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Joy of Life
Customer Reviews
Average Rating: 4.2
Yoga + Joyful Living
"This heart-centered album features Indian-inspired melodies that will spark your creative side. The album’s producer, Karunesh (Sanskrit for “compassion”), studied with musicians from around the world for five years while living in a German ashram. Now he creates spiritually oriented world-fusion CDs. In Joy of Life, he blends the modern and traditional, the acoustic and electric, to create tunes that open the heart and quiet the mind. Most songs open like a prayerful surrender, with mystical chimes and introspective single notes from a haunting female Indian vocalist, or an Indian violin, sitar, or bansuri (bamboo flute). These notes are soon joined by hypnotic percussion to create vibrant yet nurturing tracks. Each song is a story – a story of love, loss, hope, and sadness that graces a life fully embraced." Crystal Dawes, Yoga + Joyful Living
Music Design In Review
With albums like Zen Breakfast and Call of the Mystic, multi- instrumentalist/producer Karunesh has mastered the art of blending spirituality with compelling world fusion music. Joy of Life continues down that road and is possibly his most Eastern themed album to date, relying on the weepy drones of Indian strings and the breathy Bansuri to give his compositions a mystical flair. In the rhythm department, Karunesh doesn't stray far from the formula of his past offerings, with his signature brand of mood-drenched grooves (sprinkled with tabla beats and regional percussion) blending with smooth and meditative synth atmospheres. The frosting on the cake is the guest artists Karunesh has assembled, which include Govi, Chinmaya Dunster and Bikram, who help to make this album as much oh a joy as the title implies. Music Design
American Spa Magazine
"Providing inspiration, music can transform any meditation or movement class into a spiritual journey. Give your spa-goers a head start to nirvana with these four noteworthy soundtracks. In Joy of Life (Real Music), multi-instrumentalist Karunesh leads listeners on a spiritual journey. Five years spent living in an ashram in Germany gave him the opportunity to learn and play with musicians from around the world. Now based in Maui, HI, Karunesh focuses on creating music with a sacred and healing resonance. This latest collection is no exception." Heather Mikesell, American Spa Magazine
Radha
Every time I play the music of Karunesh, everybody wants to know who that artist is. Karunesh, your signature is unmistakable and the music truly carries your love and passion on the vibration of every note. You are gifted beyond measure and you are impeccably using you Divine gift. Thank you. Thank you. Radha
Michael Debbage
It has been two years since Karunesh released his last album, "Call of the Mystic." A musical crossroad where east meets west, Karunesh seamlessly integrated the two worlds without them clashing. "Joy of Life" continues this successful merger however the question is whether "Joy of Life" is inspiring or insipid? The answer to the above question is yes on both counts. With regard to the more inspiring moments there are three tracks that come to mind. The first is “Flowing Bamboo” which has a slower tempo and brings a little variety that is essential in keeping this album alive. “Sahara Sunset” is also successful in bringing Egyptian musical themes that are incorporated nicely with Govi’s guitar. However, the spotlight is “Return of the Rains” that also features Avinash on Indian violin and Bikram on the Indian flute called a bansuri. While the percussion patterns are very familiar, Karunesh’s creative use of his guest musician avoids the composition from becoming a drizzle but instead makes for an invigorating and refreshing downpour of inspiration. Unfortunately, the repetitive rhythmic patterns on "Joy of Life" create a sense of déjà vu, recycling themes that were so successful and stimulating on "Call of the Mystic." That does not change the fact that "Joy of Life" is a very pleasant recording. It just lacks the X factor that was present on its predecessor.