Tracks
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This album is definitely a "keeper," but far from a "favorite" of mine.
The overall sound that Wahler has created for this album is innocuous, even soothing. However, it also doesn't feel very unique. I own many, many new-age albums, but this one is by-far the most generic of the lot. I don't think that very much effort went into the writing process here. The soundscape is comprised of the usual array of new-agey instruments - synth keyboards, hand-drums, harps, guitars, etc, and on the affirmative side, the sound quality is often rich and resounding. But there isn't really anything truly innovative to set it apart as its own "psychological environment," if you will, the way that many new-age albums have a very distinct head-space in which they were written, recorded, etc. Also, while I'm not usually a fan of heavy build-ups in the tone or intensity of new-age songs and wish that many artists would be more even-keeled, I find that this album's songs are written in a way that doesn't really feel like they're going anywhere at all. Often there's a gentle fade-out at the end, but that isn't really enough to keep it interesting. Give me a bridge, a key-modulation, even just a B-section somewhere or other, huh?
Now for more specifics...
"Mystic Voyage" - This one has a nice sort of contemplative dark-ambient mannerism about it. It's like waking-up to the first hint of a misty dawn in the deep forest... You know, without worrying if you've been bitten by a deer-tick or had a millipede crawl into your ear or something. =P
"Bhakti Heart" - This song is gently luminous and nurturing in its movement. It gets credit for taking a slightly more distinct direction than many others on the album with the addition of the hi-hats near the end. I'm definitely also glad that doesn't turn into a pounding crescendo, too.
"Whispers from Eternity" - This track has great mystique. It reminds me of the concept of the great secrets of the universe, or the subtle but effective determinent philosophy that is nature. It also has great bass. I would recommend listening to this in any sound system that's hi-quality enough to represent bass well, like one with a subwoofer. This will show you a depth you may not otherwise have noticed in this song.
"Ananda" - Named for one of the better-known disciples of the Buddha, this track is peaceful but present. There's a nice crisp, percussiveness about it that keeps your attention centered, but it isn't distracting either. It's like walking a path through the woods that you've never seen before. You feel yourself distinctly going somewhere, and there isn't really any indication as to where that is, but you hope that it's somewhere pleasing to be.
"Metamorphose" - This one is a bit more distracting to me. I wouldn't call it meditation music, but it might make good a good background for interpretive dance, yoga or t'ai chi, or maybe a timelapse sequence in a documentary somewhere. It features piano, flute, synth keys and some kind of sparkly-sounding background effect, and a good portion of it is backed by solid but still relatively gentle percussion.
"Veil of Maya" - This track has a feeling of sanctity and awe about it. This is definitely brought to a head by the almost-Gregorian vocal sound lingering between the other sounds. I like that the vocal sound sticks to "ahhhh" and "ohhhh" sounds instead of having lyrics. It brings you the attractiveness of Gregorian vocals without the religiosity typically associate therewith (and hey, no-love-lost there...) The "Veil of Maya" refers to the physical world as "illusory," not in a rejectionist sense, but as something which is not as solid or fixed as it may appear. Its direction and behavior are determined by our perceptions, not the other way around. This song reminds me of the sanctity of realizing this, and the road to mastery of your surroundings.
Overall three stars from me. It's missing "a certain something," but isn't a total loss either.
The overall sound that Wahler has created for this album is innocuous, even soothing. However, it also doesn't feel very unique. I own many, many new-age albums, but this one is by-far the most generic of the lot. I don't think that very much effort went into the writing process here. The soundscape is comprised of the usual array of new-agey instruments - synth keyboards, hand-drums, harps, guitars, etc, and on the affirmative side, the sound quality is often rich and resounding. But there isn't really anything truly innovative to set it apart as its own "psychological environment," if you will, the way that many new-age albums have a very distinct head-space in which they were written, recorded, etc. Also, while I'm not usually a fan of heavy build-ups in the tone or intensity of new-age songs and wish that many artists would be more even-keeled, I find that this album's songs are written in a way that doesn't really feel like they're going anywhere at all. Often there's a gentle fade-out at the end, but that isn't really enough to keep it interesting. Give me a bridge, a key-modulation, even just a B-section somewhere or other, huh?
Now for more specifics...
"Mystic Voyage" - This one has a nice sort of contemplative dark-ambient mannerism about it. It's like waking-up to the first hint of a misty dawn in the deep forest... You know, without worrying if you've been bitten by a deer-tick or had a millipede crawl into your ear or something. =P
"Bhakti Heart" - This song is gently luminous and nurturing in its movement. It gets credit for taking a slightly more distinct direction than many others on the album with the addition of the hi-hats near the end. I'm definitely also glad that doesn't turn into a pounding crescendo, too.
"Whispers from Eternity" - This track has great mystique. It reminds me of the concept of the great secrets of the universe, or the subtle but effective determinent philosophy that is nature. It also has great bass. I would recommend listening to this in any sound system that's hi-quality enough to represent bass well, like one with a subwoofer. This will show you a depth you may not otherwise have noticed in this song.
"Ananda" - Named for one of the better-known disciples of the Buddha, this track is peaceful but present. There's a nice crisp, percussiveness about it that keeps your attention centered, but it isn't distracting either. It's like walking a path through the woods that you've never seen before. You feel yourself distinctly going somewhere, and there isn't really any indication as to where that is, but you hope that it's somewhere pleasing to be.
"Metamorphose" - This one is a bit more distracting to me. I wouldn't call it meditation music, but it might make good a good background for interpretive dance, yoga or t'ai chi, or maybe a timelapse sequence in a documentary somewhere. It features piano, flute, synth keys and some kind of sparkly-sounding background effect, and a good portion of it is backed by solid but still relatively gentle percussion.
"Veil of Maya" - This track has a feeling of sanctity and awe about it. This is definitely brought to a head by the almost-Gregorian vocal sound lingering between the other sounds. I like that the vocal sound sticks to "ahhhh" and "ohhhh" sounds instead of having lyrics. It brings you the attractiveness of Gregorian vocals without the religiosity typically associate therewith (and hey, no-love-lost there...) The "Veil of Maya" refers to the physical world as "illusory," not in a rejectionist sense, but as something which is not as solid or fixed as it may appear. Its direction and behavior are determined by our perceptions, not the other way around. This song reminds me of the sanctity of realizing this, and the road to mastery of your surroundings.
Overall three stars from me. It's missing "a certain something," but isn't a total loss either.