Angel of the Earth
Craig Pruess and Ilyana Vilensky
Heaven on Earth Music,
www.newleaf-dist.comAngel of the Earth is a special CD due to the presence of an instrument called the monochord, detailed in the liner notes as “Originally, a sound box with a single string, over time [it] evolved into a sound healing table with a varying number of strings. The one on this recording has 56 strings playing one chord.” In the capable hands of Ilyana Vilensky, this amazing instrument’s singular magic is instantly apparent. Joining Vilensky on the album is multi-instrumentalist Craig Pruess (sitar, Native American flute, tambura, keyboards, crystal glass, swaramandala, and sound design). Both artists also contribute “sacred ethereal singing.” Three tracks, each about 20 minutes long, all share a soothing meditative core, but have subtle variations, making
Angel of the Earth an easy recommendation for massage therapists.
Liquid Bells Singing BowlsDamien Rose
Damien Rose,
www.whiteswanmusic.comAs an accompaniment to meditation, nothing else comes close to the sublime and soothing sounds that emanate from Tibetan singing bowls. Damien Rose reveals his artistry at controlling these ancient instruments in pitch, tone, timbre, and resonating qualities. In addition to the 20 bowls heard here, the album also contains sounds from a gong, tingsha (small Tibetan cymbals), an Idi seed rattle, and on the short track “Renewal,” a chorus of crickets. Owing to the presence of so many differently pitched bowls, as well as the drastic difference in track duration (four songs are less than three minutes while the final cut, “Wonder,” clocks in at almost 30 minutes),
Liquid Bells offers more variety than you might expect, but the cohesion of the CD’s sound is solid overall.
Love, Lies, and LullabiesSullivan and Day
Canyon Records,
www.canyonrecords.comThis issue is full of unique recordings that break molds left and right.
Love, Lies, and Lullabies (
Round Dance Songs) certainly fits that description. Filled with the singing and drumming of Chippewa Opie Day-Bedeau and Ojibwe Michael Sullivan Sr., the CD is a celebratory vocal fest infused with loads of spirit, humor, and a healthy dose of the “blues” done in Native American style. One of the album’s biggest selling points is that many songs have both Native American and English lyrics that are often sly and humorous, such as on “Boozhoo” with the English lyrics “Boozhoo, how do you do? It’s so nice to finally talk to you … Do you have a man? I’ll bet you do … That’s all right cuz tonight, he’s not here with you.” Day-Bedeau and Sullivan dial up the energy and power in their singing and their vocal harmony is jaw-droppingly delicious. “Mr. Right” is a hoot, and “My Wifey” is a great up-tempo, romantic ode to marriage.
Ancient SunThunderbeat
ThunderVision Records,
www.thundervisionrecords.comOn
Ancient Sun, drummer/percussionist/synthesist Thunderbeat turns her attention to the musical heritage of Egypt and its centuries-old mythology, a CD that amply demonstrates the artist’s noteworthy ability to meld her dazzling percussion and drum work with multiple layers of keyboards. This is energizing music, pulsing not just with a myriad of rhythms and beats, but also melodies that wend through the air like smoke from exotic incense, enticing the listener with siren-like allure. From the deep power and majesty of the regal-sounding “Ra” to the percolating electronica-laced “SunRise” to the frantic and frenetic “Flight Into Egypt,”
Ancient Sun is your customers’ passport to musical adventure, brimming with percussive fire and captivating electronic wizardry.
Harbin TempleBodhi
Crystal Wind Music,
www.shamanicflute.comBodhi is a masterful flute player, as evidenced throughout
Harbin Temple. The first six tracks were recorded live at the blessing of the titular California temple, while the other four were recorded in studio. Besides flute, Bodhi also plays keyboards, guitar, and conch shell, and Rara Avis contributes some didgeridoo as well. The CD is subtly reminiscent of Paul Horn’s historic flute albums (e.g.,
Inside the Great Pyramid), if you listen closely. Most of the songs are soothing and gently flowing flute improvisations, some featuring muted keyboard textures and two pieces (“Planetary Communion” and “Star Seed”) contain subdued yet appealing abstract elements.
Harbin Temple showcases a relatively underappreciated flutist in the New Age genre.
Journeys Through the MistThe Blessed Blend
The Blessed Blend,
www.theblessedblend.comProbably one of the more unique recordings I’ve heard so far in 2009,
Journeys Through the Mist from the duo The Blessed Blend—Laralyn RiverWind and Joseph RiverWind, both of whom sing and play flute, harp, drums, and other assorted instruments—is an appealing mixture of the rich musical heritages of the Native American and Celtic peoples. With both original and traditional compositions from the two disparate cultures, the album features lyrics sung in a number of languages including Yiddish on one track, as well as a few instrumentals. It is anchored by strong production quality with excellent electronic keyboard arrangements by Hugh Hession and Tom Rule, as well as solid work by the others involved. The dizzying variety of musical mood and style present on the CD results in a recording that takes more than one playing to fully appreciate.