Rajamani King of Pearls
The Two Lovers (Rajamani Productions)
Reviewed by Thomas Fawcett, Fri., Aug. 13, 2010
Rajamani King of Pearls
The Two Lovers (Rajamani Productions)Born in rural India and now a Texan of 15 years, multi-instrumentalist Oliver Rajamani is one of Austin's most universally respected musicians. The Pearl King's latest is "an album for lovers, romantics, yogis, poets, spiritualists, therapists and all." Accompanied by Carnatic violinist V.V. Murari, Rajamani crafts a deeply spiritual set of extended meditations with an array of South Asian instruments including the sarod, tabla, oud, and rubab. A nearly 14-minute intro – sparse and languid, yet complex – enchants, while the universal solvent morphs into an instrument on "The Water Well of Love." A largely instrumental affair, The Two Lovers includes Rajamani reciting self-penned lyrics for "Habibi Lover of My Heart."
