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Medicine Dream
MAWIO'MI
(Canyon Records)
This spirited, amazing debut combines rock, traditional chanting and tribal drumming with such captivating rhythm and verve that it'll change your preconceptions about Native American music. "Lightning Flashes the Sky" begs comparison to the similarly named mega-hit "Lightning Flashes" by Live: both feature a charismatic and dynamic singer, searing electric guitar solos and a suicide-inspired storyline. But Medicine Dream's tune also boasts an irresistible rhythm section and brilliantly arranged backing vocals that draw one in with their unrepressed emotion, while Live's remains a moody mope. "Invitation to Breathe" is a touching ballad with soaring melody line, haunting flute solo and a hot duet between Pike and Cea Anderson Nicklie. "Msit Nokamaq" is a heart-breakingly beautiful ballad pairing flute with gentle guitar and hand drums; a touch of traditional chant and a short prayer (spoken in English) deepens the emotional intensity of this profound instrumental track. Other tunes also focus on themes of hope, honor, love and memories of family and friends, yet are delivered with such intensity and passion by this Alaskan ensemble that only the most jaded remain unaffected. INSTRUMENTATION: vocals, electric and acoustic guitars, keyboards, bass, flute, bells, rattles, drumming
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Cusco
ANCIENT JOURNEYS
(Higher Octave)
In the 20 years since their hit debut APURIMAC was made available in the US, Cusco have released numerous albums of lushly layered instrumental music that pay homage to ancient cultures. Keeping to this successful formula, the German group here embraces the colorful pagentry of "The Crusades," the courtly splendor of "Kublai Khan" and other legendary destinations and adventurers in nine dazzling, cinematic soundscapes. Few ensembles mix electronic symphonic styles with folk, pop and Latin American music better than Cusco. One listen to the grand orchestration and galloping pace of "The Journeys of Marco Polo" proves why, as deliciously tinny mariachi horns, multiple panflutes and lilting synthesizer lines soar over the sea on the way to a new world. "Conquistadores" matches symphonic strings with wordless male vocals that have more in common with Ennio (spaghetti westerns) Morricone than Gregorian chant, and the mellow mood music of "Tigris & Euphrates" conjures images of a pristine, pastoral landscape of rest and respite. Each tune is evocative of a particular time and place in history, inspiring riotous reverie and profound daydreams, as intended.
INSTRUMENTATION: keyboards, piano, panpipes, flutes, percussion, vocals
Terry Oldfield
SPIRIT OF THE WORLD
(New World Music)
This reverent tribute to six of the planet's surviving ancient cultures was inspired by the magical feeling of connection Oldfield experienced during the worldwide millennium celebration, as broadcast around the world. Circling the globe, his heartfelt music blends delicate vocal accents, irresistible rhythms and exotic melodies as it evokes the red sands of the Australian aborigines, the temples of Tibet, the wind-swept plains of Native America,
the dense jungles of Cambodia, the endless savannas of Africa and the idyllic isles of Greece. From these colorful roots of civilization, Oldfield celebrates the dawn of a new era while paying homage to all that is noble and
inspiring within us. Tracks like "The Tibetans" and "The Greeks" possess a wistful nostalgia for those wonderful roots that have become so deeply hidden within the manifold branches of modern culture. Listening to each vibrant
instrumental, the heart stirs and rises, re-connecting with the vital soul of all of humanity in a dance of eternal love.
INSTRUMENTATION: alto and soprano flutes, bamboo flute, recorder, whistle,
ocarina, percussion, keyboards, bouzouki, vocals
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Jay Ungar & Molly Mason
HARVEST HOME
(Angel)
One of country's most popular folk/Americana duos presents a joyous celebration of that anticipated season of abundance, the rural field reaping. Included are centuries-old traditional instrumental dances like "The
Farmer's Set" and "Thanksgiving Waltz," a new barn dance ("Haymaker's Hoedown") and even an original tune sung by Mason honoring the beauty and generosity of the earth, "Bound for Another Harvest Home." Contrasting with these is the curiosity "Bonaparte's Retreat Hoedown," that integrates Aaron Copeland's famed RODEO ballet arrangement of William Stepp's Kentucky fiddle melody; but you'll recognize it as the "Beef…it's what's for dinner!"
television commercial theme. On a brighter note, this entertaining outing includes the brilliant "Ashokan Farewell," which served as the theme to the PBS television series, THE CIVIL WAR. Another successfully ambitious venture
riffs off of Vivaldi's FOUR SEASONS idea: "The Harvest Home Suite." Featuring the Nashville Chamber Orchestra, it sets several of the album's folktunes into a lavish symphonic setting to surprisingly good effect. As always, Ungar's fiddle work and Mason's guitar stylings are incredibly tasty, demonstrating not only superb craftsmanship but also deeply heartfelt connections to the material and the Earth. INSTRUMENTATION: vocals, guitar, fiddle, bass, mandolin, piano accordion, banjo, cello, Cajun accordion, Nashville Chamber Orchestra.
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Leo Kottke
ONE GUITAR, NO VOCALS
(Windham Hill)
Since his auspicious debut 30 years ago, Kottke has influenced so many stellar fingerpickers that, printed here, the list would be endless; suffice it to say, Kottke's forgotten more about 6- and 12-string guitar than most
players learn in a lifetime. From the gorgeous ballad "Three/Quarter North" to more fun fare, Kottke's always impeccable and often breath-taking technique is pure ear candy and twice as addictive. Perfect example of the
latter is the quirky "Too Fast," which is, well…admittedly, too fast. It tumbles, bounces, vibrates and jerks ahead like an avalanche, but a playful one; think a showering of feathers instead of crushing snow. This
lightheartedness translates into Kottke's liner notes as well; witness "Blimp," which he describes as "my first love song," or "Chamber of Commerce"'s "I was upset." But there's some serious reminiscing going on
here, too; witness the incredibly pretty "Retrograde." Sure, it may have stemmed from a memory when now-controversial talk show host Jerry Springer was mayor of Cincinnati and presented Kottke with the keys to the city, but listen to the man PLAY! His sonorous flow of notes and silences is
positively balletic! Possibly one of the best Kottke recordings ever released, this stripped down masterpiece is missing nothing; especially not his vocals, the sound of which the man himself described as reminiscent of
"geese farts on a foggy day." Quirky humor aside, Kottke represents the pinnacle of pure artistic performance.
INSTRUMENTATION: see title
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Esta Cassway
CELEBRATE LIFE
(Cassway Music)
These 17 contemplative texts-with-music, composed by painter/poet Cassway, have been arranged for new age/smooth jazz musical accompaniment in a fresh approach to non-denominational spirituality. Suitable for worship services or casual listening, they are sensitively interpreted by soprano Phyllis
Chapell and keyboardist Dan Kleiman with elegance, grace and beauty. The universal messages found in these songs are capable of providing a deeply personal and moving connection with the rest of humanity, enriching the
listener in heart and soul. Songs like "Live Every Day," "On Eagle's Wings" and "I Am Not Hidden From You" are tunes for introspection and meditation, with sincere lyrics that plea for peaceful coexistence, trust and mutual
respect. Listening, one cannot remain unmoved by the uplifting of spirit felt as each song unfolds in tranquil purity.
INSTRUMENTATION: voice, keyboards, guitar
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Various Artists
NEW WORLD PARTY
(Putumayo)
This groove-laden festival celebrates the integration of disparate and sometimes ironic cultural icons (think the Bob Marley Hotel in Nepal, a McDonald's in Moscow's Red Square) into a truly global culture whose
boundaries are fast dissolving in the wake of the internet and high speed multi-media satellite delivery systems. This insightful compilation includes many great tracks that utilize varied ethnic elements such as Dissidenten's
"Lobster Song," with its Turkish slide guitar, jungle drum breaks and South Indian vocal line. But it also boldly revisits one of this country's seminal introductions to foreign music. In 1967, Miriam Makeba reached the top 10 of
the US pop charts with her song "Pata Pata"; here, the empress of African song reworks her classic tune as "Pata Pata 2000" into a pumped up, heavy dance number for urbanites seeking alliances, not antagonism. Another album highlight is "Da Licenca M" by Brazilian prodigy Chico Cesar, who melds a poetic rap with Jamaican dub and American funk; the tune references the Afro-Brazilian trend of exorcising bad spirits and cleansing the soul. Party on!
INSTRUMENTATION:vocals, guitars, bass, drums, keyboards, horns, xylophone, harp, and ethnic instrumentation.
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Various Artists
EARTHDANCE
(CyberOctave)
Sub-titled "a global dance party for planetary peace and freedom," this non-stop boogie-a-thon boasts many of today's hippest pop and underground ensembles such as Fatboy Slim, Orbital, Loop Guru and Medicine Drum.
Honoring last year's live event in support of Tibet, all proceeds from sale go to a non-profit charitable and educational organization operating with the blessing of His Holiness, the Dalai Lama (visit www.earthdance.org for more details). Founded in 1997, Earthdance has become the world's largest annual
dance party; the highlight of the event is "Prayer for Peace," a specially-created track played by every participating dj around the world at the same time. So, now you can bliss out to the psychedelic tribal trance and
jungle beats while expressing support for global peace, freedom, unity and solidarity! In the words of the Dalai Lama, "We are the same human being allsharing the same planet."
INSTRUMENTATION: vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, drums, electronics
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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.
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