Search - Oriental Sunshine :: Dedicated to the Bird We Love

A mellow memory of another time

William Timothy Lukeman | 05/31/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Here's one of those little-known treasures from our musical past, newly discovered & distributed to those of us who missed it the first time around. Since this wonderful album was only released in Norway, and only sold a small number of copies in its native land, it's no surprise that I never heard of it until its CD release. But what a delight to hear it!



Yes, there was a time when a mixture of folk, jazz, and Indian music was perfectly understandable & acceptable. And it mixes together beautifully, with Nina Johansen's slightly accented voice rich & deeply felt, accompanied by sitar & tabla, guitar & drums, organ & flute. The liner notes mention the importance of Joni Mitchell at the time, and her influence is definitely heard in songs such as "My Way To Be Hurt." There's a quiet, gentle feeling of Nature & the search for understanding & wisdom, never overbearing, always open-hearted & little melancholy. This is what the world used to be like for many people ... and it's still an inspiring musical vision.



Most highly recommended!



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