Mostly you can feel her impeccable training and prodigal gifts just in the slight tremors she lets shine through in her otherwise rich, amber tones. The rich western melodic tones of Sarah McLachlan or Sarah Brightman seem to have melted from their relatively rigid pop song structures into the liquid dancing light forms of eastern devotional music here, even from the first track, 'Aad Guray Nameh.' Arabian drums (by Girish) and the warm and restrained flute of Dominic Breux back up Kirtan's vocals, providing a vaguely Middle Eastern placement and framework for her to reach quietly melodic heights without seeming to strain or disrupt the beauty of the proceedings. When her highly expressive, finely honed pipes combine with the abundant spiritual exaltation and unconditional love in her heart, the result is nothing short of uplifting for anyone with open ears. The music on Sacred Circle is born of this full-circle odyssey, with Kirtan returning to the United States to record with acclaimed producer Thomas Barquee, lending her operatically trained voice to modern interpretations of ancient, ageless Sikh chants (kirtans). Eventually she adopted Yogi Bhajan as her guru and voyaged through India in search of enlightenment. A musical prodigy who began classical voice in childhood, Kirtan's life changed when she discovered the Sikh faith and began attending weekly chants and services. The gorgeous voice of Amrit Kirtan is such that within the first few notes of the opening track, 'Aad Guray Nameh,' you can feel its warmth suffuse your cells.

Amrit kirtan sacred circle