Lama Sonam Dorje + Anton Batagov – Daily Practice.

• Label: Tummo / R.A.I.G.
• Year: 2008.
• Style: Neoclassical Ritual.
• Format: CD.

ANTON BATAGOV is a Russian composer. He has recorded and released several albums throughout his active years. A wide-known name in certain circles.
LAMA SONAM DORJE is, as you might have guessed, a practicing Buddhist.
These two gentlemen met under curious circumstances and recorded this, a spectacular, out-of-the-ordinary collection of experimental neoclassical tunes, combined with LAMA SONAM DORJE’s wise readings. It’s supposed to work as a, as the title suggests, daily practice for Buddhists, but me myself is not in any way involved with those matters. Still, I find this album very peculiar and highly addictive.
I was a bit worried before I started this review, that I shouldn’t be able to make you realize how deep this work is. But as I just mentioned, you don’t have to be a Buddhist to appreciate this. It should be a meditative record for everyone. Anton’s grand piano compositions are at times some of the most beautiful pieces of modern classical piano music I’ve heard, and the drones and the bells takes it all to a completely unique level. The mantas provided by LAMA SONAM DORJE may have a slight haunting approach, deep and monotonous, but his intention is certainly not to affright you – the other way around!
I especially like the instrumental intro. And the more experimental second track, ”Refuge”, is really interesting, almost bordering to dark ambient.
”Guru Yoga” is another impressive piano / voice track, and certainly one of the finest moments on this disc.
The dark and thundering ”Padmasambhava Mantra” and ”Shakyamuni Buddha Mantra” continue on the same path, while ”Meditation on a Sound A” is very, very simple with a repetitive loop and a deep chant.
In ”Music for Daily Meditation” Anton goes solo again, giving us a most impressive show, and a melody of utter beauty.
”The Final Words of Senge Wangchuk” would, at least from my point of view, destroy any meditation with its loud drums but it’s still good enough to listen to I think.
The last track takes the gentle melody from the intro, speeds it up a bit and add vocals, and the result is great, probably the best track on the album.

The CD may not look very good, but that’s not important. Go beyond the cover, and explore the booklet instead. It’s very informative and explains in both Russian and English why this album was born, and how the artists met. It holds as well all the mantras, once again in both languages, for those who’d like an even deeper insight. There are also some pictures from the recording session in there.

Well, this album is for sure something extraordinary. No matter how you decide to listen to it, it should become very special for you. For me, it’s a great experimental neoclassical album, that offer some really beautiful and soothing moments.