Om – Advaitic Songs (2xLP)

Advaitic Songs, released in 2012, is the fifth studio album by Om. The album expands their minimalist foundation by weaving in tabla, cello, flute, and other nontraditional elements, creating a sound that is as meditative as it is dense. Al Cisneros’ bass and mantra-like vocal delivery remain central, but the added instrumentation broadens the palette—offering expanses of drone, ritualistic texture, and spiritual tension. The compositions move slowly, asking patience, and rest in the spaces between tones as much as in the notes themselves. In the context of Om’s discography, Advaitic Songs represents both refinement and risk. Its ambition lies in sustaining an austere mood while branching into more ornate instrumentation—yet the balance is precarious. Some segments land with striking emotional weight (e.g. “State of Non-Return,” “Gethsemane”), while others drift in shadow, testing the listener’s focus. Over time, this record has been seen as a key moment where Om deepen their spiritual exploration, even if it polarizes fans more accustomed to their earlier austerity.

Reviews

“The distance between the truly awesome and the accidentally comedic in Om’s music is always about a hairsbreadth.” – Pitchfork

“Advaitic Songs is an engaging composition … at times bordering upon the spiritual … the lack of navigable lyrics forces the listener onto a journey of sonic exploration that both enriches and rewards in equal measure.” – Louder Than War