The Library CD Shelf
Amataga
Te Vaka
Warm Earth Records
c/o Spirit of Play Productions
www.tevaka.com
B0161BEJSK, $8.99 MP3, $29.52 Audio CD, www.amazon.com
Te Vaka has now passed the 8th album mark, and though this colorful Polynes
ian group tours outside of the South Pacific, fans not on the tour route wi
ll have to settle for recordings - and fortunately, all have been excellent
. Lead by Opetaia Foai, the group combines traditional Polynesian instrumen
ts such as long drums with acoustic guitars and subtle electric keyboards -
and, of course, excellent choral changing. Te Vaka is mostly a family band
with Opetaia's grown children singing and playing: three of the current ei
ght touring members are family; with a few more featured on the recordings.
The females have particularly compelling, high voices and though many lyri
cs have a tropical slant, very few are in English. Cut #5, Amataga, is a pa
rticular favorite as it features Olivia Foai (Opetaia's daughter) on lead v
ocal with a rhythm somewhat reminiscent of Buddy Holly: totally delightful.
This reviewer is wearing out the CD; it's that good.
Atma Bhakti
Manish Vyas
New Earth Records
c/o Sounds True
413 South Arthur Avenue, Louisville, CO 80027
$16.98 CD / $11.89 download www.soundstrue.com
India-born composer, musician, and singer Manish Vyas presents Atma Bhakti,
a music album created especially for prayer, meditation, and mind-body dev
otional practices such as yoga. Manish's balanced vocals complement his tal
ent with multiple instruments, including the swar-mandal (a harp from India
), tanpura (a long-necked, plucked-string instrument from India), keyboards
, gong, and bells. Manish's friend Milind Date lends lilting bamboo flute s
trains; Jay Dave, Krishna Jani, and Singdha Pious contribute choir vocals.
The result is a beautifully flowing treasure for new age collections. The t
racks are "Atma (mantra 'mangalam')" (32:16), "Bhakti (mantra 'shivaya nama
ha om')" (29:15), and "Vedic Chanting" (5:16). 66 min, 47 sec.
Mystical Morning
Uwe Gronau
Privately Published
$12.97 CD / $9.99 download www.cdbaby.com
German keyboardist Uwe Gronau presents Mystical Morning, an instrumental al
bum that draws influence from new age, jazz, prog-rock and more. Gronau's c
hoice of keyboards range from solo piano to synthesizer, organ, and sometim
es a mix of multiple keyboards enhanced with guitar, bass, or percussion. B
eautiful and upbeat, Mystical Morning is an album of celebration, and openi
ng one's mind and heart to new experiences. Highly recommended! The tracks
are "Turn It On!" (3:38), "A Day In Sri Lanka" (3:01), "Mystical Morning" (
3:03), "Shy (1)", (1:56), "Metamorphose" (3:13), "The Day We Met" (2:34), "
Letter To Emerson" (2:58), "Special Romance" (3:29), "Shy (2)" (1:56), "Mou
ntain So High" (4:17), "Light Behind The Door" (5:40), "A Step Into Your He
art" (5:34), "Colors Of Spring" (2:30), "Over The Bridge" (4:42), and "Triu
mvirat" (2:22).
The Big Smoke
Gentleman's Dub Club
www.gentlemansdubclub.com
Easy Star Records
www.easystar.com
$11.99 CD / $9.49 MP3 www.amazon.com
UK-based reggae nine-piece band Gentleman's Dub Club presents The Big Smoke
, an album thrumming with rhythm and verve. The gliding keyboards complemen
t the pulse-awakening percussion and the powerful horn riffs in this vibran
t album embracing reggae's deep roots. The Big Smoke is a "must-have" for c
onnoisseurs of the genre! The tracks are "Music is the Girl I Love", "One R
oad", "Bad Girl", "Earthquake", "One Night Only (featuring Natty)", "Extrao
rdinary", "Enter the Chamber", "Pressure", "Afraid of the Dark", "Nocturnal
(featuring Josh Arcoleo)", and "See Them".
Keyif
Atlas Maior
Privately Published
$7.00 CD / $7.00 download, www.cdbaby.com
Named after a Turkish word that means "enchantment and delight", Keyif is a
three-track EP music album featuring extraordinary instrumental soundscape
s. Creators Atlas Maior are a group of talented musicians: Charlie Lockwood
on the oud (a Middle Eastern string instrument similar to an acoustic guit
ar), Joshua Thomson on the alto saxophone and flutes; Ted Camat plays percu
ssion; and Gary James is a contributing bass player. Keyif explores distinc
tively Turkish rhythms, in an inspired musical journey that enriches the se
nses. The tracks are "Bete Noire" (5:51), "Cynthia's Tears" (4:16), and "Ra
q's Laylah" (7:00).
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