New Age, Alternative,
Metaphysical Publication
Aquarius-Atlanta.com

World & New Age Music
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Reviews by Kathryn Sargent, editor

The prolific pioneer of the British Indipop music scene, Sheila Chandra, has released The Indipop Retrospective, featuring highlights from her five Indipop reissues, plus her renowned “This Sentence Is True.” The new album includes an enhanced CD video of “Lament of McCrimmon/Song of the Banshee,” a mysterious Celtic mood piece with Chandra's traditional Indian drone foundation. It's probably the most beautiful thing I've ever heard from her. Chandra is so creative, so innovative, that she even moved to a smaller label to have more creative control of her own music. The result is a rich, rewarding musical experience like no other. Her music goes beyond Indian influences, beyond pop, beyond most World music; she creates her own musical world, and it is enchanting!

If his CD jacket is any indication of his character – and I suspect it is – George Skaroulis must be a modest person who offers gratitude to all who have helped him along the way while offering no hint of self-praise. Neither the jacket nor the press release reveal any claims of prior lofty  achievements or witty revelations of his (superior) character, like most publicity material. Instead, one is left to judge for themselves by the pure quality of his work. That is more than enough in this case. Skaroulis' new release, Second Nature, is a jewel set in a simple setting. His sensitive keyboard work is as honest, real and emotional as one could ask. All but four of the songs are written by Skaroulis, and those four include the haunting “Water is Wid”” and “A River Runs Through It.” With sultry vocals by Lindsey Mosby and Monica Matthews and violin and viola by Paul Mercer, this is a beautiful, reflective album with a primarily instrumental sound accompanied by nature sounds. It would be excellent used in conjunction with meditation or healing.