Review: Songs of Tara, Devotional Music to the Goddess of Liberation

An album review ... Songs include "Green Tara Mantra", by His Holiness the Dalai Lama and "Om Tare", by Wah!

Devotional Music to the Goddess of Liberation is a collection of various artists that celebrates the bodhisattva Tara. Tara is known in Tibet as 'She Who Liberates'. Her Indian name is "star". Legend says that she has vowed to remain in cyclic existence, always in female form, until all beings are liberated from suffering. Tara is known to offer guidance, advice, protection and help to anyone who asks, quickly and practically. She has the power to dissipate fears of all forms, freeing and liberating from the bondage they cause. The negative states that accompany fears are known in Tibet as Dolma.

A beautiful sound scape of exotic instruments and hypnotic textures that transforms any space into a sacred and healing environment. Spiritual leaders and devotional artists come together in celebration of the beloved Tara, a compassionate bodhisattva who delivers us from fear and protects us from harm. This album pays homage to Tara, in all her forms with modern and traditional renditions of her mantras from both Tibetans and Western artists. This is collection of previous released songs that invoke a compassionate and comforting presence. His Holiness the Dalai Lama is even involved, contributing to track ten, "Green Tara Mountain".

Eleven tracks showing love to the Tibetan savior and protector, Songs of Tara, Devotional Music to the Goddess of Liberation joins talent from all over the world. Chloe Goodchild, Dechen Shak-Dagsay, Jetsun Kacho Wangmo, Wah!, Nawang Khechog, HARC, His Holiness the Dali Lama, Her Eminence Jamyang Sakya, Bhakta and Darpan, Deva Premal and the Gyuto Monks are now united with the commonality of being a part of this exceptional spiritual, new age album.

The album begins with track one by Wah!, "Om Tare", sets the mood to one of tranquility and bliss with mystical melodies and sultry vocals. Track two, "White Tara", by the Deva Premal and the Gyuto Monks is a deeply moving, hypnotic mantra-chant that is over eleven minutes long. Track 3, "Om Tare Tam Svaha", is a song traditionally known as Tara's "heart song", sung with the passion and power the Tibetan nun - Jetsun Kacho Wangmo.

Track four, "The Great Arya Tara", by Nawang Khechog is a tranquil, Shamanic sounding flute composition that is deeply relaxing, magical and earthy. "Om Tare", by Maneesh de Moor and Sudha is a fourteen minute angelic chant with hypnotic melodies. Track six, "Om Tara", by Bhakta and Darpan is is a relaxing and refreshing ambient mantra. The seventh track is simply titled, "Tara", by teacher, composer, and performer - Chloe Goodchild, has a beautiful and elegant healing sound and vocals. This is one of my favorites on this disc, the vocals are clear and easy to understand.

Track 8, "White Tara Mantra", also a favorite, by founder and teacher of the Mother Tara Sakya Center - Her Eminence Jamyang Sakya, is a heart touching prayer of devotion, charged with innocence and love. "Om Tare Tuttare Ture Soha", track 9, is an emotional journey, navigated by drum beats and guided by flutes and then ... the vocals kick in, with stringed instruments ... possibly a violin. This is one of those songs that is moving, shifting your resonance and putting you on higher planes of the ethers.

Track 10, "Green Tara Mantra", is by His Holiness the Dalai Lama. The track begins with mystical sounds and bells. Then His Holiness begins to chant in the distant background, his voice echoing and getting louder as and closer as the song moves forward. The last track of this album, track 11 once again titled, "Tara", by Dechen Shak-Dagsay has bird and nature sounds within female chanting, synthesizer sounds and piano. Peaceful and uplifting, this was the perfect end to an album with so much soul and spirit.

This inspirational, heart-awakening album is filled with exotic instruments and angelic, spiritual vocals. A small booklet is included with this CD. Get a taste before you buy at Sounds True. You won't be disappointed.

Track Listings

1. Om Tare (Wah!)
2. White Tara (Deva Premal)
3. Om Tare Tam Svaha (Jetsun Kacho Wangmo)
4. The Great Arya Tara (Nawang Khechog)
5. Om Tare (Maneesh de Moor)
6. Om Tara (Bhakta)
7. Tara (Chloe Goodchild)
8. White Tara Mantra (Her Eminence Jamyang Sakya)
9. Om Tare Tuttare Ture Soha (HARC)
10. Green Tara Mantra (His Holiness the Dalai Lama)
11. Tara (Dechen Shag-Dagsay)

Total running time: 69:58