Rain of Blessings
- by Lama Gyurme
- Real World Region: Asia 2, Europe
- Mar 2000
Lama Gyurme was named "Oumze" (Master of Music) during his first 3 years retreat for the simple reason that his voice is an incredibly rich source of sonic beauty.
This unique collaboration with keyboardist/arranger Jean-Philippe Rykiel highlights the transcendental chants as the arrangements encourage the medium for absorbing the healing and purifying nature of the message.
Reviews
‘In a time when Tibetan Buddhism is taking place among western religions, one should not wonder that it's being illustrated by convincing musical adventures. Lama Gyurme, who has been living in France for 25 years, met Jean-Philippe Rykiel (musician and pioneer of world music with Papa Wemba, Youssou N'Dour, Leonard Cohen and Jon Hassell) a few years ago. In the meantime, the monk has sung on the original soundtrack of "Himalaya" (awarded with a gold album) which revealed the extraordinary depth of his voice to the public. This new album is a series of prayers chanted at a slow pace that Rykiel fills with sparse keyboards notes and pads floating in the wind, sonic images dignified and pure, as if not to alter the meditative words of the monk. The discreet presence of violinist Florin Niculescu here and Yakuba Sissokoh's kora there are an even more beautiful illustration of a possible opening of the world.’
‘Five years after the inaugural beauty of "Songs Of Awakening", Lama Gyurme and Jean-Philippe Rykiel are going back to school, hand in hand. To implement this second album must have been a rather hard task since their first encounter was such an achievement. But "Rain Of Blessings" fulfils all and every hopes. Still with exemplary respect of the Lama's prayers, Rykiel dares to diversify his orchestrations and adds sober percussions. Among the most impressive tracks are "Medicine Buddha Mantra" with its liquid pianos reminiscent of Harold Budd and its dotted lines of African kora, "Sacred Words Of Liberation" where the chanting merges with the layers of synths in a most mysterious ambient web, "Refuge And Sevenfold Offering" and its slowly ascending structures. Once again, the great achievement of this enterprise is a rare clear-sightedness which puts form and intention in perfect harmony. Highly inspired, highly dignified, exceptionally elegant.’
One of those cross-continental collaborations that Peter Gabriel's label pulls off on a regular basis. The results are wonderful: ambient, soothing, inspiring and spiritual. What more do you want?
A sublimely satisfying collaboration between a Tibetan monk and a classically trained French keyboardist better known for his work with African artists. ..Gyurme's blissed out chants promote healing, purification and liberation. They float on rafts of shimmering ambient sound constructed from Tibetan percussion, ethereal synthesiser and pensive piano. Vajra Chants instantly dispels cynicism about its inherent 'noo-age' hippie cliches. Sit back, relax, this is too good to miss.
Tracklist & Audio Samples
| play | Rain Of Blessings |
| play | Offering Chant |
| play | Medicine Buddha Mantra |
| play | Sacred Words Of Liberation |
| play | Prayer To Sangye Menla |
| play | Chenrezi Pure Land Prayer |
| play | Six Syllable Mantra Of The White Lotus Lord |
| play | Refuge & Sevenfold Offering |
| play | Offering Chant (Unplugged) |