A HANDFUL OF BEAUTY

Having missed out to date on the highly acclaimed Natural Elements album I have to say that this release from 1977 is simply awesome.The album starts with the vocal harmonies of ' La Danse du Bonheur ',various vocals combining to a climatic percussive rhythm. A pleasant song with an upbeat almost comical mood.' Lady L' follows which is sevn minutes of equisite sound arrangements as Shakti and JM deliver the goods. The best song on the album follows ' India'. This is a twelve minute epic pretty much defining the best moments Shakti can produce. The emotions evoked from this song stand testimony to the hightened level of spiritual awareness these musicians are on.' Kriti' ans ' Isis' are also great typical Shakti numbers. The closing ' Two Sisters' is melancholic and just plain beautiful. Four and half stars is a fair assessment.