in spiritual ways for me, and that I actually want to listen to in the car outside of Sunday mornings, give me Sigur Ros or Miles Davis. They probably didn’t know they were creating worship music. It just worked out that way for me.
So when an album comes along that fits squarely within the Worship Music tradition, and I actually like it, then there may be some evidence that hell has begun to freeze over. But it’s happened with Aradhna. The four core members of the band – Chris Hale, Peter and Fiona Hicks, and Travis McAfee – are as American as their names would indicate. But they’ve all spent significant portions of their lives in Bangladesh, Nepal, and India. And therein lies the strange and wondrous merger of two worlds that contributes to the uniqueness of the band’s music, and to the surprising vigor of Amrit Vani. There are sitars here. And tablas. They sound as exotic as you would expect. And there are acoustic guitar arpeggios and gently lilting violin solos that wouldn’t sound out of place on a very western Windham Hill album. It works beautifully. The lyrics are sung in Hindi, and far from being an impediment, the language barrier is actually a great help (see “apple of my eye” and “wind beneath my wings” above). Like Sigur Ros, sometimes the indecipherable is greatly preferable to the old, tired formulas. And by the time we reach the final song, “Narahari,” the music swells and soars, the ramshackle choir enters sounding like the Hindustani angelic host, and something remarkable happens. I find myself worshipping God.
Amrit Vani digs deep in a contemplative, meditative way that few worship albums even begin to approach. And it’s quite lovely. Even in the car.
Email
Interesting. I’m a pastor who leads “worship” and can’t stand to listen to “worship music.” We have decided at our church to write as much of our own music as possible and that laments are in and cliches are out. It still has to be serving of the greater body so there has to be an element of “singability” to it all, but I mean, we sing along with The Avett Bros. and The Postal Service right? Anyway, thanks for the lead, I’m looking forward to listening to this band.
Wow. Just downloaded two Aradhna albums and they are fantastic. As a Christian and a musician/music commentator I feel the same way about what contemporary Christian music has to offer, with the exception of Rich Mullins, Derek Webb and Phil Keaggy’s acoustic instrumental albums. Thanks for the great tip!
I sampled a few of their songs---wow, excellent stuff.
i’m a big fan of the ry cooder album--meeting by the river so i was intrigued by this group.
as a christian, i completely agree with your first statements!
and thanks for challenging us---ran out of room on the best of albums blog comment so decided to say that here. shalom!
Great review of a wonderful album. I’ve rated it highly as well at the Phantom Tollbooth.
It is a work of art that blends Eastern and Western music traditions. As for it being sung in Hindi, it makes you actually read over the lyrics more to understand what is being sung.
I appreciated this review, Chris Hale is a great sitar player and such a gentle spirit. I do have to point out that they aren’t that American as Chris now in Toronto with his wife. If you get the chance to see them live you will be oh so moved.
I will agree with the Christian music doesn’t get a ‘gimmie’ on musical standards. Lyrics about God doesn’t necessarily make the music pleasant. Can I add delirious to the list of acceptable Christian artists.
I was so excited to see your review of Aradhna!
I’ve owned and listened to all their albums (until they were stolen out of my car). But that was before Amrit Vani. I still have that one, because I bought five to give to friends. My ears never tire as my spirit rests and soars. Definitely some of the most worshipful music I’ve heard in years. (my newest addition would be Relentless by Misty Edwards. Very intense and real.
I would also agree that seeing them live is a beautiful experience.
This is just excellent. There has been a scarcity of this form of worship music in India.There were very few Hindisongs in the same Genre( Mukti dilaye iishu naam). But here I am listening to very beautiful compsitions touching the Indian soul.
I am sure this is revolutionary music.
I’ve only heard samples of this recent album, but I have a copy of Satsang, which I got at a Aradhna concert a few years ago. It’s an amazingly worshipful album. The concert is still one of the most incredible cross-cultural experiences that I’ve had. I went with some Indian international students from the university in the city where I live, and it was amazing to see how the music connected with something very deep in their souls.
Wonderful album. I've listened to Bollywood music for awhile, but didn't know about Aradhna till today. This type of music reaches deeper than a lot of the pap out there.
Love the cross-cultural slant--(I'm an American raised overseas).
Thanks for reviewing them!
Having spent some time in India as well as a number of other asian countries, I enjoy the fusion of eastern and western musics and instruments. I love what the Flecktones have been doing with musicians from other cultures. Aradhna is my present favorite along these lines, especially with the beautiful lyrics. And they keep getting better.
I've known Aradhna for a few years now. I met them as a result of the World Music show I used to host on a Christian radio station here in the UK, and they've become good friends; in fact, I just had the opportunity to hang out with them when they came over to play at Greenbelt. I loved this review; it echoes a few sentiments I've had about Christian music, and I agree that Amrit Vani is a great album. I should point out, though, that Fiona Hicks is English.