Reviewed by Jon Cooper

Drawing on material from over 12 years of live performance, 'Live In Concert' is a vast ocean of a release. Aradhna are all about the sounds associated with traditional Indian music - sitar, tabla, soaring vocals - expertly blended with a western approach to song arrangement and instrumentalism. The result is a meditative, spiritual and profound musical immersion. Incense may well be optional during listening, but the sound is so encapsulating that the listener can almost smell the sandalwood before the end of uber-chilled opener "Namaste Sate". "Holy River" draws on themes of purification for its lyrical message, and "Mai Aparadhi" is vocally arresting despite being one of many songs not performed in English. "Yeshu Muktinat" recalls the interludes on Kula Shaker's 'K', and builds to perhaps one of the album's most conventional moments, but the spiritual and musical influence of the east is far more than a passing fad on display. "Suralata" and closer "Gaao Re" both kick off with some fine acoustic guitar work, the latter building to an almost Celtic-sounding jig, and "Amrit Van" is a moving call-and-response piece in which Taize-style chanting is easternised. You don't have to be a dreadlocked, Greenbelt-going vegan on a voyage of discovery to enjoy Aradhna; embrace your inner gap-year student and give this a thorough listen.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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