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World
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Reviews
by Kathryn Sargent
 Themes
of legend, magic and romance fill the two disc set, The
Celtic Circle: Legendary Music from a Mystic World
(BMG Music). Beginning with the ethereal voice of Loreena McKennitt
on 'the Mystic's Dream' (from the soundtrack of the
movie, 'The Mists of Avalon') this incredible collection
includes artists such as Sarah McLachlan, Clannad and Bono,
Sinead O'Connor, The Chieftans, The Corrs, David Arkenstone,
Vangelis, and Phil Coulter, among many others. Movie music
on these discs include themes from 'The Last of the Mohicans,'
'City of Angels,' 'Braveheart,' 'The Lord
of the Rings,' and the grand finale, 'Harry Potter's
Hedwig's Theme.' The sweet promise of 'I Will Find
You,' by Clannad, will touch your heart and Dune's 'Who
Wants to Live Forever' will heat your blood. The Celtic Circle
holds so many beautiful voices, so much soaring emotion, so much
magic, you'll have to hear it to believe it's all in one
album. Treat yourself to this one!
 Sweet
enough music to grace a baby's nursery, Where
Golden Dreams Dwell (Self Realization Fellowship)
is a collection of Paramahansa Yogananda's Cosmic chants
in instrumental arrangements. The gentle, peaceful selections
are performed on electric piano and synthesizer and performed,
recorded and produced by lay members and monks of the Self Realization
Fellowship. The album is aptly named, as the music is indeed dreamlike.
It will serve well in healing environments as well as in your
own home.
 A
Dream Whose Time Is Coming is a collection of Pagan
chants sung by a group of male and female singers with beautiful
voices. The chants are sung a cappella or with very simple accompaniement,
so it is easy to hear and learn the lyrics if you'd like to
sing along. There are twenty-one chants, sung in harmony, in rounds
and call-and-response styles. Chants include: 'Call To The
Moons,' 'Herne Who Hears,' 'Holy Earth Mother,'
'Stars We Were,' and more. If you'd like some new
chants to add to your rituals, this is a great way to learn and
you'll be benefitting the New Alexandrian Library Project
by buying this disc. The Library will be a state of the art facility
to preserve forms of esoteric knowledge and the history of magickal
communities. Books, periodicals, music, media, and more will be
cross-referenced and carefully catalogued. For more information
on the New Alexandrian Library Project, see www.sacredwheel.org/nal.html.
 These
rainy days in December have nearly put me to sleep, so I was grateful
to discover the Gitano Family's Torero,
a spicy disc of gypsy music from the Camargue in Southeastern
France. The Gitano Family is from the same tribe as The Gypsy
Kings, and they are hailed internationally for their rhumba-flameno
Gypsy sound. If you're thinking ahead for Valentine's
Day, Torero would make a great musical background for a romantic,
candle-lit dinner, with its sexy vocals and flamenco guitars.
The renowned Emerson String Quartet, winner of six Grammy
awards, brings us Bach's
The Art of Fugue (Kirshbaum
Demler & Associates). The Emerson String Quartet has been
hailed by Time Magazine as 'America's greatest quartet,'
and their 25 year history is marked by an extensive touring schedule
and an impressive recording catalog. Each of the four musicians
plays with his own characteristic style and as a group, they are
known for their adventurous nature in music selection. In The
Art of Fugue, Bach attempts to capture the nature of divinity,
merging music and spirituality. In describing this recording,
Lawrence Dutton wrote: “It unlocks a yearning that all of
us have, to be connected to 'something bigger, something spiritual.'”
I don't usually review classical music in this column, but
The Art of Fugue is certainly an album that will appeal
to spiritual seekers everywhere. (Emerson's new Haydn album
will be released in March.)
 James
Asher, one of the best selling New Age artists of the past
five years, has just released two complete albums on a two-cd
set at a special single-disc price, and is it a bargain! Dance
of the Light (Spring Hill Music) is made up of three
extended works and one 6-minute introduction piece, and it is
the best of relaxation, stress reduction music. The Second CD
in the set, Rivers of Life, has two 30-minute compositions honoring
water, and this music has never been available in the U.S. before.
Rivers of Life is recommended for meditation, slow
yoga, massage, and general R&R. This album is part of a new
series called Classic Value from Spring Hill Music. The series
will reprise some of the best of New Age music, keeping them visible
in the crowded marketplace and affordable for collectors. With
its sensual soundscape, Dance of the Light/Rivers of Life is pure
joy!
 Voices
(Rasa Music), from Italian composer/producer Riccardo Eberspacher,
embraces voices and rhythms from many cultures and merges them
with electronic and acoustic instruments. It is modern, multi-cultural,
jazzy, chill - what more can you ask? Tracks from Voices have
been used on compilations such as Nirvana Lounge 2, Buddha Bar,
Siddharta, and Barlotti. The recording quality is excellent
on Voices, and the songs were all composed, arranged and performed
by Riccardo Eberspacher. The smooth-as-whiskey vocals and sexy
saxophone, jazz rhythms, and electronic effects make this a stunningly
beautiful album.
Kathryn
Sargent is the editor of Aquarius. Contact her at aquarius-editor@mindspring.com
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