ASHA
Celestine
The Instrumental Music Of Asha
(p) (c) 1996 New World Music
11tks/65mins

Have you ever heard Sufi's music? Do you want to know what is it? You should certainly listen to this album, because Asha's music is a music of the real Sufi. And here, maybe you'll be surprised, and you'll think: "How could be this music, having quite European sound a Sufi one, moreover that synthesizers are used here? Sufism is something very Oriental one, and so on..." You'll be right and not right at the same time!

I consider Asha's music a real Sufi's one, not only because he is fond of Sufism, but for the first part by the spirit. Sufis are the searchers, these are the people who take the path of Love, where Love is the Path. And here is the main essence of the music by Asha. His music is music of Love. It is so hearty, so deep, that while hearing to the music, it just takes the breath away. And you don't need to say anything, the words are useless, you just have no words. Only silence is left and in it presents this Divine, noble music, music of the Heart. Beauty and lightness of Asha's melodies make it possible to express namely the spiritual qualities of music. Asha weaves a light and delicate veil from pure and airy melodies, which wrap the listener up, reaching the very intimate depths of his heart, and heal the spirit. I say this not occasionally: there is a healing force in Asha's music. This force is able to clean the spirit and the heart from all the needless things, to throw away all the husk and exposing the very essence, the innermost nature. It is a real bliss to feel this essence, but it is so hard to survive in this world!

When listening to the album, one can feel the Asha's melodies coming, like a slow waves. The melodies full of joy and fire are replaced by thoughtfully sad ones. And even Asha's sadness is special one - it is sad and does not bring a despair. It is like light tears - tears of sadness and bliss at the same time.

"Celestine" is a good opportunity to enjoy Asha's music completely, because this is a collection of compositions from albums released during ten years (from1986 till 1996). This is a bright kaleidoscope, which makes it possible to observe Asha's creative work entirely and to see various sides of his talent. And hearing the music, one is not surprised that the name "Asha" has come to him in a dream and it means "Hope" in Sanskrit...

And there are no words. Only Asha's music is at present. The real and innermost essence of the Heart is displayed in it:

"So the Heart - the pure mirror
Is given to people to reflect the infinity"
RUMI

Serge Kozlovsky