Wednesday, March 21, 2007

Hansadutta Swami Nothing to Lose LP Krishna Rock Part 11


I got a 2nd Hansadutta LP online. While waiting for it I double checked the book "Monkey on a Stick" for any mention of Hansadutta. Not only was he mentioned, but there are several pages(239-242) devoted to his musical recordings which focus on the ego maniacal aspect of it. It also seems to confirm that he used Studio musicians rather than talented devotees.
Then this record arrived "Nothing to Lose but all to Gain" 5 songs on Hansa Associates Productions(1978) Recorded in Berkely, but unlike the other record I reviewed which was recorded in 79, this one appears to have Krishnas playing Bass, Violin, and Drums. Hansadutta both sings and is credited with guitar! The liner notes claim these are the only instruments.
The opening track's title should be familiar to any 108 fans "Holy Name". It is a pretty amazing country swing with 3 minutes worth of rhyming couplets being sung for 11 and a half minutes. Hansa warbling somewhere between Daniel Johnston and John Lennon with an English as a second language inflection. Right off the bat this is much stronger than his other album. The next track has a title worthy of a Leviathan song, "In Fear of thee the Wind Blows". It is another waltz with the untouchable Hansadutta style of trying to jam too many syllables per verse and some very painful attempts to hold notes as he sings. So after that one two punch it is on to side 2.
"Most Weird Abode" opens up side 2 and some of the vocab in the lyrics should be familiar to any Cro-Mags fan. The highlight of this track is the bass player stepping it up near the end of the track. The playing almost reminds me of the country bar scene in the blues brothers when the band jams on the extended "rawhide", but with no skills. Essentially this is the same song 5 times with different lyrics. It has all the same flaws of his other lp but is some how more endearing.
In a previous post I had hoped someone would send me the Hara Krishna Blue Cheer, but I think I would be happier with a HK Stevie Wonder. It might be that Krishna wouldn't positively impact music until the hardcore scene of the late 80s/early 90s, but more research is needed to prove this.

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