CD Review: Shirish Korde's 'Ka'

Shirish Korde
Ka
Svarasa

As an Indian composer and musician born in Uganda, Shirish Korde possesses and innate ability to combine the classical works of the world with South Asian melodies and rhythms. Shirish aids the help of Deepti Navaratna, a soprano singer and tamboura player, along with cellist Jan Mueller-Szeraws and tabla extraordinaire, Amit Kavthekar. The five compositions are rather spacious and steeped in swirling, South Asian melodies and neo-Classical arrangements. However, Deepti is featured on each song. The concept of Ka pertains to a unifying, musical cycle that brings together dualities--namely, Eastern and Western musics. Shirish succeeds with an astounding release of musical arrangements that are both thought-provoking and haunting. At any rate, the musical addition of chamber-like orchestrations and Deepti's mesmerizing voice, creates an unforgettable album that will span the recording devices of Western and Eastern listeners everywhere. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Dave Dale & Nadaji Rocks Out on 'Mantra Rocks'

Dave Dale & Nadaji

Mantra Rocks

White Swan Records

The modern yoga rock genre seems to be growing with the likes of Wah!, MC Yogi, Lokah, Go-Ray, Krishna Das, and others. Now you can add Dave Dale & Nadaji to the mantra mix. Mantra Rocks is a soul-stirring, harmonious journey with blissful melodies, vocals, and instruments. Dave plays guitar, bass, percussion, and electronic programming, while Nadaji is the harmonium master and vocalist. As a whole, Mantra Rocks seems to be more structured and focused than other recordings. Furthermore, most of the songs are four to seven minutes in length, which provides enough of a variety to entertain the listener without fatigue. Whether it is New Age, rock, pop, meditational, or world music, Mantra Rocks is the pulse of the Eastern devotional lifeblood. Eight tracks showcase a beautiful set of music that transcends conformity with a healthy blend of catchy and infectious songs for this world...and the next! ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Paul Winter Consort

Paul Winter Consort

Miho: Journey to the Mountain

Earth Music Productions

Built in 1997, the Japanese Miho Museum is an architectural marvel that houses antiquities from the West and the East. In addition to the historical or architectural considerations, the Paul Winter Consort recorded most of the music in the Miho Museum. Paul Winter, a saxophonist, includes numerous musicians on sarangi, sazabo, koto, frame drums, Heckelphone, English horn, oboe, cello, keyboard, bansuri flute, percussion, and bass clarinet for a relaxed listening experience. The subtle musical tones and new-age sounds incorporate vocals from Armenian Arto Tuncboyaciyan on "Love Is Not In Your Mind" and "Before It's Too Late", with Tibet's Yangjin Lamu on "Words of Wish Fulfillment". The vocals and instrumentation is modern, yet retains a traditional and majestic spaciousness as grandiose as the Miho Museum's breathtaking design. Not only does Paul Winter incorporate the obvious instruments and vocals, but also includes the soudns of elephants, whales, cicadas, and birds. Essentially, Miho... is a 'journey' unto itself with all its cascading melodies and associated arrangments. If the Earth had a soundtrack, this would be it! The seventy-eight minute running time is not a bad thing either. ~ Matthew Forss