BLUE FIRE SOUL
Suzanne Sterling
White Swan Records
www.suzannesterling.com
With a voice that has been called "haunting and healing" Suzanne Sterling is an urban musical priestess. She creates a unique alchemy that brings together devotional chanting with contemporary dance music - invoking the sacred while inspiring the body to move. This is an emerging musical sub-genre called "kirtronica" - a blend of kirtan (spiritual singing) and electronica of which she is a pioneer.
Suzanne has been a noted performer of this type of music at many large-scale gatherings such as Burning Man and The World Festival Of Sacred Music (hosted by the Dali Lama).
Her latest release is particularly well suited for yoga, meditation, and soulful movement. The mantras or chants in Sanskrit are based on traditional Indian spiritual themes. The music also has an Eastern flavor but is well spiced with contemporary electronic ingredients.
Suzanne's "solid musical partner and friend" Christopher K, added drums, percussion, loops, beats, guitar, keyboards, and vocals, as well as helping compose, produce, record, mix, and master the CD at his 7 Generations Studios. A number of very talented musicians and vocalists also lend their particular gifts to the project, which creates a very full lush sound.
The vocals, which have a mystical feel, are further entranced by some mesmerizing electronic processing. While this imparts an ethereal ambience, the ever-present beat keeps the listener in the groove. "Blue Fire Soul" burns with heart and spirit - listening to it will put your head in the clouds and your feet on the ground.
MICHAEL SPRIGGS
Neurasienia
Agnes Records
www.michaelspriggs.com
Although some readers may not recognize his name, they may have heard the guitar work of this English-born, Nashville session musician who has played on literally hundreds of recordings by country stars such as Eddie Rabbit, Martina McBride, Dolly Parton, and more - as well as other major artists like BB King and Elton John.
This instrumental CD, how-ever, is quite a departure and has more in common with the new age acoustic music popularized by Windham Hill.
Michael is a masterful musician who plays a variety of guitars and stringed instruments in a style that would appeal to the fans of Michael Hedges, William Ackerman, and early Pat Metheney. His acoustic guitar tone is especially noteworthy for its crystal clarity, resonance, and incredible ambience.
Accompanying Michael is Jonathan Yudkin on cello, violin, mandolin, and harp, Richard "Spady" Brannen on bass, and percussionist Tommy Hardin. The music is mostly mellow with a pastoral feel, while some songs flow to a more rhythmic stream. It's a lovely blend of atmosphere and movement that brims with emotional expressiveness.
The album's title, "Neurasenia" refers to our "beingness" - everything that makes us who we are. Michael is certainly reflecting the fullness of his being, drawing from all the various facets of his creativity.
The CD has received critical acclaim and recently garnered the number one chart spot and extensive airplay on the long-running Echoes radio program. "Neurasenia" is simply one of the finest sounding albums I've heard in a while.
DREAM JUNGLE
Red Night
Third Ear Music
www.ThirdEar.org
Having greatly enjoyed the Dream Jungle's last CD "Lucid," I looked forward to this latest offering, which certainly didn't disappoint. The creative force behind Dream Jungle is long-time electronic musician/DJ, Dwight Loop. While "Lucid" was a bit more of a collaborative effort, "Red Night" is a solo flight, with the exception of a guest on one song (more on that later).
However, with Dwight's wizardry on synthesizers, samplers, sequences, loops, beats, and atmospherics the music gives the impression of being produced by an ensemble.
The name "Dream Jungle" is perfect as it reflects the vibe and feel of the sound. Words like: exotic, sensuous, tribal, mysterious, and shamanic allude to the soundscapes created in this ambient trance music.
Contemporary electronica grooves interwoven with mystical Eastern threads create a magic carpet that takes the listener on inner expeditions to steamy alien rainforests. In fact, it occurred to me while listening that some of this music would have fit perfectly in the soundtrack to the blockbuster film "Avatar."
Adding to the esoteric ambience on track 7, "Climbing Mt. Buddha" is German vocalist Mark Seelig whose unique talent is Tuvan throat singing, a rare overtone technique originating in Central Asia. Certain tracks on the CD brought to mind ambient music pioneer Jon Hassell whose "4th World" album, produced by Brian Eno, is a classic of the genre.
Dwight, who currently lives in New Mexico, recently collaborated with fellow southwest-dwelling recording artist Steve Roach. "Red Night" is evocative, spirited music that transcends the edge of imagination.
SOPHIA
Spirit Healing Chants
Sequoia Records
www.SequoiaRecords.com
If one could part the veils to glimpse the heavenly realms, the sound they hear might be something like the music of Sophia. With a voice like an angel, her music is divinely inspired and created for the sole purpose of healing and uplifting the spirit. Sophia doesn't consider herself to be an "entertainer," but more of a facilitator through music and song to create unity and inspiration.
"Spirit Healing Chants" is a follow up to her "Chakra Healing Chants" and continues the journey to a place where the waters of the sensuous and the spiritual merge into one. Although voice is her primary instrument, on this recording she also plays tamboura, percussion, and appropriately, angel harp.
Sophia is joined by a host of other musicians including Mich-ael Stillwater, Raphael, Fantuzzi, and Buddy Comfort, among many others, and in particular Donnie Regalmuto who played a vital role in the creation of this CD.
Along with Sophia's vocals, the variety of instruments, choir of voices, and high level of production create a sonic cathedral that illuminates the listener in its radiance.
In her own words, "my musical interests have been eclectic, ranging from East Indian to Native American. I like to combine chants from different cultures, to bridge between worlds." This oneness is lovingly expressed in this CD, which blends various elements with beauty and grace, touching on themes of the peacemakers, the Goddess, universal love, celebrating the day, and honoring the earth. This is Soul music of the highest order.
IAN C. BOURAS
The Certainty of Being Found
SDMP Records
www.sdmprecords.com
Ian C. Bouras is a multi-talented artist who plays a variety of instruments, and is a recording engineer as well as a songwriter. In 2004 and 2005 he was nominated to be among the top songwriters by the prestigious Billboard Magazine.
On his latest release, "The Certainty Of Being Found" his main instrument is guitar, but he also plays piano, synthesizer, and melodica - a small reed instrument with a keyboard, something like a cross between a horn and an organ. Two other excellent musicians: Mat Fieldes on bass, and drummer David Vincola join Ian on the album to complete this instrumental trio.
The music is an unusual combination of diverse genres including reggae, jazz, new age, Spanish guitar, and wisps of impressionistic semi-classical. At times, these elements are blended together within the same song.
Ian has a knack for starting a song in one style and then gently shifting gears into other directions in creative ways. The reggae vibe is strong as it drifts in and out of the melodies.
The album is interestingly arranged with six longer songs interspersed with six guitar interludes between them, somewhat like a sorbet between courses of a meal.
I found his writing and the unexpected thematic twists within his compositions quite intriguing. On the technical side I liked his use of echo and delay effects on guitar and felt that it added dimension and atmosphere to the music. All in all, it's an adventurous effort and something a bit different for the discerning listener.
Michael Diamond is a music producer, recording artist, and journalist in the San Francisco Bay area. Visit: www.mdiamondsound.com
