Enam - Purple and Gold

 

[Music review by Michael Woodhead for Synchronicity magazine]

Enam - m'Anchelii

 

[Music review by Michael Woodhead for Synchronicity magazine]

Enaid - Avalon: A Celtic Legend

 

[Music review by Michael Woodhead for Synchronicity magazine]

Emmanuel Lopez - Rain of Angels

RAIN OF ANGELS

Emmanuel Lopez
1999

Listeners familiar with Tim Clement's Beautiful Lady and Peter Schilling's Major Tom (Coming Home) will recognize familiar elements in this first music recording by children's book illustrator and digital artist, Emmanuel Lopez.

The spoken word, electronic sounds, vocals, and synthesized music make up what he calls 'cosmic pop'. Lopez has attempted to put into music his experiences with and beliefs about UFOs, prophetic and lucid dreams, angels and various other cosmic and spiritual phenomena. He says, "Believing that energy connects us all accentuated my dream of making this music, with mysterious coincidences guiding me through each unknown step of its creation. For those feeling the need to follow their own dream, I hope this collection of music and art inspires unlimited hope".

Rain of Angels is a light reverie of musical and artistic charm that's sure to delight listeners new to his art and music. 

TRACKLIST:

1 The Dream

2 Out of Body Experience

3 2012

4 Crop Circle Suite

5 Rain of Angels

6 First Contact

7 Power Hug

8 Remember...

9 Where Angels Kiss The Air

10 Time Capsule

11 Spiritual Chocolate 

12 Rain of Angels Reprise   

 

Emerald Web - Valley of the Birds

VALLEY OF THE BIRDS

Emerald Web
Stargate
1981

For a more ambient, electronic sound, Emerald Web offers some visionary music from 1981, utilizing synthesizers and flutes.

Celestial and light, occasionally mysterious, their presentation offers a refreshing change from the rhythm-driven beats of popular music.

Rainforest and Photonos offer trance-like journeys—the former through a jungle, the latter through a new dimension of Time, both with synthetic, throbbing heartbeats. Atmospheric, dynamic, and ethereal, the music carries the listener away to undiscovered worlds.

Emerald Web is Kat Epple and the late Bob Stohl who have also written scores for movies, television, theatre, and planetariums.

TRACKLIST:
1. Valley of the Birds
2. The Dragon's Gate
3. Openings
4. Interlude
5. Rainforest
6. Photonos
7. Through the Garden of Mirrors

Drum Brothers - Power of Rhythm

 [Music review by Michael Woodhead for Synchronicity magazine]

Dorothy Bishop - Cello Dreams

 

[Music review by Michael Woodhead for Synchronicity magazine]

Deva Primal - The Essence

THE ESSENCE

Deva Primal
White Swan Music
1999

By far, this is the most beautiful album of mantras I've heard. Deva's voice and the accompanying music transport the listener to realms of inspiration and devotion with their uplifting sounds.

Three songs in particular touched me.

Om Asatoma is a mantra best sung in transitional periods of life; this one—done acappella style—begins with a single voice, then a duet, then a trio proclaiming "Take us from the false to the truth, from darkness to light, from poison to nectar".

Sammasati, a lightly jazzed-up piece, is named after a meditation retreat in Costa rica.

Yemaya Assessu is an African mantra that celebrates the femininity of women and Mother Nature.

TRACKLIST:
1. Gayatri Mantra
2. Om Asatoma
3. Tumare Darshan
4. Om Namo
5. Shima Shima
6. Sammasati
7. Yemaya Assessu
8. Gayatri Mantra (bonus version)

Deuter - Sea & Silence

 

[Music review by Michael Woodhead for Synchronicity magazine]

Deuter - Like the Wind In the Trees

 

[Music review by Michael Woodhead for Synchronicity magazine]

Deuter - Earth Blue

 

[Music review by Michael Woodhead in Synchronicity magazine]

Deuter - Buddha Nature

 

[Music review by Michael Woodhead in Synchronicity magazine]

TOUCH MY BODY

Dechen Shak-Dagsay - Compassion

 COMPASSION

Dechen Shak-Dagsay
New Earth Music
2007

The overall feeling that the listener gets from this new release is one of stillness.

Quiet music and singing, and slow melodic lines encompass spirit, soul and mind to bring an inner peace through these eight healing mantras

TRACKLIST:
1: Dorje Sum Kyi Ngag - The three vajras
2: Drolmae Toepa - Praise to Tara
3: Dcham Sem Monlam - Prayer for the Great Compassion
4: Chenresi Kyi Sung Ring - Long Avalokiteshvara Mantra
5: Men-Lha Kyi Sung Ring - Long Medicine-Buddha Mantra
6: Sanghe Tsen Nga - Buddha Mantra
7: Namse Kyi Tsen Ngag - Mantra for wealth
8: Dorje Sempae Yig Gya - Long Vajara-Suttva 100-syllable mantra

Dechen Shak-Dagsay - Shi De

 SHI DE

Dechen Shak-Dagsay
New Earth Records
2006

Another quite delicate selection of songs-with lyrics written by Dechen's father, Dagsay Rinpoche, all of which exhort us to strive to achieve world peace, for Shi De, the "peace that brings happiness".

Although there isn't a lot of diversity in either the presentation or melodies, nevertheless the songs create a sense of peace and tranquility in the listener, helping in some way, to bring quietness into our own lives for even a short time, with the hope, perhaps, that we can carry this harmony into the world.

TRACKLIST:
1. Sog Tshag Tshe Kyong - Care for the Animals
2. Dshung Wa Thog Son - Balancing the Elements
3. Shi Wa Lam Kyod - For non-Violence, Respect
and Tolerance Between the People
4. Khor Yug Sung Kyob - Care for the Environment
5. Mong Shem Dam Lod - The Danger of Blind Devotion
6. Pal Yon Ngam Tshod - Share the treasure of the World
7. Tam Tsho Na Tsog - Religions of the World
8. Dug Tson Ka Gok - A World Without Weapons

Dechen Shak-Dagsay - Dewa Che

DEWA CHE

Dechen Shak-Dagsay
Polyglobe Music
1999

Eldest daughter of a Tibetan Lama, Dechen Shak-Dagsay chants eleven mantras designed to promote healing, and aid with relaxation and meditation.

Much like Li Xiangting's Sleeping Lotus, neither her ethereal voice, nor the music is overwhelming to a point where it becomes distracting. Rather, it becomes supportive in one's quest for inner peace.

A booklet provided with the CD offers suggestions on how to incorporate the music in one's life, and lyrics to facilitate chanting.

TRACKLIST:
1. Chenresi - to discover one's sources of love and sympathy
2. Men-Lha - the medicine-Buddha mantra
3. Lobon Rinpoche - protection from negative forces
4. Dorje-Sempa - for spiritual and physical cleansing
5. Ohpa-Me - an aid to visualizing the 'pure land', or paradise
6. Tshe-Pak-Me - an invocation for the eternal energy of life
7. Dolma - an aid to the removal of all negative obstacles
8. Namgyel-Ma - to overcome obstacles and gain a longer life
9. Dcham-Pal-Yang - to improve memory and intelligence
10. Tchu-Du - to achieve harmony with the fve elements
11. Drip-Sel - to help regain clarity of vision

Deben Bhattacharya - Religious Chants from India

 RELIGIOUS CHANTS FROM INDIA:

Sikh - Buddhist - Hindu Field Recordings

Deben Bhattacharya
Musicrama
2002

For those with a taste for authentic chants rather than the studio-produced, western-flavored ones, this CD will undoubtedly fit the bill.

All ten of these recordings are over thirty years old. I could not help but chuckle a little when, during In Praise of Guru Nanak, the lead singer starts to cough, then continues from where he left off—an experience with which I, too, am familiar. At any rate, this song turns out to be a lilting folk melody.

Other selections include Evening Prayer in the Main Buddhist Temple of Sarnath, chanted by monks (whilst, in the background, one can hear the hiss of an incense burner); a Khampti Mask Dance which represents the battle between good and evil; and In Praise of Krishna, a devotional song featuring a lead singer joined by a chorus.

Again, this album isn't for everyone, but if you close your eyes and listen, you can imagine yourself traveling through some of India's temples, courtyards and marketplaces.

TRACKLIST:
1. Morning Prayer in Golden Temple
2. In Praise of Guru Nanak
3. Evening Prayer in the Main Buddhist Temple of Sarnath
4. Jayamangala Astagatha
5. Khampti Mask Dance
6. Baul Song
7. Mira's Bhajan
8. Temple Song in Raga Basant
9. In Praise of Rama
10. In Praise of Krishna

Stranger In a Strange Land 

David Young - Beyond Celestial Winds

 

[Music review by Michael Woodhead in Synchronicity magazine]

David Wahler - Antiquus

ANTIQUUS

David Wahler
Darius Productions
2009

I very much love lush, orchestrated music and David Wahler certainly touches my heart with his compositions on this album.

He says it is his "musical exploration of our common heritage. Each track refers to an ancient myth, sacred love or eternal truths".

The music at once reminded me of some of the earlier artists I listened to when I first came in contact with this New Age style—Hennie Bekker, Bruce BecVar, and others (most of whom I now only have on cassette)—but, without a doubt, it carries me away to worlds of my imagination.

A slow and gentle introduction gradually segues to a more ethereal and uptempo tune (with an angelic voice cautioning us with "Don't be scared", and then on into various tracks reminiscent of the musical styles of different countries.

Overall, a beautiful musical journey through time and mythology endeavoring to be, for the listeners, "a compass in their own journey towards truth and wholeness".

TRACKLIST:
1. Antiquus
2. Delphi Dream
3. Kyoto Mist
4. Apollo's Lyre
5. Teresa
6. Night Sky of Orion
7. Hyacinthus
8. Lune Mysterieuse
9. Angelis
10. Ancient Dawn

David Phillips - Kingswood

KINGSWOOD

David Phillips
Gentle Spirit Music
1992 / 2009

Smooth and inspirational, David Phillips' flowing music carries the listener along on a ride through beautiful melodies, rich soundscapes of synthesizer, flutes, strings, and voices.

A delightful companion to his previous release, The Quest: A Journey of the Heart, the music combines echoing 'leitmotivs' (repetitive phrases) and one-time-only passages that help you to relax and unwind and yet are dynamic enough to lift your spirits. These recordings you'll want to play over and over again, using your imagination to create your own visual impressions of Forest of Light and A Dream Remembered.

My only criticism is that the selections are too short.

TRACKLIST:
1. Forest of Light
2. A Dream Remembered

David Darling - Cello Blue

  CELLO BLUE

David Darling
Hearts of Space
2001

By itself, the cello is a very melancholy and emotion-stirring instrument. On this album, a follow-up to his previous Eight String Religion, David has incorporated several cellos electronically to create a very moving selection of somber melodies.

A sprinkling of keyboards and piano combined with nature sounds complements his string technique, and the title song in particular is quite alluring with its repeated refrain.

TRACKLIST:
1 Children
2 Solitude
3 Prayer
4 Prayer and Word
5 Cello Blue
6 Thy Will 'Not Mine' Be Done
7 Serenity
8 Colorado Blue
9 Awakening
10 Morning
11 Presence

David Arkenstone - The Celtic Book of Days

 

[Music review by Michael Woodhead for Synchronicity magazine]

David Abramsky - A World of Good

 [Music review by Michael Woodhead for Synchronicity magazine]

David & Steve Gordon - Garden of Serenity

[Music review by Michael Woodhead for Synchronicity magazine]

David & Steve Gordon - Drum Medicine

[Music review by Michael Woodhead for Synchronicity magazine]

Daniel Otsuka - Reiki: Healing Touch

 REIKI: Healing Touch

Daniel Otsuka
New World Music
2006

More relaxing, meditative music for healing, particularly of interest to those who practice Reiki, since the album comes with a full-colour, though albeit short guide by Reiki Master, Christopher Wilson.

Another album in the 'Mind, Body and Soul' series from New World Music, Reiki: Healing Touch is, overall, a selection of quiet, non-intrusive pieces of music composed by Daniel Otsuka with a very Asian flavor to them, with the tracking and musical frequencies designed to "harmonize, complement and enhance the practitioner and the Reiki treatment".

Soft, smooth and serene, these tender pieces provide an excellent background of comforting music, gently lulling the client into a relaxed state, while energizing the practitioner.

TRACKLIST:
1. Awakening of the Dawn
2. Harmony of the Universe
3. Crystal Clear
4. Gentle Reflection
5. Earth's Unfolding Cords
6. Refreshing Sea Energies
7. Winds of Change
8. Heart Strings of Love
9. Timeless Rays of Light
10. Secret Insights
11. Life & Freedom
12. Embers of the Sun

Dagda - Sleeping With the Gods of Love / Underworld

 

 [Music review by Michael Woodhead for Synchronicity magazine]

Daemonia Nymphe - The Bacchic Dance of the Nymphs

 THE BACCHIC DANCE OF THE NYMPHS

Daemonia Nymphe
Prikosnovenie
2004

Very eclectic and creative, this is an intriguing album.

Daemonia Nymphe is a group exploring the roots of ancient Greek classical music, and they have produced a dramatic musical representation of the famed dance to the god, Bacchus, by his ecstatic followers, the naiads.

Fascinating in its presentation, The Bacchic Dance of the Nymphs is a marvelous recreation of ancient instrumental sounds and music, combined with narrative (albeit not in English) and dramatic oratory. But the emphasis is on the music, sparse and strange though it may sound to Western ears. Nonetheless, it is a delightful piece of work to which interested listeners of neoclassical works would be directed.

From Prikosnovenie, the Fairy World label—"This is our black and white period. It is our first attempt to use Orphic Hymns in our music firstly using acoustic instruments in a way that could possibly remind of the ancient sound at least what we believed it sounded like. .. Of course we are inspired by the atmosphere of the ancient temples and statues but our main goal is to compose new music that can possibly have elements of our past (memory) and our present (action) and the hope to be heard also in the future. In general this music refers to the Nymphs, Satyrs, Pan and Dionysus, Divinities of the woods, lakes and mountains which are so much connected with this sacred land 'Hellas'."

TRACKLIST:
1. The Calling of the Naiads
2. The Bells of Acheron
3. The Bacchic Dance of the Nymphs
4. Calling the Twelve Gods
5. Summoning Pan
6. Divined by Trophonios
7. Tyrvasia

DAC Crowell : 04-83

04-83: A Retrospective Of Works By Dac Crowell

Dac Crowell
Suilven Recordings
2004

Electronic fans of Morton Subotnik, Gyorgy Ligeti, and John Cage (remember them?) are sure to appreciate these contemporary works of Dac Crowell.

This two-disc set contains six compositions that Dac has created over the past twenty-odd years, influenced as he was by industrial, minimalist, and ambient music sources.

Disc 1 contains Untitled, a live concert recorded on 'Something Else' at Chicago's WLUW radio in 2000; The Dark Corridor (1995); and Ahnomia (1989), performed by Dac with Jim irwin as a group known as LVXUS.

Disc 2 contains Rising Invocations (1983), Rhapsodic (1994), and November Light (2004).

Overall, Dac has put together some very moving (i.e. flowing soundscapes) pieces of work, some more enjoyable than others. Ahnomia is quite enthralling as sounds build upon sounds, chords upon chords, like an electronic river), but all keenly crafted and realized. I can appreciate the amount of work involved in creating such electronic pieces—finding the right 'sound', the appropriate 'beat', and the manner in which to present them.

In many ways, Dac is a worthy successor to the early masters of musique concrète and yet, these works are still timeless. 

		TRACKLIST: 1 Untitled 2 The Dark Corridor    3 Ahnomia 4 Rising Invocations 5 Rhapsodic    6 November Light

Cybertribe - Time Travel

 

[Music review by Michael Woodhead for Synchronicity magazine]

Cybertribe - Immortality

 

[Music review by Michael Woodhead for Synchronicity magazine]

Cybertribe - Eons of Dignity

EONS OF DIGNITY

Cybertribe
(with John Deere)
New Earth Records
2004

Cybertribe returns with a new selection of rhythmic fusion tunes ideal for energizing a weary soul, uplifting a fallen spirit, and seducing a body to the dance floor. Lots of synthesized sounds blend easily with natural instruments ( didgeridoo, flutes, piano) and human voices to delight the ear, and carry the imagination to other times and dimensions.

Several tunes intrigued me—Poseidon's Gate, although a reference to Greek mythology, has a deceptive Native American sound; Forces of Nature brings together the voice of a baby within a wall of electronic sound, perhaps a visionary glimpse of the joining of human and computer intelligence; and Fairie Mountains brings the world of Fae into the future of electronica, but somehow loses the enchantment of that former world.

Nevertheless, all in all, another delightful presentation from a talented composer.

TRACKLIST:
1. To the Moon
2. Corridor of Dreams
3. Poseidon's Gate
4. Autumn Spirit
5. Passage To India
6. Forces of Nature
7. Fairie Mountains
8. Cascade of Light