![]() Put together by the same creativity that forged the acoustic journeys of Elemental Red, the modern dance. With Spirit Dwelling, a beautifully crafted but deeply felt opus, he more than achieves this aim, with a lyrical sonority that sparkles and dances over an inexorable flow of well-wrought, deeply touching music. Composer Geoffrey Armes, after some twenty-five years working with Modern Dance in New York City, Asia and Europe, combined with practice of the spiritual exercise of the Subud latihan, is uniquely positioned to create such music. Hence, a music designed to accompany such practice should both inspire the coarse body energy required to complete the poses and so forth, and bring light to the hidden recesses of the spirit, acting as a holding place for a feeling of inner contemplation and peace. Yoga, a traditional practice of exercise for the body, aims to enable a freedom of spirit and soul from the body's demands. A sonic space to work both with and with-in. A holding place that invites contemplation or even 'no mind' peace, yet at the same time energizes and inspires movement and effort. Spirit Dwelling, sonic architecture for the heart, mind and soul, is a gallery of deconstructed groove soundscapes that mix world percussion (udus, talking drums, rainsticks and the like), with treated guitars (lots of pitch-transposed parallel 4ths through delays, etc.) that bend lengthy modal melodies around drones and the occasionally very pure acoustic note. ![]() A master of the sarod who has been performing since 1936, Khan offers "Morning Meditatio," which originally appeared on his 1990 release Journey. The disc closes with the legendary "Emperor of Melody," Ali Akbar Khan. Benjy Wertheimer and his esraj (a classical Indian string instrument) lay down two pieces based on the alap (a classical Indian musical statement), though the specific ragas are not named. The aural landscape painted by Drala is a bit on the new age side, but calming nonetheless. So you've got all that energy out and now you are ready to meditate or be passively peaceful? Pop in disc two and chill on out. Two lesser-known artists also make fine contributions - Wah! and Diana Rogers, both of whom have sung as part of the Krishna Das Kirtan Posse over the years. Both tracks from Krishna Das honor Lord Shiva, one being a previously unreleased, rhythm-based "prayer" to his fierce Rudra incarnation. Jai Uttal sings to the young cowherd deity Lord Krishna on his fusion-laced "Gopala" and Bhagavan Das praises Ram with a melodic groove, while Dave Stringer offers a quiet prayer to Lord Ganesha, the elephant-headed boy who removes obstacles. The booklet even shows a number of hatha yoga poses to try while singing along to a selection of chants that invoke various divinities by repeating their names over and again. Disc one is the choice for the yoga part and is perhaps a slightly active version of peace. This two-disc set is divided according to its usefulness to the listener. Planet Yoga - Music for Yoga, Meditation and Peace TriLoka - (Various Artists) The view will ignite your imagination and restore your spirit. To luxuriate in its depth is to gaze into the reflecting pool of the heart. Attuned to the soothing hum of well-being, QUIET FIRE is a musical journey impelled by an innate sensitivity. The result: earfuls of open sky and whispering willows, a natural sound to unwind the mind and pacify the soul. Koto-harp guitar, Chinese bamboo Xiao flute, water drums, udu and other exotic instruments don’t just mingle they merge. More than an exchange between musical minds, however, QUIET FIRE represents a new nexus of sound. The woodwinds of master flautist Gary Stroutsos William Eaton’s handcrafted stringed instruments pan-global percussion by Will Clipman-disparate elements fused together in a meditative celebration of newfound common ground. QUIET FIRE marks the first meeting of three remarkable artists, each distinguished for shaping (and reshaping) the face of contemporary world music. Quiet Fire: Zen Moods for the Spa Experience Gary Stroutsos
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