| 1. Yaar - Kiran Ahluwalia |
| 2. Ashibi Shongane - Ryukyu Underground |
| 3. Fairy Link - Susumu Yokota |
| 4. Bengali Song - Nitin Sawhney |
| 5. Argentina - Benjamin Court |
| 6. I Love Everybody - Jah Wobble |
| 7. Temple de Kushrova - Fredrick Rousseau |
| 8. Ngani Troma, Pt. 1 - Choying Drolma, Steve Tibbetts |
| 9. Heaven - Rakesh Chaurasia, Talvin Singh |
| 10. Intoxicated - Michael Brook, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan |
| 11. Tabuh Pengawit Gending Truntugan |
World Meditation,Various Artists,Nascente,Int'l & World Music,Pop,V/A Compilations
Average customer rating:
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The Most Relaxing Classical Album in the World...Ever!
Johann Sebastian Bach , Léo Delibes , Gabriel Fauré , Erik Satie , Wolfgang Amadeus Mozart , Edvard Grieg , Johann Pachelbel , Claude Debussy , Felix Mendelssohn , Camille Saint-Saens , Henryk Gorecki , Antonio Vivaldi , Edward Elgar , Jocelyn Pook , Sergey Rachmaninov , Tomaso Giovanni Albinoni , Luigi Boccherini , Jules Massenet , Ludwig van Beethoven , Jacques Offenbach , Pietro Mascagni , Antonin Dvorak , Giacomo Puccini , Ralph Vaughan Williams , Alexander Borodin , Joaquin Rodrigo , and Samuel Barber Manufacturer: Angel Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00000I93Z Release Date: 1999-03-30 |
Tracks:
- Air 'On the G String' - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
- Morning - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
- Canon In D - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
- Jesu, Joy Of Man's Desiring - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
- Gymnopedie No.1 - City Of Birmingham Symphony Orchestra
- II. Andante - Stephen Hough
- Viens, Mallika - Mady Mesple
- In Paradisum - Choir Of King's College, Cambridge
- Clair De Lune - Dame Moura Lympany
- II. Andate - Yehudi Menuhin
- The Swan - Osian Ellis
- II. Lento E Largo - Tranquillissimo - Zofia Kilanowicz
- II. Andantino - James Galway
- II. Largo - Yehudi Menuhin
- Nimrod - London Symphony Orchestra
- Blow the Wind - Pie Jesu - Jocelyn Pook
- Variation 18 - Cecile Ousset
- Pavane Op.50 - Gareth Morris
Tracks:
- Zion Hort Die Wachter Singen - South German Madrigal Choir
- Adagio In G Minor - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
- Minuet - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
- II. Largo - Andrei Gavrilov
- Meditation - Hans Kalafusz
- I. Adagio Sostenuto - Dame Moura Lympany
- Belle Nuit, O Nuit D'amour (Barcarolle) - Elisabeth Schwarzkopf
- II. Andante - Nigel North
- II. Adagio - Jack Brymer
- Intermezzo - Philharmonia Orchestra
- I. Moderato - London Chamber Orchestra
- O Mio Babbino Caro - Montserrat Caballe
- Fantasia On 'Greensleeves' - Sinfonia Of London
- II. Adagio Sostenuto (Opening) - Cecile Ousset
- Nocturne - Academy Of St. Martin In The Fields
- II. Adagio (Opening) - Julian Bream
- Adagio For Strings Op.11a - The Philadelphia Orchestra
- Entr'acte To Act III - Orchestre National De France
Amazon.com
You want relaxing classical music that'll soothe your soul but won't lull you into sleep? Here's a double CD for you. The Most Relaxing Classical Album in the World ... Ever! does its best to cover both well-worn classical favorites (Bach's "Air on the G String," Pachelbel's "Cannon," Debussy's "Clair de Lune") and some eclectic left-field choices (an excerpt from Górecki's Symphony No. 3, Jocelyn Pook's "Blow the Wind," and Samuel Barber's Adagio for Strings. The performances of most of these excerpts are top-notch--artists include Sir Neville Marriner, James Galway, Jacqueline du Pré and the Philadelphia Orchestra--and there's enough variety here for everyone. --Edward GarabedianCustomer Reviews:
Lives Up To The Title, Fine Variety Of Genre's........2007-02-04
Good for relaxing pregnant women.......2007-01-17
Too much opera.......2007-01-10
Does what it set out to do, very well.......2006-11-15
That said, i totally adore this set because i have learned to take it on its own terms. These discs weren't meant for expert classical listeners, so a review from that sort of mindset is useless. This set was meant for pure, easy listening, and for a basic starters kit for classical newbies. Most of all, it was just meant to do what the title says, to relax the average human being. classical expert or not.
Yes, some of these pieces have been altered or shortened, like Mozart's Flute and Harp Concerto Andantino, but they have been edited for a good enough reason: the full versions would have been too long to flow with the rest of the album. And also, the full versions contain so much development that they don't become easy listening anymore. The shortened versions work in the context of the album. Most essentially, the shortened versions on the discs still convey the main flavor the composers were going for. The melodies and themes remain unchanged.
To sum up, it is true that when i want to actually listen deeply to classical music, this album would never be a choice. I would want to hear the complete works like the composers intended. But at certain times when i simply don't mind about that stuff, when i just need to loosen up and free my mind of stress with some nice melodies, this set does the job well enough.
Last but not least: being a purist and a classical buff, i am very particular about performance quality. I was very glad to find that EMI did not get lazy about this. All the artists are world-class, and all the performances are at least exceptional. Some performances are even quite excellent, like the Clair De Lune, which is one of the best i've heard. (Credit to Dame Lympany, the pianist.)
So once again, recommended for its stated purpose, to relax. I am a purist, a classical buff, and i still enjoy this disc. That says something.
TRULY The most relaxing and beautiful music ever written........2006-11-10
SIMPLY BEAUTIFUL !!!!!!!!!!
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Greatest Hits of the Kali Yuga
Krishna Das Manufacturer: Karuna ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0002O06PI Release Date: 2004-09-07 |
Tracks:
- Bhajelo-ji Hanuman
- Namah Shivayah
- Ma Durga
- Hara Hara Mahadev
- Mountain Hare Krishna
- Hanuman Baba (Dub Farm Re-Mix)
- Shri Guru Charanam
- Devi Puja
- Mere Guru Dev
- Brindavan Hare Ram
Customer Reviews:
Listening to this CD over and over and over and over...etc........2007-07-05
Ram Ram Ram Ram .......2007-03-28
moving into peace.......2007-01-19
Beautiful!.......2007-01-10
greatest hits krishna das.......2007-01-10
Average customer rating:
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Lost in Meditation: Meditative Gregorian Chants
Manufacturer: Delta ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000001VIL Release Date: 1994-08-30 |
Tracks:
- Introitus: Ecce advenit
- Graduale: Onmes de Saba
- Communio: Omnes qui in Christo
- Halleluja: Dies sanctificatus
- Ofertorium: Tui sunt caeli
- Hymnus: Creator alme siderum
- Introitus: Gaudens gaudebo
- Halleluja: Leatatus sum
- Communio: Dicite Pusillanimes
- Tractus Deus: Deus meus
- Introitus: Misereris
- Antiphon: Pueri Hebraeorum
- Hymnus: Gloria
- Graduale: Christus factus est
- Halleluja: Hallelujah
- Introitus: Resurrexi
- Sequenz: Victimae paschalis laudes
- Hymnus: Veni creator
Customer Reviews:
Great music, great price.......2007-05-07
Definitely Meditative.......2007-03-09
Gregorian Meditation.......2007-01-13
Beautiful.......2007-01-13
Gregorian Chant Gems.......2005-08-27
Average customer rating:
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Flow of Grace
Krishna Das Manufacturer: Gemini Sun Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000LW9Q98 Release Date: 2007-05-08 |
Tracks:
- Sri Ram Chalisa
- Hallelujah Chalisa
- Good Ole Chalisa
- Nina Chalisa
- Mountain Chalisa
- Bernie's Chalisa
- Medley: Ring Song/Jaya Siya Ram
Tracks:
- Hanuman Chalisa
- Hanuman Chalisa
Customer Reviews:
A Krishna Das/Chalisa Lovers Delight In A Great Package .......2007-06-27
Music to Make Your Heart Happy.......2007-06-21
I needn't have worried. This CD has leapt to the top of my commuting favorites, and I expect it will stay there permanently. The arrangements are sweet and varied and full of energy.
Sri Ram Chalisa is sung call as call and (sri Ram jai Ram) response - a boon to those of us who like to sing along but haven't mastered all the words
Hallelujah Chalisa has a beautiful traditional flowing (when does he breathe?) arrangement.
Good Ole Chalisa is KD's traditional Chalisa tune, sung in a heart-warming choral style.
Nina Chalisa is a lilting, faintly medieval, all-female chorus.
Mountain Chalisa is another sweet, more traditional arrangement.
Bernie's Chalisa - my favorite - is a slightly slower, sweet, uplifting choral arrangement with phrasing that seems to make it easier to memorize the words (I'm six lines in
The Ring Song is a great new arrangement of the charming story of Hanuman finding the kidnapped Mother Sita, given a slightly less "rock and role" treatment than the one recorded on "Pilgrim Heart," but still lots of fun.
The second CD has two spoken versions of the Chalisa for those of us who aspire eventually to learn the words - one a slow complete recitation, the other - even slower -has each line repeated twice. My only small complaints are (a) I would have liked a slow version set to music, which makes memorization easier and (b) Driving would be safer if each line (or pair of lines) had been recorded as a separate track. That would have saved a lot of trouble searching through the disc while practicing.
Music, inspiration, an (optional) "workshop" in chant, and bliss all packaged into one CD. Krishna Das has truly offered us a masterpiece of grace.
Amazing!.......2007-05-24
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Embrace
Deva Premal Manufacturer: White Swan ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000066RG4 Release Date: 2002-05-07 |
Tracks:
- Om Tare
- Om Namo Bhagavate
- Hari Om Shiva Om
- Om Ram Ramaya
- Shree Ram Jai Ram
- Shante Prashante
- Rang De
- Teyata
Amazon.com
Deva ("Deva" is a Hindu title for divine) Premal has attracted a following by framing ancient Hindu mantras within atmospheric, contemporary settings. The result on Embrace, her third release, is at times flavorful, at other times undistinguished, but it produces more intriguing moments than duds. On occasion, Premal aspires to Enya-like reverence (e.g., tracks 2 and 4), then elsewhere coos her ancient text atop gentle grooves and jazzy flutes (tracks 3 and 6) in a manner suggestive of Deep Forest. Some might describe it as "smooth chant." Highlights include "Shree Ram Jai Ram," a beautifully realized cross-pollination of East and West (highlighted by Kit Walker's free-floating piano and Premal's resonant choir of voices) that hints at what Joni Mitchell might create if she tried her hand at Eastern music. --Terry WoodAlbum Description
EMBRACE, the long awaited new album from Deva Premal, finds this best-selling singer at the height of her art, expressing the ancient wisdom of mantra through a contemporary musical vision. Her radiant voice, richer and more assured than ever before, floats above a cool, sensual groove provided by some of today's finest world fusion artists and producers Miten and Kit Walker (Walela, Kitaro, Neal Schon).Deva Premal enthralled audiences worldwide with THE ESSENCE and LOVE IS SPACE. That phenomenal success continues with EMBRACE. Its relaxed, uplifting feel and elegant sense of space can only heighten the spell already cast by this mantra enchantress.
"Majestic, deep and full of love," Deva Premal's EMBRACE is a lovely and moving next chapter from an artist whose incredible potential is only beginning to unfold.
Album Description
Deva Premal's Embrace expands on the Eastern Indian fusion and ethereal vocals of her previous work, combining timeless mantras with contemporary arrangements. Innocent, soothing and laid-back. Features 8 tracks of sensual music for yoga, packaged in a slipcase. White Swan. 2004.Customer Reviews:
Ony one world.......2007-07-17
GREAT
I love this woman, her voice is so perfect, strong and clear...
sublime.......2006-11-12
Listen to this CD and feel the bliss.
Uplifting, absolutely beautiful!!.......2006-09-02
Disappointing.......2006-06-08
Hard core Deva fans won't notice, of course, and will love this.
Deva Premal Embrace.......2006-03-20
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Music for Yoga and Other Joys
Jai Uttal , and Ben Leinbach Manufacturer: Gemini Sun Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B0001HK09S Release Date: 2004-03-16 |
Tracks:
- Govinda
- Mahadeva
- Nataraja
- Gopala
- Surya
Amazon.com
Music for yoga is such a cliché that you could slap that moniker on a Barry Manilow CD and have it sold as a soundtrack for Downward Facing Dog pose. Yoga music has become a made-to-order commodity, and rarely attains the level of art. The title Music for Yoga and Other Joys doesn't bode well, but then, it has Jai Uttal, a veteran of world fusion going back 15 years and a devotee of kirtan singing teaming up with multi-instrumentalist Ben Leinbach for a series of extended improvisations. Leinbach creates a shifting back drop of chilled, Indian-derived grooves and textures like liquid mercury dipped in a fractal swirl. It's a perfect modal backdrop for Uttal, who improvises freely on an Indian stringed instrument called the dotar, electric guitar, and even banjo. Pieces like the 26-minute "Govinda" extend in a free fall until a rhythm loop drops in. Uttal swaps to a fuzzed out electric guitar solo that eventually merges into an improvised kirtan, his voice coiling in note-bending spirals like soul singing from the east. This may be music for yoga, but it's the other joys that will keep you coming back. --John DilibertoAlbum Description
Jai Uttalpremier world music composer and 2003 Grammy® nomineeoffers a moving mix of melody, rhythms, and chants with Music for Yoga and Other Joys. Known for his eclectic blend of East-meets-West sound, Jai offers listeners his first album created especially for yoga practice. More than 60 minutes of sensual music featuring dotar, electric guitar, and slide tamboura, all complemented by Jai's full, golden-toned voice. Produced in collaboration with Ben Leinbach. Also an excellent choice for meditating, gardening, driving, and bodywork.Customer Reviews:
Yoga music but not that joyful.......2007-05-18
The title for this CD is full and true.......2007-02-24
I feel the joy.......2007-02-09
surreal.......2007-01-10
Great Massage CD.......2006-12-12
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Detaching the World Vol. 1 - Ambient Music for Massage/Relaxation/Meditation
Detaching the World Manufacturer: Connecting The Universe Music ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00007H1BE Release Date: 2002-01-30 |
Tracks:
- Tranquil Sunrise
- Deep Unknown
- The Valley Beyond
- Fallen Angel
Album Description
As we explore the depths of our "self", our "souls", through massage, relaxation, and other healing modalities, we gain experience and knowingness. The music from Detaching The World Vol. 1 is a transient, which allows for this knowingness to occur in a peaceful, tranquil, and comforting environment.This CD has been created to provide over 60 minutes in running time without the use of vocals or percussion. Emil Gagliardi has introduced a new style of guitar called "The Nuit's Effect" named after its rich soothing textures and deep earthy tones. From the opening cut of "Tranquil Sunrise", Gagliardi's swirling guitar immediately sets the perfect mood for massage and relaxation. The density of "The Valley Beyond" swallows you up in a tapestry of color similar to a warm blanket while the hauntingly beautiful "Fallen Angel" resembles a fresh new day after a storm.
Gagliardi's vision of creating the perfect massage and relaxation music sets Detaching The World (Vol. 1) apart from all others. Its purpose is to serve gentleness and ease like the inhalation and exhalation of the breath.
Customer Reviews:
Detaching the World Vol 1.......2007-06-27
Promising Debut by Ambient Guitarist Emil Gagliardi.......2007-05-23
Relaxing Music.......2007-02-20
Boss Time.......2007-01-10
great work!.......2006-12-30
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Mythic Dreamer: Music For Native American Flute
R. Carlos Nakai Manufacturer: Canyon Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B00000136V Release Date: 1998-02-17 |
Tracks:
- Corn Grinding Song
- The World How Fair
- See The Rainbows
- Fox Song
- Elk Dreamer's Song
- The Great Mystery Hears Me
- Summer Solstice
- Antelope Song
- Begging Song
- Victory Song
- Eagle Flute Song
- Ealges Gathering
- Silver Salmon Bear
- Rocks And Rills
- Coyote Wind
- Swallows And Night Hawks
- Inner Voices
- Lake That Speaks
Product Description
01. Corn-Grinding Song; 02. The World How Fair; 03. See the Rainbows; 04. Fox Song; 05. Elk Dreamers Song; 06. The Great Mystery Hears Me; 07. Summer Solstice; 08. Antelope Song; 09. Begging Song; 10. Victory Song; 11. Eagle Flute Song; 12. Eagles Gathering; 13. Silver Salmon Bear; 14. Rocks and Rills; 15. Coyote Wings; 16. Swallows and Night Hawks; 17. Inner Voices; 18. Lake That Speaks
Format: CD
Amazon.com essential recording
Nakai's most recent outing finds him returning once again to the simple under-produced style that he pioneered on Changes. This program includes 10 traditional tunes from the Kiowa, Lakota, Dakota, Zuni, and Cheyenne; seven of his own compositions; and "Lake That Speaks," from the second movement of James DeMars's "Two World Concerto." On this album the Native melodies sound forceful, almost triumphant, partially due to the short, staccato bursts that Nakai often uses to begin a melodic line--sounds that bring to mind a child's laughter or the contented chirping of a dawn bird. For the Cheyenne "Victory Song" and the Dakota/Lakota melody "The Great Mystery Hears Me" Nakai uses more sustained notes than usual, and the clear, piercing tone of his flute illuminates the heart like a ray of midday sunshine. --j. poetCustomer Reviews:
soothing and wonderful.......2007-03-26
GREAT MUSIC!.......2007-03-12
I like the sound of Carlos Nakai and the far West.
Thank you.
Highly recommended!
An absolute must have.......2006-03-28
Mystic Dreamer by Carlos Naki.......2006-03-25
Mythic Dreamer: Music For Native American Flute.......2006-02-27
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All One
Krishna Das Manufacturer: Triloka Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000A1IOKC Release Date: 2005-08-23 |
Tracks:
- Calling From Afar
- Refuge in The Name
- Rock in a Heart Space
- Township Krishna
Amazon.com
A recording likely to delight enthusiasts and perplex the uninitiated, All One is a 54-minute, four-part suite rooted in devotional yoga and dedicated, as the liner notes explain, to the "Sacred Names...revealed to us by the Great Beings who manifest Truth." All One presents four essentially seamless tracks in which the Hare Krishna mantra is repeated over and over, yet with gradual fluctuations in musical context, ranging from a worshipful near-drone to a jangly, celebratory sort of pop. (Note: Absorbing so much lyrical repetition may require an especially enlightened state of mind.) Krishna Das, a native New Yorker born Jeffrey Kagel who embraced Indian spiritual pursuits in the late 1960s, is the production's unifying force, half-singing, half-groaning the names and eliciting joyful replies from a 70-voice choir in recurring call-and-response patterns. Among the recording's numerous participants are bassist and co-producer Walter Becker of Steely Dan, co-producer Jay Messina (who has worked with Aerosmith), and drummer Rick Allen of Def Leppard, though their contributions are transparent in the mix of many other musicians. Instead, the focus is on the repetitious chants of Das (who also plays harmonium) and the sense of connectedness and oneness they aspire to engender among all listeners. --Terry WoodAlbum Description
"All One" is Krishna Das' first new studio recording in two years. Featuring Walter Becker and Def Leppard's Rick Allen, "All One" is a Mantric suite in four movements. "All One" covers musical ground from western classical music to South African township music.Co-produced by Walter Becker, "All One" features a 20 instrument orchestra and 70 voices. Other musicians included on this recording are longtime Krishna Das sideman Ty Burhoe and guitarist/composer David Nichtern.
Customer Reviews:
Best of its Genre.......2007-07-07
One of the best yoga CD's.......2007-04-14
Review of Krishna Das.......2007-01-12
Very nice to listen to........2007-01-10
Your Heart will be Opened...to Yourself.......2006-10-16
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Elysium for the Brave
Azam Ali Manufacturer: Six Degrees ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Similar Items:
ASIN: B000FTBK9G Release Date: 2006-07-25 |
Tracks:
- Endless Reverie
- Spring Arrives
- In Other Worlds
- Abode
- Forty One Ways
- The Tryst
- From Heaven To Dust
- I Am A Stranger In This World
- In This Divide
Amazon.com
For this, her second solo album, Azam Ali, lead vocalist of Vas and Niyaz, takes her patented polycultural blend of ancient and contemporary influences even farther beyond the stratosphere. That she is now a veteran of numerous film scores, including Children of Dune, Earthsea, and Matrix Revolutions, perhaps explains her present more cinematic direction. Born in Iran, reared in India and the US, and gifted with a voice of improbable tonal breadth, flexibility, and beauty, she is backed by collaborators like Trey Gunn (King Crimson), Chris Venna (Nine Inch Nails), Turkish DJ/composer Mercan Dede, the Japanese ensemble Kodo, and Grateful Dead drummer/world percussion enthusiast Mickey Hart. One of the more interesting conundrums inherent in Ali's work is that no matter how much electronic technology she employs, her immersion in her heritage unfailingly comes across loud and clear. Whether she is singing in English, which predominates on these sessions, Farsi, or another language, a prayerful sensuality informs every note. It's as though a sexy Tanagra temple figurine or silk-clad court lady from an antique parchment were to suddenly turn her lovely head and step daintily into the modern world, unfurling precisely the kind of voice one expected but never could have imagined. --Christina RodenAlbum Description
"Elysium For The Brave", Azam's second solo album, signals a new turn in her musical evolution. The album, her most ambitious work to date, brings together musicians from varied musical backgrounds performing in diverse permutations. The result is a highly coherent body of work that seamlessly weaves together all of Azam's cultural and musical influences into a haunting tapestry of atmospheric rock, electronic, and global sounds. Singing predominantly in English for the first time, the songs are based on lyrics written by Azam herself and reveal a poetic lyricism heard only in glimpses in her previous work.Customer Reviews:
Mystical journey into the desert.......2007-06-07
The opening track,"Endless Reverie",evokes vast desert spaces. It seduces the listener into a spiritual journey. "Spring Arrives" is a musical oasis. "Abode" sounds ancient and modern at once,in which Azam Ali sings of longing for her homeland of Iran. "Forty One Ways" has an urgency driving it forward, with its haunting opening "forty one ways to die,one strong will to live. " "The Tryst" is at once spiritual and erotic; Azam Ali sings of her own sin&being unworthy to enter her lover's garden (which almost sounds like Christian rock-yet it's not)."I am a stranger in this world" is unearthly,expressing desire for union with the eternal.
Azam Ali's spirituality shines in her songs. She does not resort to hoary,sappy cliches. It's as if Teresa of Avila's "The Interior Castle" or John of the Cross' "Ascent of Mount Carmel" were given sonic life. Azam Ali has had an amazing career so far;she headed Vas,now she fronts Niyaz.The best is yet to come.
World music - folk rock from the middle east.......2007-05-12
Pure and captivating........2007-04-24
This time around, she is supported by King Crimson's Pat Mastelotto whose amazing percussion work on the opening song "Endless Reverie", blended with Ali's impossibly beautiful vocals, is like the perfect combination of tribal beats and electronics, something we've never heard from Ali before. Another Crimson member, Trey Gunn, also appears on the album, and even co-wrote the mood-intensive piece "The Tryst", employing minimal guitar effects that underlie Ali's vocal lament. Her velvet vocals convey sensuality and heartfelt emotion, and are carefully placed atop an ethereal guitar theme. It is amazing to hear Ali sing in English -- her older fans know how moving she can get when she sings in Persian and Indian, but to see that she is actually capable of applying her talents to more "straightforward" pieces is nothing short of astounding. Unlike her works with Vas and Niyaz, there are a few non-Eastern songs on this album, such as the album opener and this one, where you'll get lost in the beauty of forlornly ringing guitar notes and dark mysticism.
That said, while the titles are in English, not all of them are sung in this language. Ali still uses lots of Persian and Indian lyrics in her songs. Her artistic strength mostly lies in crafting unique Middle Eastern pieces highlighting her vocals and it is hard to capture the intensity without using the region's language and instruments (as on the Indian dirge "Abode"). Her voice is so vulnerable and beautiful I don't even know how to describe it. Having discovered her on Mercan Dede's Breath album where she does her unique Persian-styled vocal melodies mostly going for wordless harmonies, I felt compelled to seek everything she participated in and was absolutely thrilled she experiments with the same style on songs like "I Am a Stranger in This World", which she co-wrote with Loga Roman Torkian, her partner in Niyaz; and the mesmerizing "From Heaven to Dust", an atmospheric elegy drenched in western beats and Indian percussion. "In Other Worlds" is one of the darkest songs on the CD -- it contains strummed acoustic guitars that slowly disappear under a wall-of-sound keyboards that blanket everything but Ali's wonderful voice. Though there is a vague Persian sadness incorporated into the song, this is yet another attempt to branch out and explore new territories.
The production and sonic quality of the album are mindblowing. An incredible amount of nuance and coherent body of work serve to heighten the unmatched emotional power of Ali's voice and compositional skills to a higher level. She has now proved that she is so much more than just a singer with a great voice; her understanding of melody, rhythm, and vocal arrangement leaves me speechless. Check this disc out even if you're remotely interested in world music that is unafraid to infuse electronics and minimalism into its tapestry.
Wonderful.......2007-03-14
Mystic, Mesmerizing, and Beautiful.......2007-03-11
What makes "Elysium from the Brave" stand out from Azam Ali's previous work is that she sings 6 out of 9 tracks in English (the remaining three are in Farsi). The mystical lyricism, which was written by Azam Ali herself, is hauntingly beautiful and reminds us about our personal quests for Elysium. Some of the lyrics however, are difficult to make out, but this didn't bother me at all because it's not so much about digging up words, but LISTENING and EXPERIENCING the MUSIC. Those who are familiar with the band "Cocteau Twins" (one of my favorite bands) and the lead singer, Elizabeth Fraiser, shouldn't be bothered by not being able to hear the lyrics since the "Cocteau Twins" are known for their indecipherable lyrics.
Everyone wants to escape their sorrows and hardships, everyone wants to feel Loved, everyone wants to be happy; these universally shared human longings are what unite us as a species. Unlike the hoards of hip-hop and pop music out there that exploit our animalistic nature, Azam Ali's voice is cry for a return to the human spirit. It would not be inaccurate to say that many humans are out of touch with their spiritual nature, and I am not sure who the blame goes to, but I believe attracting the population through an appealing form of art, such as music, is a powerful way to help promote and encourage spirituality. "Elysium for the Brave" features powerful and thought-provoking lyrics voiced by a divinely gifted woman who sings over stimulating modern day beats and rhythms, which make this album a unique blend of the ancient and the new.
My favorite tracks are:
1. Endless Reverie, 3. In Other Worlds, 5. Forty One Ways, 7. From Heaven to Dust (a nice BASS track) 8. I am a Stranger in this World, 9. In This Divide (the instrumentation is amazing)
Pop Music:
