Devotional Songs

I like a lot of what's going on here rhythmically, but if I'm being honest, it's not something I'd come back to on my own. I listened a few times in a row, and it didn't necessarily grow on me.

Me (glancing at the title): Love & Devotion, sweet, ready for some Depeche Mode, feeling that...

Well, ladies and gentlemen, it was not Depeche Mode, not even close, not even the same continent, and that disappointment soured this listening instantly. *Sigh*

So yeah, Islamic Devotional singing isn't for me even with my initial disappointment. But I applaud the attempt to break away from the western anglicized norm (though I have had French and German music tossed my way already) and throw in something that's pretty much guaranteed to give you a strong reaction one way or the other. This is my first 1 star, but it is more a solitary star for my personal ignorance.

Good to have something non-western here for a change. I rather enjoyed this - I can see why he's such a celebrated singer. A strong 3 from me, close to 4.

I found this horribly boring. The singing was too monotonous and repetitive for a language I don't speak to be engaging, the backing instrumentation changing so little in any song that it lacks any sense of movement whatsoever. The sound did little more for me than invoke a Hollywood depiction of the middle east. I understand this is likely hugely influential in Sikh music, but as someone lacking any cultural connection, I bounced off.

I did not like this. At all. Wanted to turn it off a lot.

Screw in the light-bulb............ pat the dog.....................

But no, this is why I love this thing - unlikely I would ever have come across this album in the course of my "normal" listening and it's a lovely lovely thing. Will it be a "go-to" in future? Unlikely. Am I pleased I heard it? 100%

Kovat instrut ja siisti lauluääni. Taas kerran tykkään että listalla on jotain muutakin kuin brittirockia. 4/5

A very impressive 45 minutes of music with a voice that carries power as well as gentleness.