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World
& New Age Music Reviews
Reviews
by Cheryl Stiles and
Kathryn
Sargent, Editor
Cape
of Good Hope, Jim Wilson's follow-up to his first
CD Northern Seascape, lures the listener on a hypnotic voyage of delicate
piano, synthesizer, and soft jazz sounds. You can almost smell the salt
air and hear the sonorous waves of the Atlantic and Indian Oceans. The
title of the CD is taken from the geographic area where these two oceans
meet, and is meant to honor the perilous journey that many sailors have
taken over the years. On this mostly instrumental recording, Wilson
is joined by many well-known fellow musicians (and fans) including Dan
Fogelberg and David Sanborn. The thirteen tracks are perfect
for relaxation and an ideal antidote for a stressful day. Fans of David
Lanz and Peter Kater will certainly enjoy this music. A PBS special,
Jim Wilson & Friends: Cape of Good Hope, will air
nationally this fall. - CS
If
New Age music has a group of founding pioneers, then Andreas Vollenweider
is certainly a preeminent member. Harpist Vollenweider's latest
release, The Essential Andreas Vollenweider, surveys the
artist's rich twenty-year recording career. From the release of
Behind the Gardens in 1981 (originally in vinyl LP, of
course) to the release of Cosmopoly in 1999, Vollenweider
faithfully followed his melodic muse, growing as an artist and diversifying
his sound. His earlier works feature the pristine sounds of his harp
playing backed mostly by acoustic instrumentation. His later works explore
and incorporate Celtic fiddling, Latin-influenced jazz, and Asian-style
vocals. This new CD collection features sixteen tracks. Earlier works
have been digitally remastered, and the sound quality is impeccable.
A great introduction for new listeners, and an excellent addition to
the musical libraries of longtime fans. - CS
With
the ethereal vocal styles similar to Enya and Loreena McKennit, and
with an equally spiritual dimension to her songs, composer and performer
Sally Oldfield will light up the musical horizon with her new
release Flaming Star. Oldfield is well known in Europe,
but this recording is the first to be released on the New World Music
label in the United States. She combines chants, reflective lyrics,
elaborate tribal rhythms, dance club electronica, and ambient sounds
to create a stellar New Age recording. A longtime Reiki healer, Oldfield
wants her compositions to “burn brightly with healing power”
and to assist in the acknowledgement and release of emotions such as
anger, fear, and grief. Oldfield's music is inspired, transformative,
and electric, and she should gain many fans with her new release. -
CS
Music
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