The School of Braja album is now available to buy via www.keymailorder.com. There's a link to that (an all sorts of other kula consumables) via the home page! Surely good news.

Also, If K reads this; I think you should be safe to put up the full version of Braj Mandala I sent you on myspace now, without us both getting lynched!

Hope everyone enjoys the album!

Is it worth the £10.80 plus postage? Stupid question but is it very Indian - I mean is it classical Indian music as opposed to the rock music way Kula Shaker use the Inidian influence? And what exactly is in this 64 page booklet they're so proud of - pictures of the band, of the recording or just some awful kids at the school? Call me cynical but I don't have much money and I want to spend it on the right things.

I notice in the email from admin he says that we should be getting more from the studio soon - I wonder if they've sat on Alonza until he was forced to write a Blog! I doubt it somehow, I can see it being poor Harry or Paul's turn again....

do they accept visa electron cards?

Well, in answer to your question, the first 2-part Jeevas track is a real east meets west collaboration, essentially rock but with some great indian harmonies. Very hippyish and beatles-esque. Crispian doesn't sing very much on it. The vocals are provided by a female vocalist. It's got a very free, live in the studio, 1960's feel to it. The other Jeevas track is a very mellow, Kula Shaker like melancholy ballad, but still played electric. I really love it. It's great night time music.

Of course, the package is worth picking up for the Kula Shaker track alone, which reminds me very much of an indian troubadour. There's a great beat and rhythm to it, a nice bass hook running through, and a very short soaring guitar solo in the middle. It's absolutely great!

The other tracks didn't really hit me at first, until one night I was sat in my room, candles lit and joss-sticks burning, and reading a book. As the cd ran on, I let it carry on playing, and all of a sudden the Indian stuff sounded incredible. But you have to be in the right mood for it. I really love the 10th track too, it reminds me of Peter Gabriel's world music. I think everyone on this board should pick up a copy!

Oh, and it comes like a book, much in the same way David Gilmour's latest did, but it's much thicker. There's a real emphasis on putting across the basic spiritual principles, which makes for interesting reading, and a nice picture of lots of musicians with Crispian at the front. He also gives an introduction to the whole project. The whole thing seems totally loving and creative. It's not neccesarily the sort of thing that hits you instantly, but given time, it becomes a wondeful record!

quote:

Originally posted by mrbaggins:
Well, in answer to your question, the first 2-part Jeevas track is a real east meets west collaboration, essentially rock but with some great indian harmonies. Very hippyish and beatles-esque. Crispian doesn't sing very much on it. The vocals are provided by a female vocalist. It's got a very free, live in the studio, 1960's feel to it. The other Jeevas track is a very mellow, Kula Shaker like melancholy ballad, but still played electric. I really love it. It's great night time music.

Of course, the package is worth picking up for the Kula Shaker track alone, which reminds me very much of an indian troubadour. There's a great beat and rhythm to it, a nice bass hook running through, and a very short soaring guitar solo in the middle. It's absolutely great!

The other tracks didn't really hit me at first, until one night I was sat in my room, candles lit and joss-sticks burning, and reading a book. As the cd ran on, I let it carry on playing, and all of a sudden the Indian stuff sounded incredible. But you have to be in the right mood for it. I really love the 10th track too, it reminds me of Peter Gabriel's world music. I think everyone on this board should pick up a copy!

Oh, and it comes like a book, much in the same way David Gilmour's latest did, but it's much thicker. There's a real emphasis on putting across the basic spiritual principles, which makes for interesting reading, and a nice picture of lots of musicians with Crispian at the front. He also gives an introduction to the whole project. The whole thing seems totally loving and creative. It's not neccesarily the sort of thing that hits you instantly, but given time, it becomes a wondeful record!

Sounds pretty cool, cheers for that info. I cant wait to get it.

F**king finally!!! You'll forgive me if I get a bit emotional after these years of waiting *cries*

And Lexie, just order it, misery guts

yay!!
fantastic...done.
x

yeah Sarah,theres nothing wrong with a bit of indian chanting...worth getting it...

yup, you're right Mr Baggins...we're saved!!

K

Popoi is back in town just to say: yahoo!

quote:

Originally posted by 2-J:
And Lexie, just order it, misery guts

Well, it's a matter of spending what little money I have wisely. I want a CD I'll actually listen to alot (and I want to know what to expect from it). I'm properly poor you know, I'm not being pissy. Plus it's a choice between Braja and Is this Desire by PJ Harvey. I think Polly's probably the better choice. I'll end up getting Braja at some point I'm sure, though.

I only have 3 PJ Harvey albums and that isn't one of them.. or I'd send you it on CD out of spite

If ever anybody wants to send me cool free stuff, out of spite or not, I'm a willing taker.

Ok, i now have this CD and from my point of view, I can listen to it again and again..one because, i have heard these players many a-time when i go to my local temple and two, the colour booklet is lovely...

K

Yes I got mine today as well, and I'm very pleased with it. I'll say a bit more about it.

Firstly the package is simply beautiful. I find it hard to imagine how they could have done it better (apart from maybe include more photos of the Jeevas and Kula Shaker). The 64 page booklet has a full explanation of the story behind the album (Crispian's introduction). Then we get an explanation of the beliefs behind the song, and a history of the belief system. It's written well and is approachable to someone not exactly familiar with the subject matter (like me). Then the full lyrics are provided to the songs, and translations AND an explanation of the meaning behind the lyrics. It's really quite fascinating (even for a hardened rationalist like me ). So overall a really beautiful package, contained in a little book format that'll still fit on your CD shelf.

As for the actual music. Well firstly you get the Kula Track 'Braj Mandala' which is quite like Govinda, think the band arrangement plus extra singers, and mantra based. Quite good, well produced, a nice little song. Then you have 'Radha Ramana' which is just a straight Jeevas song (with Chrissie Hynde on backing vocals), no other musicians, in structure it's like Radhe Radhe. But it's just the 3-piece plus guest vocals. And a really haunting piece, really really nice. Then you have 'Song of Braj'. It's split into two tracks but it's really one song with a change in the middle. This features The Jeevas as the band but the lead vocal is a singer from the school of Braja, and there are some other singers and instrumentalists as well on this one. Then, as regards other Crispian involvement, you can hear him singing backing vocals on some other tracks like track 4, and he's probably doing some guitar and other instruments on some of the other ones. Plus, he was the overall producer, arranger and mastermind behind the project (it doesn't say in the booklet exactly who first suggested the idea of doing the charity album but it's clear Crispian took the helm). For me, the 3 KS and Jeevas tracks, along with the book, justify the price of admission alone, and the rest is a nice (and worthwhile) bonus.

Most of the tracks (all really) are quite mantra-based. That makes them quite repetitive by the standards of Western pop music. So think Govinda, think Radhe Radhe. That is the kind of thing to expect. But it's not exactly the same of course, there are some really good exciting tunes on here, particularly the Jeevas and KS stuff, but some of the other ones are good as well. Really it's a top album and a great education, a toe's dip in the water of an old and revered tradition... and an excellent blending of traditions of east and west.

Overall, highly recommended! I can't see anyone who likes Kula Shaker or The Jeevas or Crispian Mills being disappointed by this package unless they were expecting a full album of Jeevas or KS songs. Great stuff.

Do I need a credit card for ordering it?