Trance Planet, Vol. 5

Amazon.com
The latest edition of this series isn't the revelation of earlier volumes. The ethno-techno, world-fusion sound the series propounded has become part of the mainstream. In fact, it's become corporate. Nevertheless, producer Tom Schnabel still unearths some hidden gems and makes his case for a global music. Among the CD's standouts are bansuri flute player John Wubbenhorst's probing "No Mind," Elena Ledda's Mediterranean meditation "Anninnare," and Irish singer Aoife Ni Fhearraigh. For some inexplicable reason, Aoife didn't catch a ride on the Celtic wave of the last decade and the stacked chorus of her "Seacht Sualici na Maighdine Muire" will have you wondering why she didn't. Hungarian composer Istvan Marta takes a gothic avant-garde turn in a scary piece with singer Marta Sebestyen. That track stands in contrast to American soundtrack artist Jeff Rona's corny, spoken-word soundscape with the idiosyncratic Italian astrophysicist and synthesist Dr. Fiorella Terenzi. Schnabel even finds gold in the otherwise hopelessly derivative M Path with the forlorn, raga-based "The Longing." Although no longer novel, the original message of Trance Planet remains potent. The world is getting smaller, and as long as musicians like Tunde Jegede want to mix the kora of his African heritage with the classical cello, as he does on the haunting "Song of the Waterfall," cross-cultural pollination isn't going away. --John Diliberto

Tracks:

Jaan - Talvin Singh
Don't Go Back To Sleep (Reprise) - Vision II-Spirit Of Rumi
No Mind - John Wubbenhorst
Baaran - The Third Planet
Seacht Suailci Na Maighdine Muire - Aoife Ni Fhearraigh
Church - Istvan Marta
Musica Estrella - Jeff Rona
Anninnare - Elena Ledda
Ricsi, Kicsi, Kem - Thierry Robin
Amours Ou Trop Tard Me Suis Pris - Amina Alaoui
Song Of The Waterfall - Tunde Jegede
The Longing - M Path

Amazon.com

The latest edition of this series isn't the revelation of earlier volumes. The ethno-techno, world-fusion sound the series propounded has become part of the mainstream. In fact, it's become corporate. Nevertheless, producer Tom Schnabel still unearths some hidden gems and makes his case for a global music. Among the CD's standouts are bansuri flute player John Wubbenhorst's probing "No Mind," Elena Ledda's Mediterranean meditation "Anninnare," and Irish singer Aoife Ni Fhearraigh. For some inexplicable reason, Aoife didn't catch a ride on the Celtic wave of the last decade and the stacked chorus of her "Seacht Sualici na Maighdine Muire" will have you wondering why she didn't. Hungarian composer Istvan Marta takes a gothic avant-garde turn in a scary piece with singer Marta Sebestyen. That track stands in contrast to American soundtrack artist Jeff Rona's corny, spoken-word soundscape with the idiosyncratic Italian astrophysicist and synthesist Dr. Fiorella Terenzi. Schnabel even finds gold in the otherwise hopelessly derivative M Path with the forlorn, raga-based "The Longing." Although no longer novel, the original message of Trance Planet remains potent. The world is getting smaller, and as long as musicians like Tunde Jegede want to mix the kora of his African heritage with the classical cello, as he does on the haunting "Song of the Waterfall," cross-cultural pollination isn't going away. --John Diliberto

Customer Reviews:

Just BUY it!!.......2002-03-18

I have the four CD Trance Planet set, after I had bought Vol II on a whim. I was hooked! I knew I had to own the whole series, and this CD definitely rounds out the rest. Trance Planet is World Music at its finest, and Vol 5 is one that every serious world music lover MUST own!! Collect 'em all!

The Planet I Want To Live On.......2000-12-16

This album is such a joy to listen to. It has been in 'heavy rotation' here at my house. While each cut is something special and unique, it is held together by the beauty of the voices and soloists that are featured here, especially Marta Sebastyen, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan, Aoife Ni Fherraigh, and Fiorella Terrenzi.

I disagree with Amazon's criticism of Jeff Rona's gorgeous 'Musica Estrella'. It is lush, spiritual and mesmerizing. It's orchestral flourishes are heartwarming.