Zen Breakfast
Though the disc's name suggests oriental roots, the music  created by this German-born keyboardist (his adopted name is Sanskrit  for "compassion") is primarily occidental in character. Built around  simple piano melodies augmented by spacious synthesizer backdrops,  flute, delicate guitar, higher-pitchedKitaro-like keyboard  lines, zither, chimes, bells, and Eastern vocals,Zen Breakfasttilts  heavily toward the yoga/meditation end of the New Age continuum with its  assortment of slowly evolving soundscapes. Comparisons toSteve Halpernare  inevitable. This is a modest production that visits well-traveled sonic  territory without adding fresh ideas. Intended to be slow and restive,  Karunesh's compositions sometimes acquire the tone of a lament, giving  the disc an atmosphere that mixes clouds and light.Zen  Breakfastis suitable for massage, but for best results  shuffle-play it with other discs.--Terry Wood