Rhythm, earthy and deep.. vocals, soaring in wordless praise.. a musical approach that blends different traditions into a beautifully seamless whole. I'm a complete neophyte when it comes to the various musical traditions of Indian culture, so I'm sure I don't even understand the extent of what DJ Sabbah has done here. I just know that Shri Durga is as accessible as it is faithfully traditional, and as hypnotic as it is organic. As you've probably read by now, it's something of a blend of classical ragas, performed by a cast of Hindu and Muslim musicians, with an element of modern techno.. but very light on the techno. If you want a helping of raga and tala suitable for the club dance floor, try Maha Maya (Cheb's mix-oriented followup to this) or anything by Talvin Singh or Tabla Beat Science. This disc is for relaxing, for sleeping, for meditating or just quietly chilling out.

The element of electronica is not always even noticeable - "Kese Kese"'s slight touch of mixology could just as easily be mistaken for handclaps in the background. "Maheshvara Yogi" is ten minutes of hypnotic meditation, its vocal chants easily gliding through space with all the time in the world to spare, without any techno accompaniment at all. Then, right away, "Ganga Dev" and "Radhe Krishna" provide some of the most propulsive beats on the disc (though still not overriding the primal earthy rhythm that forms the basis of all the music in the first place). The entire offering is a marvelous buffet of reverent chants in the classic tradition, while the techno element is never more than a subtle seasoning. Cheb's mixing contribution isn't limited to the subdued beats either: he samples Muslim prayers, "mantric ambiances" from India, and various public chants and rituals to join with his own compositions.

Looking for an exotic/calming listening experience? You can't go wrong with either of DJ Cheb i Sabbah's 'regular' albums. Between this and Krishna Lila, I can't even pick a favorite. Want to get up and shake something? Then pick Maha Maya to start. They're all full of beauty well worth hearing, and as foreign as this whole style may sound, there's something immediate about it that makes it accessible to anyone with open ears. Everything is closer than you think.

I have many "Ethno-Techno" albums and this is not one of the best ones. Maybe "D.J" stands for "Doesn't Jam", because the until the 5th track (and there are only 7) the DJ doesn't show up. The fusion of Indian and electronica is done much better on many more albums. If you have Joi, Midival Punditz, Tabla Beat Science, Badmarsh & Shri, Karsh Kale (try Redesign)or others, than don't count on this album delivering the same. Do your self a favor, pick up any one of those artists mentioned first before you buy this.

Really respectful remixes of traditional performances. There are even sound bites of local color. Each listen reawakens my wonder of India, its steadfast traditional life and religious practices. It's very low-key though -- don't expect the fast, western-influenced stuff you might find on "Spirit of India" or "Karma Collection."

I listen to this album at least once a week -- 2 years after buying it!

This cd is simply wonderful. I am new to Asian Underground. I heard this cd in a yoga class and WOW! It is tradtional with slow techno thrown in. Background noises such as Water, birds, bells, people talking, a dog barking, chanting, peacocks...ect...set such a mood. The one voice on this album that strikes me the most is Mala Ganguly. She makes my hair rise in a braid. In Yoga of Sound, the last track on the cd, her voice is just haunting. Safqat Ali Khan together with Mala Ganguly in Love Dreams, track #2, takes me away to India. Those two singing in River Mercury will have you up dancing around the room, it is my favorite. It sounds like great belly dancing music with club grooves thrown in for good measure.
Gazelle Memories has great slow club grooves as well. Divine Pastime has Ustad Sultan Khan paired with Mala Ganguly chanting Hari Krishna (sp?) to a slow club beat. I find myself chanting this driving down the road, doing laundry, wondering around the mall...ect. Waiting for Parvati is meditative with its slow chanting somewhere in the background. Beautiful. I love every single song on this album. It has become my favorite and has started me down a road to world music. If you like music from different cultures with great beats you will probably love this one. Be aware that the samples do no justice. Take a chance and buy it! DJ Cheb is truly a master in every sense of that word. Barbara :}