Chinmaya Dunster & Vidroha Jamie - Celtic Ragas
(c) (p) 1998 New Earth Records
9tks/43mins
In the whirling of joyful melodies a sound is born.
It whispers: "Greetings, world! Greetings, love!
What a happiness to be here!
Oh, how I longed for all this!"
This music is really a talk of two close friends - an Indian sarod
and a guitar. Indian and Celtic music. They are together. They
are one whole. The alchemy of Divine music. This music wraps you
up. It uplifts and inspires. It delicately helps your life energy
to grow strong and takes you high above, in the World of Spirit,
in the All-human World. This is the World where there are no East
and West, little countries and large ambitions, and where is the
All-human Unity, which is beyond Earth. In this Unity East and
West are together.
They are together in this planet, being rendered by wars,
conflicts and foolishness of people. And Chinmaya Dunster together
with Vidroha Jamie let us feel all this by their airy, full of
energy and inspired music. They help us to feel and sense the
very Life.
What can be more precious than the very Life on this planet? What
can be more beautiful than Love? This Love is completely reflected
in the music of two perfect musicians. It comes by a strong jet.
It alloys together the Celtic and the Indian music,
the heritage of two great peoples. It alloys this all together
in an equal flow. And we can feel that all the music is ";poured"
on this planet from the one source. Time to come back. Time to
be together. Time to live full life.
Thanks to the two remarkable musicians: Chinmaya Dunster and Vidroha
Jamie! This music of Joy and Love weakens heart, fills us with
life and let us feel that in this world exists other reality -
the Reality of Spirit. This Reality is the real, the largest precious!
Kamal - Shamanic Healing
(c) 1999 Soundless Sound Music Publishing
(p) 1999 New Earth Records
7tks/60mins
"Perhaps now is the time that we can make this earth a temple
of healing - not only of the body but the soul too, a holy place
where everybody is whole." Not occasionally these words by
Indian Master Osho one can see on the album booklet, because "Shamanic
Healing" is a music for healing of the spirit. It is light
and it does not contain any drop of strain. It embraces you like
beloved one, and the energy of Love is pouring on you, filling
you up and cleaning you. And you are as if dissolving in it, as
lovers are dissolving in each other. And you do not exist anymore.
And you can not stay anymore in the past core.
All the music by Kamal is meditative. One do not want just to
hear it, one wants to be in it. This music contains one more,
very important quality. It opens for you the new, higher reality.
Suddenly you see that there is one more world beyond this world,
which we got used to. And this world is more precious, and you
want to get into it. This feeling does not let your life to be
past. It fills your life with beautiful feeling.
Blessed music by Kamal! It brings us harmony, light and joy. This
music contains such a simple and pure ideas. It gives life to
the feelings and thoughts being forgotten and put far aside. It
wakes us up, like a touch of your kind angel. And you wonder:
"How could I forget such simple things as roar of waves,
singing of birds in a shady forest, kiss of the beloved one, careless
laughter of a little child?" And you feel yourself purified.
You want to live again. It is again interesting for you what will
come tomorrow. And every day is unique again.
"Shamanic Healing" - the time for cure has come!
And like a sail on the endless sea
Your spirit flies to the place where the new day shines
Cybertribe - Sacred Memories Of The Future
(p) (c) 1997 New Earth Records
7tks/43mins
"Many times this planet has been visited by other planetary
beings. They have left so many landmarks..." -- these words
by Indian Teacher Osho are placed in the cover of this album.
Maybe its compilers hint us that the very special and mysterious
music by the Australian aboriginal people, which is presented
in the CD, has an extraterrestrial origin. And it is really so
unusual, that it takes one's breath away!
Main participant of this most fascinating tale is the instrument
named didgeridoo. Aboriginal people from the northern part of
Australia use it. Didgeridoo is a long wooden tube made from the
branch of a eucalyptus tree, which has been hollowed out by termites.
The Aboriginal people use natural bee's wax, which is applied
to the mouthpiece at the narrow end of the tube. And it should
be said that the didgeridoo creates constant drone sound, which
made by circular breathing. These guttural sounds really remind
echoes of the long gone civilizations, which existed in our planet
or the messages from far-away, unknown worlds.
Still, the album is not just a collection of the music by Australian
aboriginal people. It is addressed to the broadest circle of listeners.
Modern electronic processing and ambient vocals introduce in the
sounding of the album more space atmosphere, and various nature
sounds serve as a perfect background to the timbre originality
of the didgeridoo.
I would like to add that I am very glad: at last I've got an opportunity
to make a review of the CD released by the New Earth Records company.
The matter is that, due to my deep confession, this company is
one of the best of the world music companies releasing the new
age music. Albums released by the New Earth Records completely
correspond to high goal of the company: they are really 'music
for people on the path'. This is music for those who are in constant
spiritual search, for those who wants to feel though music something
inexpressible, belonging to the very roots of the being. Prem
Joshua, Al Gromer Khan, Hariprasad Chaurasia, as well as other
artists recording their music in the New Earth Records are not
only perfect musicians, but also people on the path, those who
bring here the aesthetics of new, better world!
Well, no more words. I strongly advise you not to miss 'Cybertribe'
-- the ancient music of Ausralian aboriginal people, where the
mystical sounds of distant past call us boldly go into the unknown
future and understand for a short time all that beautiful, which
was lost, but can revive in this planet!
James Asher - Dance Of The Light
(c) 1995 Soundless Sound Music Publishing
(p) 1996 New Earth Records
4tks/72mins
A summer night. Everything has fallen asleep. Impenetrable darkness
and ringing silence. Slumber and peace all around. But you cannot
sleep. You are lying and listening to that silence. And suddenly,
oh wonder! From somewhere, from afar you can hear the tuneful
sounds, ringing a little. A low music penetrates into your home,
filling it by harmony. And together with the music light comes.
Everything sinks in the shining. And you are showered by the warm
rays, warm for both body and soul, and you are passing upwards.
That pulsing light and myriad of silver shimmering spheres around
you. That's so beautiful, so charming. And you are feeling that
the light fills you with love, love towards everything around.
And you are feeling so huge, like the Universe, and your heart
is boundless, it can contain the whole world. And you are feeling
that love... No, you are Love! And no more words to express all
this...
An ocean of light, sometimes passionate, sometimes calm, softly
enveloping, sometimes playfully enticing - that is music of James
Asher. His album "Dance Of The Light" is a meditation,
a permission for existence to pass through you and to clear you.
Music of James Asher is so beautiful, so harmonious! Woven from
many thinnest laces, it is very emotional. Electronic music of
James Asher is simple and simultaneously deep. It is very light,
almost weightless, and romantic. It is refined and subtle. And
the birds singing early before morning just intensify emotionality
of James Asher's music.
Listening "Dance Of The Light", more than an hour passes
immediately, as if it was one minute. And one wants to listen
this music again and again, because it brings tremendous delight,
because it has healing power of Light, healing power... of Love
itself.
Magical Healing Mantras - Namaste
(c) (p) 1999 New Earth Records
7tks/61mins
Before speaking about the music of "Magical Healing Mantras,"
I am going to say some words on its sound design. The sound of
the album is definitely American. The sound is ringing with strongly
emphasized high frequencies, but the pulled up high frequencies
worsen the perception of music. Also, the sound of "Magical
Healing Mantras" is flat, there is no feeling of space, and
it should be. I don't know how such sound designers are viewed
in America, but in Belarus they bear the proud name of "valenki"*
(* Valenki is a kind of Russian boots made from dense, rough woolen
stuff providing a good protection from the cold during the severe
Russian winters.). But in spite of the shortcomings of sound,
something that 25 musicians from all over the world intend to
express has survived. Because it is live. It is the Life itself.
It cannot be destroyed. And now some words about the music.
The mantras are beautiful. Their performance is beautiful. This
life is beautiful. It is very cordial, unbelievably cordial. A
simple singing, a simple music, but it penetrates deeply, farther
and farther. It clears. This music moves one to tears. There is
a melancholy in it, clear, transparent and at the same time deepest.
It is fathomless. There is a yearning for the beautiful, outer
world, which calls...
One wants to become utterly absorbed by this music, because it
is not just music. That your friends invite you to join and to
be with them for a while. They are the True Friends. You have
not seen them for so long. They are the relative souls who have
come to support you here. And to say: "Well, how are you?
We are together with you. We are here."
And that presence uplifts your spirit. It nourishes with power.
And you want to live anew. And your soil is bright and light.
And you just want, whirling in an incredible dance, to be with
all this and to celebrate it.
"Magical Healing Mantras" is a music of loving and beloved.
It is a music of the real world. A music of the Divine...
There is a secret glade
In a far thick northern forest.
Big bonfire is built there in the summer evening.
It burns for the whole night, till the first beams of dawn.
The men and women of divine grace gather around it.
Their faces are beautiful. There is light in their eyes,
There is a reckless joy and a slight sadness.
Who are those perfect beings?
They have come from the unknown lands
To make this world a little better.
They are here to help us.
Where is your home, the star envoys?
How long you are going to stay here?
Without you this world would become immensely wild...
But the fire burns.
The blond hairs fly over the wind.
The divine messengers are already here.
They are together with us...
They are ready to help...
They are waiting for us...
They are missing us...
Prem Joshua - Secret Of The Wind
(c) 1997 Soundless Sound Music Publishing
(p) 1997 New Earth Records
11tks/57mins
Of what kind is this music? Is it a jazz? Yes, of course. It is
spontaneous, there is live improvisation. Maybe it's world music?
Sure! When recording this album a great number of live, folk instruments
was used. Among them are some very rare, exotic ones. Have you
ever heard, for example, of a dilruba - an ancient Indian string
instrument, or a santoor - a Persian string instrument, similar
to European Hammer-Dulcimer? These (and many other) instruments
can be heard on this album. The music of "Secret Of The Wind"
has a unique ethnic color. It is originated from the very roots,
from Mother Earth herself. Maybe then, the music of Prem Joshua
can be called New Age. And that's also true! There is a breath
of new world in it, like a carpet embroidered with unusual patterns,
woven by many loving, careful hands. In "Secret Of The Wind,"
East and West meet. They are together. It is not a Western or
Eastern music any more - it is a new, common, all-human music.
That's why it cannot be easily classified. This album carries
you like a slow river, as you glide along the water, being driven
by the free wind. The water moves faster, becoming a quick stream,
which carries you there... to the unknown. The anticipation of
the unknown fills your heart with pleasant emotion and joy.
22 (!) musicians from all over the world have taken part in the
recording of "Secret Of The Wind." Their brilliant play
and enthusiasm make this album bright and energetic. There's a
lot of liveliness in it. It streams fountains of light; rising-spirit
energy.
This music has a rare quality, because it is the music of freedom!
Garden of the Beloved - Music From The World Of Osho
(c) (p) New Earth Records
14tks/59mins
Music of a spontaneous celebration. Music of a rapture in front
of the existence, when you are standing with an open heart, in
the blowing of all the winds of this World, and nothing is commanding
over you. Music of Love, of the Love which can not be taken from
you, this deep Love of all the existing in the World. All this
is "Music From The World Of Osho." It contains the beating
of Life. It contains deep religiousness. More exactly, even this
music, as well as Osho himself is the religiousness.
Osho's music started in the early 70's, when to the little known
Indian town of Puna to the Master Bhagvan Shri Rajneesh came people
from the whole World. A commune was founded there where the members
were engaged with activities connected with the Human Spirit.
Many remarkable musicians were among them. The music appeared,
absolutely new, in which East and West came together. This music
possessed the aesthetics of the New Free World and it became the
very aroma, that fragrant aura, without which the Osho meditations
are simply impossible.
"Garden Of The Beloved" brings to us the charm of this
Celebration of Life. Different melodies - this is the music of
Love and Harmony. This is the Love, which smashes all barriers
and nothing remains besides it.
Everyone has their own favorite melodies. I have a special liking
to the composition "Wings Of Love." This is just a flight
on the wings of Love to something new - light and at the same
time unknown. And you are just filled with delight while waiting
to meet it.
I'd like to add, that the "Garden Of The Beloved" is
"living" music. It was recorded on various celebrations
and it is spontaneous and a little bit wild.
Listen to the "Garden Of The Beloved" and feel it. This
Love! this Meditation! the Life itself!
James Bobchak - Sundance Flamenco
(c) 1998 Soundless Sound Music Publishing
(p) 1998 New Earth Records
11tks/59mins
Light and airy music. Bright and remembering melodies. Very free,
perfect performing. All these epithets correspond to the new album
"Sundance Flamenco" by James Bobchak (which is his second
release from New Earth Records) completely. The name of the album
also corresponds to its music very well: this is really very passionate,
spirit-rising flamenco. It is like a fountain, spouting myriads
of rainbow drops, sparkling in the sun.
I have reviewed a lot of albums of guitar music. Moreover, I also
have a musical education in guitar and so it is difficult to surprise
me by something extraordinary. But this album has deeply amazed
me! The music of James Bobchak became a real (and very pleasant
!) discovery for me.
From the first cords of the composition "Moonlight Dance"
the guitarist puts us into a whirlpool of light lacy melodies,
and then he does not let us go till the last cords of "Along
The Way." One wishes just to drift on the waves of his soft,
very unstressed music and not to think of anything. And when
Bobchak's guitar stops and silence comes, you think: "That
is really great!" To be more exact all the music by James
Bobchak is a great thing. He has a very light manner of performing.
His music is lacking any internal violence, it is very harmonious.
Listening to the his music, one can understand that he is present
in his music. The guitarist generously throws out everything he
has, giving all his emotions and love to the listeners.
Ottmar Liebert took a part in the recording of "Moonlight
Dance" along with two remarkable musicians - Mark Clark (percussion)
and Jon Gagan (bass) who helped Bobchak to make the album brighter.
Every guitar music lover would surely wish to hear "Sundance
Flamenco."
And I'll tell you only this: do not miss this album. I am sure,
that a wonderful discovery awaits many of you. Just like me you'll
discover for yourself remarkable guitarist James Bobchak and you'll
completely enjoy his wonderful music, being full of life.
Millennium Sampler
(c) 1999 by Soundless Music Publishing
(p) 1999 New Earth Records
12 tks / 73 mins
Often, when one listens to a collection of albums by the best
musicians, one gets an "illegible" impression: selection
of compositions from strong solo albums look pale and "eroded"
and the music just "passes" by the perception. To my
great joy, the above does not belong to this sampler.
This collection contains musical works for all tastes! And they
are selected very professionally. To be completely exact, I can
say that the album contains a collection of 24 compositions from
12 albums (for the most part - rather new ones), released by the
New Earth Records (2 compositions from every album).
So, what music is New Earth Records surprising us with this time?
I will very briefly tell you about some of the works presented
in this CD. I was just amazed having heard compositions "Mahal"
and "Door of the Minbar" by Al Gromer Khan from his
album "Kamasutra Experience." This music is so strong
and energetic, it contains such an endless internal space, that
it "beats" to the very center of existence and fills
us with energy! Very beautiful and cordial are compositions "Java
Shiva Shankara" and "Gayatri Mantra" from the album
"Namaste - Magical Healing Mantras." They are so light,
they are beyond grief and suffering. This is a pure communication,
not stirred up by anything. Melodical and inspired are the compositions
"Mystic Moon of Avalon" and "Skye Boat Song"
by Frank O'Connor from his album "Mystic Moon of Avalon."
The album begins with the compositions "Red Rhythm Dragon"
and "Return to Egypt" which presents us with the album
by James Asher "Feet in the Soil." This is a very earthly
music. James Asher has used African drums and instruments of the
Australian aboriginal people - digeridoo, which are long tubes
of a hollow (eaten by termites) bamboo. This instrument produces
a rather peculiar "buzzing" sound. This sound was in
our planet very long time ago...
In general, this album contains many remarkable names. Among these
are Deuter, Kamal, James Bobchak and many other splendid musicians.
It's a pity though, that because of time restrictions the compositions
were included in the "Millennium Sampler" not in complete
variant. Well, let us hope that the New Earth Records will release,
for instance, a complete variant of this collection on a double
CD set.
Listen to the "Millennium Sampler." This album corresponds
completely to its high title. As long as there are such studios
as the New Earth Records, our planet has a good chance to be the
place where the Human Spirit will blossom!
Serge Kozlovsky
P.S. I would like to express my gratitude to Alexander Petrov
for translation of these reviews.
