Search - Asha :: Mystic Heart

Asha is the one who puts Enigma and 2002 in the shades...

Daniel Borgshammar | Staffanstorp, Sweden | 04/20/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"From my experience with New Age / Ambient music, I can only say that Asha is the one person who really knows how to make music enter your soul directly. Each of these songs hits you directly in a different part of the soul... Especially during "To My One True Love", which is possibly the best track of them all on Mystic Heart. "Song of the Cross" is not bad either, coming in on a nice second place.If you love new age music or the likes, or wish to try a new taste of music that makes you feel alive and full of emotions, this is the disc for you. Denis Quinn (Asha)'s Mystic Heart."

Uplifting and beautiful

M. G. SFAELLOU | Greece | 03/14/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"It was the Cretan singer-songwriter Loudovikos ton Anoyion who once made an interesting distinction between 'erotas' (the romantic/or passionate love) and 'agapi' (the ultimate 'love'). He said that sometimes when one feels 'erotas'(i.e. in love) then they are even ready to kill for it; yet when they feel 'agapi' (love) then they are ready even to die for it. Here in this beautiful collection one can experience a higher form of love. Whether the listener prefers to feel that the love expressed in the music is for the divine or for a human recipient, then this love is still pure. Therefore it is not important to know, for example, to whom Denis Quinn (or Asha) addresses the song 'To My One True Love'?

Prospective listeners of this album should not be put off by the fact that the producer has placed the music in the wide (and misleading) category of 'New Age'. In many ways the sound is reminiscent of the most melodic examples of gospel music. The second track 'Missa Greca' is a moving blend of Greek Orthodox chant combined with contemporary melody. This 'modernised' arrangement has hitherto been unknown in the Orthodox tradition and has since been used with great impact by the so called 'paparokadhes' or 'priest rockers', a group of Orthodox monks who have created their own unique gospel sound. This sound is very distinct from the way Gregorian chants have sometimes been drowned with a nauseating, monotonous rap-beat that is reminiscent of the Satanic music in certain films.

In John's gospel's gospel (14, v. 2) Christ said that 'My Father's house has many mansions...' There are many ways of praising God and sometimes fundamentalist Christians (who often support some very unchristian political policies, such as aggressive wars etc.) do not hold the monopoly of God's love. On one track 'Allah, Hallelujah, Elohim', we hear the different names by which people address God who is One.

Asha is a talented musician as well as a songwriter and has shared his art also for music therapy. Here he is accompanied by other outstanding musicians, such as Phil Thornton on the lead guitar. I would have prefered to have heard less synthesiser, yet some ethnic folk instruments are also used such as the charanga and the bodhrun. All in all, listening to these pieces is a wonderful, uplifting experience which is at the same time both soothing and inspiring."