CD Review: Adham Shaikh's 'Resonance'

Adham Shaikh
Resonance
Black Swan Records

The atmospheric, down-tempo, and new age incarnations and creations of Adham Shaikh are dreamy, provocative, and futuristic. The light melodies are definitively atmospheric with shimmering 'resonance' and fluid, ambient nuances. There are various mixes on the album, but all of the songs are different and unique. The songs are peaceful, hopeful, and cinematic with long, drifting, aural soundscapes. There are some piano melodies that are pensive, yet not too intrusive. These are selected works from feature films, including Firecelight, EarthPilgrim, Yoga For Cancer Survivors, Secrets, Word Love, and The Sinixt: Bringing Home The Bones. Anyone seeking a cinematic vein of down-tempo or atmospheric music will love Adham Shaikh's instrumental pleasures. Thirteen tracks round out the album. This is perfect for the down-tempo, atmospheric, cinematic, new age, ambient, and improvisational music fan. ~ Matthew Forss

CD Review: Tanah Broadcast's 'Resonance'

Tanah Broadcast
Resonance
Perlot

Hailing from The Netherlands, Tanah Broadcast produces beautiful vocal harmonies and instrumental tunes from various world regions, notably Africa. The combination of European folk, experimental music, and improvisational world jazz-pop sounds makes Resonance shine with luscious melodies and stirring rhythms. The production is relatively low-key, but that does not mean the ear-catching melodies are nonexistent. Instead, the music is quaint, but richly-textured. The beautiful rhythms and instrumentation make the album pop with freshness. The upbeat "Kayu Kaya" is a fine example of world pop at its best. "N'Dudu" is a guitar-centric instrumental tune with some vocals and a Euro-centric pop vein with some African influences. Resonance is somewhat hard to describe, but the end result is an engaging set of songs that are perfect for the world music fan. ~ Matthew Forss