Journeys

Track Listings

1. Escape

2. Ancestors

3. Serenade

4. Carnival

5. Adrift

6. Ritual

7. Wishing Well

8. Procession

9. Autumn

10. Lighthouse

Journeys,Zhu Chavakelados,Gopher Productions,New Age / Meditation,Pop

Journeys

Tracks:

Mongolian Traditional longsong
Legend of Herlen (Byambasuren Sharav)
"Blue Little Flower" (Chinese Traditional)
"Mido Mountain" (Chinese Traditional)
Moon over Guan Mountain (Zhao Jiping)
"Miero vuotti uutta kuuta" from Five Finnish Folk Songs (Michio Mamiya)
"Joiku" from Five Finnish Folk Songs (Michio Mamiya)
Avaz-e Dashti (Persian Traditional)
Habil-Sayagy (In Habil's Style) for cello and prepared piano (Franghiz Ali-Zadeh)
Blue as the Turquoise Night of Neyshabur (Kayhan Kalhor)
Chi passa per'sta strada (Filippo Azzaiolo)
Desert Capriccio (Music from the film Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon/Tan Dun) (Bonus Track)

Amazon.com

This disc introduces Yo-Yo Ma's latest and most ambitious adventure, the Silk Road Project. It explores the cultures that flourished along the Silk Road, the ancient trade route that for centuries connected Europe and the East. Founded by Ma in 1998, the project aims to create connections, mutual trust, and cultural interchange between people from different parts of the world through their only shared language: music.

This recording includes music from Mongolia, China, Persia, Japan, Iran, Azerbaijan, and an improvisation on an Italian Renaissance street song, performed by musicians from all those countries, as well as America, on both Eastern and Western instruments. Ma, who participates in every piece either as soloist or part of the ensemble, plays cello and a Mongolian "horse-head fiddle." There is also a Mongolian soprano, who sings a traditional song native to her region. For the uninitiated Western listener, the music requires some getting used to. Much of it is based on rhythmic ostinatos. The melodies use Oriental scales; the intonation is untempered; the music seems all color, texture, and atmosphere, without what might be called themes; and repetition takes the place of development. Contrast is achieved through sudden change, buildup by adding instruments. However, the music is often beautiful, delicate, dreamy, or peaceful; every listener will find his or her own favorite pieces. The playing is splendid, with much inventive improvisation. Inevitably, Ma's tone and personality stand out, but he never dominates in fact or spirit. The booklet offers essays by Ma and the project's musicologist, Theodore Levin, photographs of the players, and drawings of the Eastern instruments. --Edith Eisler

Customer Reviews:

The Versatile Yo-Yo Ma .......2007-07-24

Since returning from a trip to China, I have become very interested in the music and the entire culture and history of the Far East. To an American, it seems like such an exotic and mysterious world. Given the formidable languages and the vastness of it all, I can only say that I can only hope to acquire a superficial understanding.

As always, the versatile Yo-Yo Ma is quite soulful and technically brilliant in his musical exploration of the "Silk Road". The music, to me, captures the feeling of Asia. The liner notes are very educational in providing a context to the project.

I find Asian music to be very different from our "Western" traditions, but given time and an even chance, I think that you will find this CD to be very nice and enjoyable.

Not for the average listener.......2007-03-20

I was going to give it 2 stars, but then again i only listened to it once.
I was looking forward to this, but the music is plodding in many parts,
like a dreary symphony. There are fine moments, but I was looking for something a bit more accesible, rhymic, and lyrical. This is a mixed bag that seems to miss more often than hit.

A thoroughly enjoyable trip through Central Asia and a few other places........2007-03-15

I have just added this to my musical library and am enjoying it. From the first beat of the first note of Khongozurl's long song you are transported to central Asia - the land of horses and gers. Of all the pieces I was most interested in listening to the second piece - Legend of Herlen. This to me, was the real silk road. The morin khuur has a very rich and unusual tone that made we want to listen to the it over and over again. Each piece is different and reminds one of the many parts that make up the whole of central asia's culture be it music or diesel trucks competing for road space with camels. The music captures the variety that makes up the region. The Finnish Folksong tracks are a nice touch. I have a friend who was at a trade conference and met a man from Mongolia. Neither could talk to one another until they discovered a common language - Finnish! My friend's family is Finnish and his new Mongolian friend had lived for several years in Finland where he learned enough of the language to communicate. Listening to the Finnish Folksongs reminds me of the Finnish-Mongolian connection that my friend had described. It is a nice touch and complements the other pieces very well. Please don't neglect to read the information insert as this gives a wealth of information on the music and it's origins as well as some of the difficulties experienced by western players playing traditional middle Asian musical instruments. Ma's difficulties with his instrument are particularly interesing to read. The concludig track - Desert Capriccio is a very nice ending to a very rich musical experince. The music from Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon is the perfect ending to this trip through central Asia. I highly recommend this CD to everyone.

Silk Road Journey.......2007-02-19

I saw a performance of the Silk Road Ensemble and was absolutely enthralled. So I bought the CD. But it was a big disappointment. It's not the type of music you can comfortably listen to in your living room - I'm sure it would be much more enjoyable in a concert hall. There was far too much that just sounded like "screeching" to me. However, some of the pieces that were much like what we heard at the performance were beautiful. So - a mixed review, but I disliked more than I liked.

A Detailed Review From A Non-expert Music Lover.......2007-01-12

In this review I will give my opinion on each of the 12 selections in this CD, and will also talk about some general themes related to the title "The Silk Road Project".

To anyone who has heard of the Silk Road in Ancient China, the title of this CD immediately brings up images of exotic peoples and their cultures in your mind. I think Yo-Yo Ma's efforts in creating such a culturally diversified recording are definitely welcomed in this era of globalization.

But after listening through this CD I felt that something was missing from the selections. One of the most important areas on the Silk Road is the Uyghur region in northwestern China. Their music is quite unique. Inclusion of their music in this CD would be really interesting. Also in this CD not all of the selections are chosen from those regions directly related to the Silk Road. So I guess the title is just a metaphor of "when strangers meet", but is not directly about the cultures along the Silk Road.

Now I will review each of the selections.

1. Mongolian Traditional Long Song

I am somewhat familiar with their culture and land. So to me this song is very beautiful and enchanting. One of the most important factors in conducting any cross-cultural communications is context! You really cannot take it out of context. The Mongolian Long Song might sound monotonous and drawling to a person who is more used to the Western tradition of chant, choral, or opera music. Yet if you know the traditional nomadic lifestyle of the Mongolian people on the vast rolling greens of the Mongolian grassland embellished with winding creeks and rivers, you would probably hear such long-singing voices reverberating between the green of the grass and the blue of the sky. The Mongolian people have some of the most beautiful songs that I know of.

2. Legend of Herlen

There are probably two broad categories of non-western ethnic musics. One is the authentic folksong tradition of the people, the other is westernized works composed by westernized local musicians. I guess Legend of Herlen might fall into the second category. It has some interesting tunes in it. But the overall listening experience is too dramatic. I guess the dynamics used in this piece might even go beyond the ppp and fff. In the Mongolian traditional music, dynamics are sometimes used quite dramatically, with sharp difference between two adjacent notes or phrases. So this piece here is probably not very surprising. Nonetheless I find it a little too dramatic, sometimes even disturbing. Again I am not familiar with the background of this piece, so that might explain the unusual drama.

3. Blue Little Flower

I am not sure what fusion should really sound like. But in this piece it does seem to me that a lot of musical traditions are intertwined in it: western music, Chinese folksong from Shaanxi, and probably Iranian or Indian drums. Somehow the only part of this song that I liked is the beginning line. It's very beautiful and delicate, reminding me of the theme music from the Couching Tiger, Hidden Dragon. But it is westernized, not authentic Chinese folksong. If this is still not a problem, then the drum used in this piece does cause a lot of funny effects. The drum sounds so distinctive and it represents some of the central or western Asia cultures. The images such drum beats conjure up are very incompatible with this northwestern Chinese folksong. So in this piece there are at least three threads: western, Chinese, and Iranian/Indian (I am not sure which one). But they do not converge. There is also the funny part of the singing included in this piece. It is out of place and unnecessary. The singing itself is just too frivolous to me.

4. Mido Mountain

I like this piece, especially the part played by the Sheng. Again there are some elements that sound a little bit too foreign to me, especially the percussion part. They use the same percussion/drum in this piece as in the previous one. But the overall effect of the arrangement does sound authentic and pleasant to me.

5. Moon Over Guan Mountains

If you know that Zhao Jiping is famous for his scores for films, you will probably understand this piece better. But of course understanding does not mean you will like it. This piece falls into the second category that I described above. For a lot of non-Western countries, the influence of western music is definitely immense. Many local composers are trained in both the western tradition and the local tradition. But there is probably a general feeling among composers in these countries that western music is richer in theory and methods. Many of these composers will use themes from folk songs to compose westernized music. I will give this piece a B+. It does include some themes from northwestern China, which sound really unique. As I said in this CD there is no selection from the Uyghur region in China, this piece might make up for that, since some of the themes seem to me to be from that region. But this piece is still too dramatic too, like a film score.

6. Five Finnish Folksongs No. 3

I love this one! The theme melody is so beautiful, and maybe a little bit nostalgic, and maybe a little bit romantic also? But this piece is straightly western music. There is nothing ethnic about it.

7. Five Finnish Folksongs No.5

This one is ok, but not very impressive. The overall structure of this piece sounds like very loose. There is not memorable melody either. But it does not have the maddening drama like in the two pieces I have just talked about. This is good.

8. Avaz-e Dashti
I am not familiar with Persian music. But there are indeed some very Persian melodies in this piece. The instruments used in this piece are all traditional Persian instruments. Maybe this is why it sounds so authentic to me. I like the haunting, floating tunes in this piece. They sound very ethereal to me.

9. Habil-Sayagy

Again this piece falls into the second category like the Legend of Herlen and Moon Over Guan Mountains. Such music is probably interesting to the performers, since they can let loose their inner floodgate of emotions and resort to pure artistic connections. But the problem for such music is that they are just too dramatic, and it's really hard to understand them without fairly good knowledge of the context and their unique cultural backgrounds. I am sure all these three pieces might sound profound, meaningful, and artistic once we know the cultural backgrounds better. But for the general listener, they are too abstract and too emotionally charged. Another problem for such western-traditional combination pure art form of music is that tradition might be distorted and represented in the wrong way.

10. Blue as the Turquoise Night of Neyshabur

I like this one better that the previous one, especially the middle part beginning at around 5 min 30 sec into the music. The melody is quite unique, and memorable. The bassline is very interesting too. It conjures up the image of merchants traveling on camel back through the desert. The pulse of the bass sounds like the steps of camels walking. One the instruments used, I am not sure which one, santur or kemancheh, is quite successful in bringing out the authenticity of the music style.

11. Chi passa per'sta strada

This one has the same problem as the Blue Little Flower: it does not sound like anything! It is not Italian, nor is it Iranian, nor Chinese, nor anything else. What is it? Who knows. The ethnicity of world music is tied to their unique musical instruments closely. I remember there was one year the Chinese traditional orchestra had a New Year's Concert at Vienna, and when they played the Radetzky March at the end of the concert, I was quite unimpressed.

12. Desert Capriccio

Tan Dun is similar to the composers I mentioned above like Zhao Jiping. Tan's music is unique and interesting to both western and Chinese audience, because of the same thing: they are both unfamiliar with Tan's music. To the Chinese audience, his music sounds western, but to the Western audience, his music sounds exotic. Nonetheless I still like some of this music, like the Couching Tiger and Hidden Dragon. Some of the melodies are really great. Again this piece makes up for the lack of Uyghur music in this album, since the "desert" in this piece is in the Uyghur region. But the music is not Uyghur at all.

There you have it. That's all for my detailed review of this CD. I would give it a B+ for its efforts and some of the really good tunes. As I am not an expert, I might be wrong in many of the points that I make in this review. So feel free to comment on my review.

Average customer rating:

delightful experience
Excellent Compilation with Marvelous Tracks
Beyond the first Silk Road CD
Excelent!!!
One of the Best !

Silk Road Journeys: Beyond the Horizon

Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Silk Road Journeys: When Strangers Meet
The Silk Road: A Musical Caravan
Obrigado Brazil
Yo-Yo Ma Plays Ennio Morricone
The Essential Yo-Yo Ma

ASIN: B0007TFHEI
Release Date: 2005-04-05

Tracks:

Mohini (Enchantment)
Oasis
Distant Green Valley
Akhalqalaqi Dance
Echoes Of A Lost City
Mountains Are Far Away
Yanzi (Swallow Song)
Battle Remembered
Summer In The High Grassland
Kor Arab (The Blind Arab)
Shikasta (Minstrel's Song)
Night At The Caravanserai
Gallop Of A Thousand Horses
Tarang (Currents)
Sacred Cloud Music

Amazon.com

It is a perilous proposition when genres clash--and no such collaboration is more potentially fraught than when improvisation-trained folk musicians sit in with Western classical instrumentalists, who are taught to interpret a printed score. The renowned cellist Yo-Yo Ma has devoted much of his professional life to such intercultural experiments. But the traditions of nations situated along the ancient Silk Road, which began in the Far East, meandered through Asia and terminated in Europe, are especially dear to him. These lushly arranged pieces range from moody scenic vistas to percussive Turkish hip-shakers and they make very pleasant listening. If they owe more to the European canon than the ethnic sources that inspired them, they are also the result of respectful give-and-take between a team of acknowledged masters. And nobody is more of a team player than Maestro Ma, an impassioned, fearless musical seeker and a gracious, deferential colleague. --Christina Roden

Interview with Yo-Yo Ma
Yo-Yo Ma speaks about his latest adventures involved in this new installment of the ongoing Silk Road Project--an epoch-making collaboration among musical colleagues. Read our special interview to learn more about Ma's musical philosophy.

Amazon.com

Customer Reviews:

delightful experience.......2007-07-04

this collection of music is quite a cultural experience. I've been hooked since I opened the cover!

Excellent Compilation with Marvelous Tracks.......2007-01-20

I enjoyed this compilation of Silk Road music very much. It delivers a nice, diverse sample of music from the region. My favorite track of the CD is Shikasta, but I like the others as well.

Beyond the first Silk Road CD.......2006-11-23

Yo-Yo Ma went beyond indeed. The first CD with Silk Road ensemble (When Strangers Meet) was inconsistent and somewhat experimental. This one however, is superb. As if in the 5 years the musicians got to know each other (but in truth, only a few musicians are the same). 23 traditional Eastern instruments are listed plus a number of western strings and other percussion was used. So the music on this CD gets my full attention, and as the title of first track suggests, you (can) get enchanted.
The tracks are ordered into three parts: Enchantments (1-5), Origins (6-9) and New Beginnings. First track is strangely familiar (like it was used in some film, but there is no mention of this). In third track this theme gets Chinese interpretation. The style from one track to the other changes, so you can't get bored or overexcited. Second is simply very nice, the fourth great intro of Armenian wind instrument duduk (played by famous Gevorg Dabaghyan), accompanied by percussion mostly, albeit the piece is short. 5 is gentle with cello and xun (Chinese ocarina), 6 orchestral from slow to cool, 7 again gentle with cello and vocal, 8 starts with yearning duduk and turns into orchestral battle, 9 cello and percussion. Track 10 is the only one with prominent vocal (love song) and introduces us to the last part of CD, which are more like jam sessions of all instruments. 11 and 13 are very lively. The last one, track 15, brings us a new interpretation of very ancient Chinese melody played on pipa.

Some would probably say this CD is commercialized. Personally I don't see any wrongdoings in this as long the music stays a high quality one. For the more authentic Silk Road one can always buy The Silk Road: A Musical Caravan.

Excelent!!!.......2006-01-15

One of the best concerts I attended in my life (so far... :-)...)

One of the Best !.......2005-12-06

This album has captured the soul of the Silkroad. There is not a single track in this album I don't like. I've been listening to it over and over and over again since I first got it. I think it's much better than the first one.

Average customer rating:

Two tracks I really like
Quantity Over Quality
Mediocre
One Hundred Greatest TV Themes
Pretty close to original recordings

One Hundred Greatest TV Themes

Manufacturer: Silva America
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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All-Time Top 100 TV Themes
TV Land Presents: Favorite TV Theme Songs
TV Guide: 50 All-Time Favorite TV Themes
NBC: A Soundtrack of Must See TV
Best of TV Quiz & Game Show Themes

ASIN: B00005Y49F
Release Date: 2002-08-27

Tracks:

The A-Team - Nic Raine
The Addams Family - Nic Raine
The Adventures Of Robinson Crusoe - Nic Raine
Airwolf - Derek Wadsworth
The Avengers - Mike Townend
Barnaby Jones - Jerry Goldsmith
Batman - Nic Raine
Battlestar Galactica - Nic Raine
Baywatch - Derek Wadsworth
Beverly Hills 90210 - Derek Wadsworth
Bewitched - Nic Raine
Between The Lines - Mark Ayres
The Bill - Nic Raine
Bonanza - The Philharmonia Orchestra
Brideshead Revisited - Derek Wadsworth
Buck Rogers In The 25th Century - Nic Raine
Burke's Law - Derek Wadsworth
Cagney And Lacey - Derek Wadsworth
Captain Scarlet And The Mysterons - Mark Ayres
Casualty - Mark Ayres
Cheers - Mark Ayres
Dallas - Nic Raine
Dangerman (Secret Agent) - Mike Townend
Doctor Who - Mark Ayres
Doctor Kildare - Jerry Goldsmith

Tracks:

Doogie Howser, M.D. - Derek Wadsworth
Dynasty - Nic Raine
The Equalizer - Derek Wadsworth
Falcon Crest - Derek Wadsworth
Fireball XL-5 - Derek Wadsworth
The Fugitive - Nic Raine
Hawaii 5-0 - Mike Townend
Hercules: The Legendary Journeys - Nic Raine
The High Chaparral - Nic Raine
Highway To Heaven - Derek Wadsworth
Hill Street Blues - Derek Wadsworth
The Hitchhikers Guide To The Galaxy - Mark Ayres
The Incredible Hulk - Derek Wadsworth
Jason King - Mike Townend
Jesus Of Nazareth - Paul Bateman
Joe 90 - Derek Wadsworth
Johnny Staccato - Derek Wadsworth
Knight Rider - Derek Wadsworth
Kojak - Mike Townend
L.A. Law - Derek Wadsworth
Land Of The Giants - Nic Raine
Little House On The Prairie - Derek Wadsworth
Lonesome Dove - Nic Raine
Lost In Space - Nic Raine
Lou Grant - Derek Wadsworth

Tracks:

Magnum, P.I. - Derek Wadsworth
A Man Called Ironside - Mike Townend
The Man From U.N.C.L.E. - Derek Wadsworth
M*A*S*H - Nic Raine
Miami Vice - Mark Ayres
Mike Hammer - Derek Wadsworth
Mission Impossible - Mike Townend
Monty Python's Flying Circus - Nic Raine
The Munsters - Derek Wadsworth
Murder She Wrote - Derek Wadsworth
Newhart - Derek Wadsworth
North And South - Derek Wadsworth
Northern Exposure - Derek Wadsworth
NYPD Blue - Mark Ayres
The Outer Limits - Nic Raine
Perry Mason - Mike Townend
The Persuaders - Mark Ayres
Peter Gunn - Mike Townend
Police Squad - Nic Raine
The Prisoner - Mike Townend
Quantum Leap - Derek Wadsworth
Randall And Hopkirk (Deceased) - Mike Townend
Red Dwarf - Mark Lambert
The Rockford Files - Mike Post
Roseanne - Dan Foliart

Tracks:

The Saint - Mike Townend
Seaquest DSV - Nic Raine
Space 1999 - Derek Wadsworth
Star Trek - Mike Townend
Star Trek: Deep Space Nine - Derek Wadsworth
Star Trek: Voyager - Nic Raine
St. Elsewhere - Derek Wadsworth
The Streets Of San Francisco - Nic Raine
Stingray - Barry Gray
Taxi - Derek Wadsworth
Thunderbirds - Derek Wadsworth
Thirty Something - Derek Wadsworth
The Time Tunnel - Nic Raine
Tinker, Tailor, Soldier, Spy - The Philharmonia Orchestra
The Twighlight Zone - Nic Raine
Twin Peaks - Derek Wadsworth
U.F.O. - Derek Wadsworth
The Virginian - Nic Raine
Voyage To The Bottom Of The Sea - Nic Raine
Wagon Train - Paul Bateman
The Waltons - Jerry Goldsmith
The Wild Wild West - Derek Wadsworth
Young Riders - John Debney
Xena: The Warrior Princess - Paul Bateman
The X-Files - Mark Ayres

Customer Reviews:

Two tracks I really like.......2007-07-21

The Mission Impossible theme is performed well.
The Fireball theme is actually much improved on this version. I prefer the orchestra and the vocals over the original.

Quantity Over Quality.......2007-01-15

As a musician myself, I know too well that one of the most important ingredients in ANY performance (live or recorded) is passion. The recordings here generally lack the same passion and sheer drama of the originals. Much of the instrumentation has been reduced to a cheezy, thin, plastic synthesized replica. The performances are simply a watered-down lackluster version of the classic originals. If it were not for the sheer volume of tracks compiled here, I would have rated the comp only "one star".

Mediocre.......2006-05-17

The sound quality for this collection isn't much better than the samples offered by Amazon.

One Hundred Greatest TV Themes.......2005-08-06

I have watched almost all the shows that are on these 4 cd's. Many were made before I started watching TV. Most I've seen once or twice before.

Pretty close to original recordings.......2005-07-24

Definitely not as good as the originals. You'll probably notice the slight differences since it's stuff you saw and listened to every week or everyday in reruns growing up, but it's still an amazing collection.

Average customer rating:

journey...

Journeys of a Dervish
Mercan Dede
Manufacturer: Golden Horn Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Sufi Dreams
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3
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ASIN: B00000JGYB
Release Date: 1999-07-27

Tracks:

Journeys of a Dervish
Healing Prayer
Fire Drums
Masnawi
Remember the Loveliness
Water Ceremony
Sunrise Zikr
Baraka

Customer Reviews:

journey..........2000-11-26

it is really a journey to somewhere mystical... a journey to somewhere deep inside of your heart... close your eyes, let the music get into your body from your ears first... than from all other senses... let it surround your mind... and, finally, let it reach to your heart!!. let mercan dede help you to see what is inside of you heart...

Awakening the Higher Self: Guided Meditations to the Angelic Realm

Average customer rating:

Very Happy :-)

Awakening the Higher Self: Guided Meditations to the Angelic Realm
Terra Sonora
Manufacturer: Disc Makers
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | New Age | Styles | Music

Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music
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Journey to the 5th Dimension
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Journey Through the Chakras: An Extra-ordinary Guided Meditation

ASIN: B00018RRPM
Release Date: 2003-03-03

Tracks:

Introduction by Terra Sonora
Meditation to Open to Your Angels and Guides
Meditation to Discover Your Life's Purposes
Daily Meditation to Connect with Your Angels

Customer Reviews:

Very Happy :-).......2007-06-08

This guided meditation is great. Everytime I listen I hear something new.

Average customer rating:

Definitely Music to Code By
A New Wave of New Age
Jackpot!
The magnificent debut of 'Australis'
A genius in New Age Music

Lifegiving
Australis
Manufacturer: Independent Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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From the Sky
Inner Worlds
A Day Like No Other
Everlasting
Worlds Apart

ASIN: B0009N4O3M
Release Date: 2005-05-05

Tracks:

Lifegiving
Conciliation
Turning Point
The Sound of Hope
Fire Tamer
Forbidden Scents
The Enchantment
Between the Sun and the Moon
Barren Lands
Sacred Earth

Customer Reviews:

Definitely Music to Code By.......2007-07-17

I've always felt like, the best music is the kind that truly moves me without saying a single word. Music that gets me toe-tapping and head-nodding almost reflexively. Lifegiving is one such album.

The entire album sounds like it tells a story. One of my favorite tracks is the upbeat "Fire Tamer", which totally sounds like a slightly futuristic new-agey James Bond movie theme song, LOL!

My other favorite track is the breathtaking "Between the Sun and the Moon"... The woodwinds (or violin) in it are just marvelous. As a software developer I don't want to be distracted by words, or too much chanting... just give me some smooth crystal melodies to complement my "Flow" (all you other software developers know what I am talking about). Lifegiving is really music by which you can code and get work done.

Now for the not-so-great (my reasons for giving it 4 stars instead of 5). After several days of listening, I found that too many of the tracks used the same set of instruments at same timbre and pitch. A little overuse of the piano. There weren't (to me) enough "exotic" instruments. And also, there weren't enough tracks that made me go "wow".

Ok I'll tell the truth: I rarely give 5 stars :) This is simply a great album and would make a good addition to any New Age collection. I especially recommend it to people who are still new to the genre.

A New Wave of New Age.......2007-06-09

The hauntingly beautiful music of Australis caught my ear over and over on the various outlets. So, I purchased the CD and found a great new array of what seems to be a New Wave of New Age music. Similar to Amethystium or perhaps Ryan Farish but holding their own. I really enjoy this CD alot and would recommend it to all who are currently turned on by this fascinating new wave of new age. P.S. This is great driving or traveling music!

Jackpot!.......2007-02-23

I received an e-mail one day featuring Australis' latest CD. I have never heard of the artist; therefore, I decided to listen to it on Amazon. Much to my suprise, and after listening to 5 songs, I was convinced that Australis has alot to offer. The music is very relaxing, and very charistmatic.

The magnificent debut of 'Australis'.......2006-02-04

I am a big fan of New Age music and the genre in a big way and I am always looking to listen to new artists from this genre. I came across 'Australis' in a music search and decided to take a punt and purchased this album. I didn't know what to expect so having listened to this album 3 times already. I can say I am pleasantly surprised. This album was released midway through 2005 and the album is New Age with a ambient feel to it. Another great thing about this album is the artwork that shows the care and feeling that went into the production of this beautiful set of work. The front cover is of a butterfly on sanded back paper. The insides of the album on the left hand side is a Mayan symbol (mayan calender).

The music is performed and composed by a lone artist who goes by the name 'Australis'. There are 10 tracks to this album and everyone of the songs is well worth the listen. New Age fans will fall in love with the sensuous and ambient rhythms of this album and each song is a enigma unto itself. The first song is the album namesake 'Lifegiving' - that sets the tone and style of the rest of the album release. The best 2 songs of the album are 'Turning Point' that opens with a bravado of piano skill and 'The Sound of Hope' which brings together a soothing and hopeful sound with flutes, synths and keyboards.

But as I have said, all the songs are well worth a listen and the final song 'Sacred Earth' is a fine ending to what I hope to be Australis' first of several albums. This artist has the brilliant touches of Enigma's Michael Cretu and the flair of Era's Eric Levi. I look forward to more musical masterpieces from 'Australis'.

A genius in New Age Music.......2005-07-16

The first time I heard the song "Between the sun and the moon" I fell in love with it. Australis is a genius in new age music. All of his songs are great to listen to. The songs seem to have a very different yet extremely good beat and melody. You can almost feel your head nodding! I thank God I stumbled upon this album where its so rare to find excellent new age music knowing how easy it is to be carried when people listen exclusively to the most popular new age musicians and discard the rest. You should NOT discard this, its the BEST.

Average customer rating:

This album is so great, that I really wish that this band would another brand new one soon with all new songs!
A must for Cusco fans everywhere
Excellent!!
Inner Journeys:Myths & Legends
Great CD

Inner Journeys: Myths and Legends
Cusco
Manufacturer: Higher Octave
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | International | Styles | Music

General | New Age | Styles | Music

Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music

Adult Alternative | Pop | Styles | Music
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Mystic Island
Ancient Journeys: A Vision of the New World
Apurimac III: Nature / Spirit / Pride
Apurimac
Ring of the Dolphin

ASIN: B00008L3QX
Release Date: 2003-03-25

Tracks:

Oracle Of Delphi
Eros And Psyche
Ariadne
The Nine Muses
Odysseus And The Sirens
Aphrodite
Janus
Orpheus And Eurydice
Pan And The Nymph
Poseidon

Album Description

From the dark ocean caverns of Poseidon to the ravishing beauty of Aphrodite, Cusco delves into the inner journey of ancient myth and legends. Soaring flutes, haunting vocals, and an array of new and old world instruments capture the awe-inspired tales of gods and heroes. Filled with adventure, magic and mystery, Cusco delivers another extraordinary musical journey through the wonders of the human heart and spirit.

Customer Reviews:

This album is so great, that I really wish that this band would another brand new one soon with all new songs!.......2007-04-02

I love this album. It has many songs with nice rhythms and combinations of instruments. My favorite songs were "Orpheus and Eurydice", "Eros and Psyche", and "Poseidon", including "Oracle of Delphi". I like Cusco music that has the kind of beat that those songs do. The only songs I didn't approve of too well were "Odysseus & the Sirens", "Aphrodite", and "Pan and the Nymph." The song "Odysseus & the Sirens" was too unstable in what rhythms it changed, and I didn't really like the siren voices in it too well, either, and I really didn't like the voices too well on the song "Pan and the Nymph", either. I thought they were better the way that they more calmly voiced in "The Nine Muses", though. And about the song "Aphrodite", the only thing I didn't approve of too well was how melancholy some of it just tended to be. But all of the others were very admirable, and had a good rhythm or beat to. So yes, I would recommend this album to everyone. It is even interesting how it applies to all the myths that are mentioned in the song titles. I also really do wish that Cusco would make a brand new album soon with all new made-up songs. It's about time that they do.

A must for Cusco fans everywhere.......2005-09-25

I am a huge Cusco fan, and if it weren't for their APURIMAC III this would be my favorite CD. Whenever I listen to this CD I get certain feelings up and down my spine. The music/vocals combination is amazing.

I have a recomendation though, If you like this CD you should hear The Moody Blues "Amazing Caves"

It is just as good as this CD.

Excellent!!.......2005-08-25

I hadn't bought a Cusco CD in a long time and I am SO glad I bought this one because it's excellent and takes you to new places and allows you to imagine and relax. I will admit it seems they haven't tried anything new and stuck to the same instruments but I still loved it and would recommend it to any Cusco fan!

Inner Journeys:Myths & Legends.......2004-09-29

Hey,I'm back!Remember,Predatore7?Now,I'M Ed1989.Anyways,This is the latest release from Cusco,one of my favorite bands.This release marks a change in Cusco's sound;a minor change.In this release,they add female vocals,not lyrics,vocals.In my opinion,they work o.k.,however,the vocals are used sparingly;only on 3 tracks;"Oracle of Delphi","The Nine Muses,and "Pan & the Nymph".Overall,if you liked previous Cusco albums,you'll most likely like this one,too. 4 stars!

Great CD.......2003-11-20

I think this is one of the best for just listening and relaxing to - it lives up to it's name Myths & Legends with the mystical quality of music.

Average customer rating:

Two Journeys
"Celebration of a Shared Heritage"
A Trip Worth Taking

Two Journeys
Tim O'Brien
Manufacturer: Sugarhill [Country]
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Country | Styles | Music

General | Bluegrass | Country | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Styles | Music

General | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Bluegrass | Country | Indie Music | Stores | Music

General | Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

The Crossing
Fiddler's Green
Traveler
Red on Blonde
Cornbread Nation

ASIN: B000068UQP
Release Date: 2002-07-09

Tracks:

Turning Around
Mic Ryan's Lament
For The Fallen
Paddy Fahey's/Garret Barry's/The Cliffs Of Moher
The Apple Press/The Apple Cart
Demon Lover
The Holy Well
Me And Dick's Trip To Ireland
The Lancer's Jig/Gusty's Frolicks
What Does The Deep Sea Say?
Two Journeys
The Tide Flows Into Miltown
Pear Tree/Muddy Roads/Ladies' Pantelettes
Norwegian Wood

Customer Reviews:

Two Journeys.......2003-10-24

Like a lot of us in recent years, Tim O'Brien got to be curious about his Irish heritage. And, being a musician, he got the opportunity to explore his heritage in tunes, melding the bluegrass he's been playing for years with the distincitive sounds of Ireland.

The two styles aren't wildly separate, but there's enough between them to make it pleasing to hear them together. From the slow philosophy of "Turning Around" to the playfulness of "Me & Dick's Trip to Ireland," from the antiquity of a ballad like "The Demon Lover" to a stirring new number like "The Holy Well," this album bridges the gaps and makes art out of the finished product.

Only in America could this sound have been created. But only in Ireland could it have been conceived. This is an album recommended for a broad spectrum of listeners, and maybe, just maybe, it will get fans of one kind of music to listen to another. One can only hope.

"Celebration of a Shared Heritage".......2002-10-15

This album picks up where 1999's The Crossing left off, with Tim O'Brien exploring his Celtic roots and melding it with the Appalachian and bluegrass music he's been making for the past quarter century. The album contains a mix of mostly original and traditional tunes, including a gorgeous reading of Lennon-McCartney's "Norwegian Wood"--the sitar being replaced by whistle, pipes and fiddle.

O'Brien has a stellar group of musicians, including Paul Brady, Kevin Burke, Paddy Keenan, Triona Dhomhnaill and Darrell Scott. [Note: O'Brien recorded a duet album, Real Time, with Scott in 2000 that is also well worth seeking out.]

In his liner notes, O'Brien says, "This recording represents an ongoing celebration of the shared heritage between the USA and Ireland." And what a joyful celebration it is. O'Brien has been making fine music since his days with Hot Rize and deserves to be heard by a wider audience. [O'Brien now records on his own small, independent label--check him out at www.howdyskies.com] HIGHLY RECOMMENDED

A Trip Worth Taking.......2002-08-06

To me, there is no greater musical talent than writing a good tune. And Tim O'Brien writes great ones. I'd tell you it's his finest talent, but the boy can sing and the boy can play! On Two Journeys, O'Brien continues his efforts towards Irish folk influenced songs and combines his own tunes with some classic Irish songs pulled from his bluegrass repetoir, the standout being "Demon Lover", often called "The House Carpenter". What makes this a truly unique CD for me is O'Brien's mandolin which adds something new, not to mention achingly beautiful, to the Irish folk sound.

If you're a fan of Irish folk or Tim O'Brien, this CD will offer you something that is both refreshing and familiar.

Sabla Tolo, Vol. 2: Further Journeys into Pure Egyptian Percussion
Average customer rating:

Addicted!! :)

If Sabla Tolo (1) didn't exist Sabla Tolo 2 would get 4 Stars

Sabla Tolo, Vol. 2: Further Journeys into Pure Egyptian Percussion
Hossam Ramzy
Manufacturer: Arc Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
Egypt | Africa | International | Styles | Music
General | International | Styles | Music
Fusion & World Fusion | Compilations | Jazz | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Immortal Egypt

Rhythms of the Nile

The Best of Baladi and Saaidi

The Heartbeat of Bellydance: Rhythms & Belly Dance combinations for Drum Solos

Tribal Fusion - Yoga Isolations & Drills for Bellydance

ASIN: B00009MGRB
Release Date: 2003-08-05

Tracks:

Wana Be-ied Annak (When I am not Near You)
Harrira & Basboosa
My Brazilian Pearl
El Esma Wel Ma-soom (Our Fate)
Amar El Sahara (The Moon of the Sahara)
Wady Samba Ala El Malfuf (Samba over Malfuf)
Halloween
Oyoun El Fallaha (The Eyes of a Fallaha)
Ya Gama-a (Calling all the Group)
Hawary Al Qahira (The Back Streets of Cairo)
La' Bel Hadawa (No, Cool and Gently, Please)
Ya Sha-eyya (You Naughty, Playful Girl)
Rakataka

Customer Reviews:

Addicted!! :).......2006-04-20

I love this CD! Haven't bought the first one yet, but I'm sure it's just as great if not better. I've had this one for over two years and never get tired of it. Great percussion. Highly recommended. It will definitely make you move!

If Sabla Tolo (1) didn't exist Sabla Tolo 2 would get 4 Stars.......2006-02-22

Definitely 3-4 stars, but Sabla Tolo #1 is much better. That's a 5-star percussion CD with great Dumbek playing (and other percussion). See my review on Sabla Tolo. Better yet, just buy Sabla Tolo #1 -- you won't be disappointed: whether you like percussion in general, the dumbek specifically, or like to bellydance.

Average customer rating:

FINGERSTYLE GUITAR AT IT'S BEST!

Synapse Collapse
Richard Gilewitz
Manufacturer: Gillazilla Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Folk | Styles | Music

General | Folk | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Thumbsing
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Richard Gilewitz Live at 2nd Street Theater

ASIN: B000051ZNY
Release Date: 1997-09-01

Tracks:

Embryonic Journey
Dirt to Dust
Minuet for the Backroads
Dance
Bilingual Fantasy
Synapse Collapse
Steve Talbot on the Keddie Wye
The Sailor's Grave on the Prairie
Prelude
St. Louis Blues
Gove's Tune
Echoing Wilderness
Jeannie Sleeping

Album Description

Synapse Collapse shouts of influences from Memphis to the Mediterranean, introduces Richard's 12-string, slide playing, and features two classical pieces composed by his mentor, David Walbert. Also includes the entire original Echoing Wilderness, recorded in part by Leo Kottke as Echoing Gilewitz on the 1986 release, A Shout Toward Noon. Special guest sounds by pianist David Webb on Embryonic Journey and St. Louis Blues, and percussionist Gumbi Ortiz on Richard's original Latin-rhythm-driven Bilingual Fantasy and the haunting Dirt to Dust.

Customer Reviews:

FINGERSTYLE GUITAR AT IT'S BEST!.......2000-12-17

WOW! What an incredible album. This is definitely Fingerstyle Guitar at it's best!

Richard Gilewitz's original piece called "Dirt to Dust" makes the listener feel emotionally like he is a participant in an old Clint Eastwood western. His ethereal piece, "Synapse Collapse", will transport the listener out into the stratosphere and then brings you back down to earth!

Richard Gilewitz is joined by famed percussionist, Gumbi Ortiz and pianist David Webb on several cuts. This album is definitely a must have on the Christmas list of any amateur or professional guitarist. I would highly reccomend this album.

Thanks.

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