Search - New Earth Artists :: Trance Yoga

Interesting World Beat Compilation

medievalcrusadesbabe | Ohio USA | 12/22/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This CD collection by New Earth puts together some of the best contemporary Indian/Middle Eastern/tribal style artists material for use in working Yoga. We are presented with the artists Tulku, Rasa, Tya, Kamal, Cybertribe, Bhakta, Ganga Girl, James Asher and Sivamani.



These pieces mostly have a subtle beat to them, and though I don't think they all reach true "trance" level of BPM's, they do provide some contemplative background music for the Yoga practitioner, or for anyone who is into meditative contemporary Indian/Middle Eastern style of music.



The pace is not slow, as with traditionally presented Yoga background recordings, but is picked up a bit, and allows the practitioner the opportunity to move a bit more freely. There are a couple of intense tracks, but not till later in the CD. Some may find them too intense for Yoga, others will find it a welcome change.



The pieces are performed by mostly well known artists. The pieces have vocals for the most part, much of which is in native tongues, but there is a booklet included which does translate a couple of the lyrics, allowing the yoga practitioner to meditate on the work, such as with Rasa's Om Namoh Bhagavate. This is a lovely, deliberate piece which is perfect for yoga. I was also very impressed with Tulku's Shanti Puja, which is catchy with its contemplative lyrics in English.



Tya presents us with a very "Deep Forest" feeling piece entitled Baiame, very upbeat and very tribal. A very lovely and airy composition with Middle Eastern style of vocals is Sassi by Kamal.



Reaching Motherland by Cybertribe is a much different approach, as it is more an electronic piece, a musical composition rather than the tribal or stylized Indian/Middle Eastern/tribal piece and I found this to be very different from the previously offered compositions. However, this is style is somewhat continued in Vajra Guru by Bhakta, as it is more composed music, but this time incorporating native vocals with some lovely harmonies.



Very "down under" in feeling is Nungabunda by Ganga Girl, with driving drum rhythms and didgeridoo layered in some electronica. This is one of the few pieces on the CD that I feel reaches the "trance" level suggested by the title of the CD. This style is continued in Red Rhythm Dragon by James Asher, with more tribal styled drumming and the didgeridoo.



The closing track also by James Asher called Amma includes drumming by Sivamani. This is a change in feeling from the previous tracks, as it has more of a driving rhythm and some vocals but does not suggest any kind of Indian or Middle Easter flavor. It could be considered "tribal" but is not "native" as the previous two tracks.



This is an interesting compilation of music and artists by New Earth Records. I am not sure I would go along with the "Trance Yoga" title which the CD suggests as the theme, but I found it to be a very interesting collection of World Beat music. It is a nice collection of World Beat artists and would make an interesting addition to your World library, or a nice introduction to some of the better World Beat artists. maf"