Rasa: Union Rasa: Union (Hearts of Space - 2001) Multi-ethnic histories and instrumentation are the driving force behind Rasa's neo-ancient explorations. With a crew of able musicians, Hans Christian and Kim Waters form a cross-culturally binding Union which transcends boundaries of race and time. Their pristine stylizations take you to a reasonable proximity of some unknowably exotic "there". Vocal beauty and synth-driven softness are steeped in a low, grooving bassline and hybridized ethno-electro rhythms as Kabe Habe Bolo serves as an entrancing portal into these interpretations. Thumping udu beats back the various soundstrata which luxuriously wafts through pretty Samsara (7:32). Gorgeous, multi-tracked vocals are layered upon the ever-shifting percussion and strings of Hari Haraye. Praiseful Sri Guru (10:47) swirls like incense smoke; the track then switches into a slightly-more-revved-up mode as restrained dance rhythms and soaring cello strands join. With chiming cymbals and the only English phrases in its choruses, curtain-puller Govindah is a creamy recollection from Rasa's previous release, Devotion. With the gloss high and the electronics low, Christian and Waters form a Union between traditional Sanskrit and Bengali devotionals and their own modern soundvisions. To be sure, some readers of these pages will find Rasa's stylings to be too sweet... but if sweet transcendence is what you're after, these multi-ethnic 8.3 could be your flying magic carpet. A heavenly/earthly release from the venerable Hearts of Space label. This review posted November 4, 2001 AmbiEntrance © 2001-1997 by David J Opdyke (except CD cover art, rights retained by original owners).