Music

India has Sheila Chandra, China has Dadawa, and the British Isles boast Enya; now Canada has a super songstress whose mostly wordless vocals display anew why the human voice is that most incredible and flexible of all instruments. But unlike Enya's sometimes strident strains, Marcom keeps her sound softly fluid, her instrumental arrangements luxuriously layered as her voice floats like a gossamer veil upon a warm breeze. Enchanting lyrics are related in a breathy murmur as she weaves magical tales of a shining boy with silver eyes, a dancer transcending the rhythm of time, and a lover whose memory still holds the power to light a fire inside. Intoxicating yet subtle percussion accents created by ankle beads, sandpaper and wind chimes help heighten the otherworldly feel of Marcom's music, making this an album which one wants to hear again and again.

Angels are our daily companions, giving comfort, strength, courage and inspiration as well as granting insight and protection to those who believe. But in the past, most angel albums seemed to consist of a steady diet of sweetness and light to the point where the music became as sticky as treacle. An authentic connection with the winged ones was impossible due to over-sugared arrangements. Here, however, each of the powerfully transcendent, instrumental melodies created by Merlin's Magic is dedicated to specific ethereal entities like "Michael, The Cosmic Shield" and "Jophiel, The Creative Power Of Heaven," and one can immediately sense the difference. These are sincere, authentically channeled pieces of music that feature flute, sitar, grand piano, harp and a wide variety of strings to perfectly accent this uplifting music so that the listener can achieve a deeply intimate relationship with these loving celestial presences. If you've never truly felt the power of the angels, this recording will help you believe!

With its invitingly homey cover art and contemplative mood, this solo piano album makes excellent seasonal listening. Similar to George Winston's style, Sowash's unaccompanied performances enable him to spontaneously incorporate a wide variety of timely influences. The result is sweetly conversational, like the shared memories of a dear friend over a piping hot cup of tea. You can almost hear the fireplace crackle as Sowash instrumentally elaborates a tale of "Blackberry Winter" or waxes nostalgic over "Red Ball Jets." But what sets this album apart from the pack is its superb sound quality. Close your eyes and you could swear that Bradley's playing the ivories just behind your chair. Enjoy this private concert whenever you want to cherish memories of home.

One of the best Goodall recordings ever, this beguiling, percussive-based music embodies the very essence of the pagan soul. In refined splendor, a tight duet of hand drums and panpipes introduces us to sprightly melodies celebrating the lunar deity in all her ravishing and magical guises. One cannot help but be enchanted by the rich orchestration, tasty tempo changes and bewitching melody lines which Med uses to craft these six lengthy sound poems. Like a master player at the top of his game, Goodall's elaborate arrangements positively radiate with emotional appeal and ripe visionary qualities as he beckons us deeper into fantasy through inspired use of piano, guitar and sparking chimes, among many other instruments. Goodall has seemingly rediscovered his source of inspiration, and this stunning achievement is the result. A must have!

After last year's truly awe-inspiring debut outing, this trio manages to dazzle the senses even more with a progressive journey through the exotic and poetic precedents of today's New Age music. By combining medieval instruments like hammered dulcimer and recorder with hypnotic world percussion, the Angels come up with a signature sound that heightens their harp, flute and cello melodies in a way that makes you want to kiss your stereo. Especially when Azam Ali's lips open and that phenomenal voice effortlessly wafts out of one's speakers like the most intoxicating aural perfume. On the late 12th century ballad, "A Chantar Mer," her truly angelic vocals rise like a mist from the darkly turbulent waters conjured by udu and dumbek drums to the searing drone of hurdy gurdy and lilting woodwinds.

This fresh-sounding CD is chock full of scintillating, smooth jazz tracks that slowly percolate from one's speakers like melting honey. Led by Bach's piano, a crack ensemble on sax, guitars, bass and drums -- accented with Native American flute and percussion -- churn out one sophisticated instrumental after another. While the mood is strictly laid back evening ambiance, there are plenty of ear candy accents to keep one actively listening all night long. Notable is the European sensibility which pervades Bach's compositions, with melody taking precedence over groove. A few songs, like "Joy's Way," even border on the New Age. But Bach and company always manage to return to their kaleidoscopic jazz roots so that even Arabic-tinged tunes like "The Riddle" turn out luminously enticing.

A very pretty package highlights this soothing, soulful collection of instrumental melodies for inner nurturing. Highstein's talent for superb piano themes is brilliantly colored by supporting arrangements for flutes, oboe, violins, congas and chimes. Meticulously crafting unique moods, songs like "Recovery," "Resting Stone" and "Steps Around The Circle" manifest for the listener special spiritual places where one is gifted with room to rest, to indulge in reverie, to renew and revitalize. As Highstein himself states, "I composed the music on this album with the idea in mind of healing, although healing can mean many things. For me, it often begins with settling back inside, and remembering who I am, and what I care about most." For those of us who are all too often caught up in daily stress, this recording is a great place to begin the process of personality recovery.

Hyman has spent over 20 years researching and facilitating in the fields of human ethnology, spiritual psychology and transformative bodywork. Over 3,000 people have experienced his own Deep Emotional Release Bodywork™ system. As a musician, his debut is an eclectic blend of pop melodies, mesmerizing rhythms, tasty acoustic guitar licks, and positively charged lyrics. Featuring ten instrumentals suitable for casual listening, movement therapy and dance, as well as five vocal tracks, this album is a delightful introduction to a talented new artist. His flamenco guitar work on "Requiem" is soulful and contemplative, eschewing flash for emotional substance, while "Spirit Dance" is a sophisticated urban groove that invites you to strut your stuff with panache; both of these songs were produced by Dik ("In the Presence of Angels") Darnell.

Like the welcoming entry hall mosaic that graces its front cover, this recording by local musician Rene harkens back in inspiration to older times when poets wrote of mythic love and the human spirit remained buoyantly free. His delicate touch on the piano underscores the deep emotional content of these gentle instrumental compositions, effortlessly whisking one away from daily stress and care to a blissful world where all is soft and warm and nurturing. Delicately accented with cello, bass and percussion, it is the music of reverie, of daydreams, of classic romance. Even the martial snare drum strains of "Regalia/with Grace & Glory" conjure up haunting images of young lovers separated by consequence. Rene makes music that stirs up one's own innate creativity; listen when you need to feel inspired.

Newly available in the U.S., these two exceptional guided meditations both feature the marvelous music of Merlin's Magic (see above) accompanying powerful words which have the power to transform lives. Horan, the author of the best-selling book "Empowerment through Reiki," helps listeners develop and strengthen their ability to appropriately and spontaneously act from a calm, centered and peaceful state of mind, no matter whom one encounters or what unexpected situation develops. Sharamon & Baginski, authors of "The Chakra Handbook" (widely considered to be the world's best guide to the body's energy centers known as chakras), draw one into a realm of effortless, receptive relaxation so that each chakra in turn can be opened, activated and harmonized. Even those well experienced with guided meditations should find these two offerings extremely potent and useful.

Submissions for review consideration may be sent to: PJ Birosik, MUSIK INTERNATIONAL CORP., 154 Betasso Road, Boulder, CO 80302-9606. Since 1977, Birosik has been a music industry consultant specializing in marketing, promotion, publicity and A&R/foreign licensing; she is a member of NARAS, NARM, NAIRD, CMC, IMA, and a past Board of Director of Los Angeles Women In Music who has been profiled in 11 international editions of Who's Who. Calls may be placed to her at (303) 444-9575 between 9:30am - 5pm MST regarding review criteria, consulting services for signed & unsigned musicians, and data list rentals.