Indumani

Amazon.com
Open Canvas is the recording side project of Gregory Kyryluk, who's usually found under his ambient guise of Alpha Wave Movement (AWM). Kyryluk creates inventive soundscapes inspired by 1970s space music, but with a decidedly modern ambient edge. As Open Canvas, he traverses Asian terrain, trawling the rhythms of the Middle East and the melodies and sounds of India. There's a sense of unintentional déjà vu here, and we have indeed all been here before. Deploying what sounds like stock Eastern samples and loops, Open Canvas orchestrates an ethno-techno faux exotica. Tracks like "Puja," with its surging rhythm and whining melody, illustrate the potential of Open Canvas's world, but other pieces, including "Liquid Shiva" and "Prana," resort to the most abused Asian cliches. You can't just slap on a pentatonic scale, pluck a sampled tamboura, and put a dance beat behind it anymore. But Open Canvas does have an ear for the pulsing groove and a nicely turned ambience, and he doesn't take it all too seriously, as the techno-wink of pieces like "Electric Karma" reveal. In the ambient spaces of Alpha Wave Movement, Kyryluk is a tour guide. As Open Canvas, he's a tourist, albeit one with a very good camera. --John Diliberto

Tracks:

Liquid Shiva
Puja
Rajastan
Prana (Life Force)
Season Of Monsoon
Electric Karma
Spice Caravan
Agni
Ojopati
Liquid Shiva (Blue Apple Mix)

Amazon.com

Open Canvas is the recording side project of Gregory Kyryluk, who's usually found under his ambient guise of Alpha Wave Movement (AWM). Kyryluk creates inventive soundscapes inspired by 1970s space music, but with a decidedly modern ambient edge. As Open Canvas, he traverses Asian terrain, trawling the rhythms of the Middle East and the melodies and sounds of India. There's a sense of unintentional déjà vu here, and we have indeed all been here before. Deploying what sounds like stock Eastern samples and loops, Open Canvas orchestrates an ethno-techno faux exotica. Tracks like "Puja," with its surging rhythm and whining melody, illustrate the potential of Open Canvas's world, but other pieces, including "Liquid Shiva" and "Prana," resort to the most abused Asian cliches. You can't just slap on a pentatonic scale, pluck a sampled tamboura, and put a dance beat behind it anymore. But Open Canvas does have an ear for the pulsing groove and a nicely turned ambience, and he doesn't take it all too seriously, as the techno-wink of pieces like "Electric Karma" reveal. In the ambient spaces of Alpha Wave Movement, Kyryluk is a tour guide. As Open Canvas, he's a tourist, albeit one with a very good camera. --John Diliberto

Customer Reviews:

A lovely CD.......2003-01-20

Although there are some weaknesses in this oriental delight, it has some wonderful high points. I recommend this one for its lush textures and fine surprises.

Indian music for people who hate Indian music.......2001-05-15

"Induandi" is a lively, spirited and very danceable "walk" through the streets of a land that's been covered by so many musicians before. Tired of Ravi Shankar and his seemingly thousands of minions doing the same sitar stuff ad nauseum? This is a wonderful alternative.

The most immediately stirring and memorable track of choice for the few who bought it is "Prana". However, I found myself listening to "Electric Karma" and "Agni" with equal delight. (The later is particularly energetic without being bombastic. I doubt one can listen to it without attempting some type of dance.) "Liquid Shiva" is memorable as well.

Yes, the Indian sound has been seemingly squeezed so dry one wonders what's left to be done with it, but this is fresh, fun and really delightful. It's particualrly appropriate for very warm, sunny weather. (Something of a relative rarity where I live)

Excellent mix of electronic trance Indian sounds.......2001-03-08

OK, the other reviewer preferred the first Open Canvas CD, *Nomadic Impressions*. While I like them both, I prefer this one. The first CD was a mix of Egyptian music with ambient soundscapes, and it is lovely, dreamy, and great for late-night introspection. This CD has a lot more energy and is more melodic, almost dancey. The mix is electronic/Indian music, a genre which is more *popular* as the other reviewer states. However, a lot of what you hear in that genre is either very house music oriented (like Talvin Singh) or dreamy to the extent of becoming somnambulistic (too many artists to mention). This CD finds an excellent common ground. The tunes have a real beat and a melody, but they are not too *in your face* or relentlessly driving with a simple, repetitive rhythm. I especially enjoyed the tracks *Prana* and *Puja*. I've played most of the cuts on a public radio show in Alaska, and they are always well-received. I'd suggest giving the music a try. And if you prefer a more laid-back mix, try the other Open Canvas CD.

Excellent, although liked Nomadic Impressions much better........2000-08-13

Ambient Atmospheres, exotic soundscapes, and unique instrumentations certainly aren't lacking on this album. However, the melodies and compositions of the songs didn't seem to possess the kind of beauty I found on Open Canvas' debut album "Nomadic Impressions". And maybe this is soley because of the choice of culture this artist decided to focus on this time around. "Nomadic Impressions" had a distinctive Egyptian sound and feel and is depicted by such appropriate artwork. This one however has an Indian feel to it, with the perfect artwork to match as well. I love both the musical influences of Egypt and India, but I thought mixing Egyptian culture with ambient/electronic music seemed more original then the now popular mix of India and electronica. At least, with Open Canvas I definately liked the Egyptian sound better.

Nevertheless, if you liked "Nomadic Impressions", you'll probably like "Indumani" as well, and of course with it being on the Waveform label and can't be bad.

Track 4, "Prana (life force)" is especially good and like "Nomadic Impressions" the music of "Indumani" is certain to take the listener to a far away place.

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