Search - Steven Halpern :: Deja-Blues

Best Yoga and Massage music I've heard.

Raheim Baltazar | West Hills, CA United States | 11/21/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This was played a couple of times in a class and I fell in good love with it. I love the flute and the eastern tone of drums that revolves throughout the whole CD. Not only that, but the consistency of the song that varies from one track to another keeps the listener at pace. I'm not a fan of CD's where someone vocals and sings a song with words, even if it is nice, peaceful and cool. This is all instrumental, with NO words, perhaps only the "humming", but even then it goes great with it. Perfect music to help you relax or when reading."

Really excellent ensemble music

Guardian of the Zen Sea | Looking after the sun and surf | 10/31/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Often Steve Halpern creates lovely solo music for relaxation and healing. Seeveral of his more recent releases included collaborations with individual musicians, and were equally successful, healing sounds. This CD includes an ensemble of incredible musical talent to complement that of Mr. Halpern. The musicians include: Schwake Roth, bamboo flute; Melissa Phillipe vocals; Mark Bell, dumbek and zarb (drums); Marc Van Wageningen, electric bass; Ian Dongle, udu and shaker; Victor Spiegal, dumbek and cymbals; Paul Horn, solo flute; and Richard Horowitz, ney. Right off the bat you get the idea that the music is very full and rich with extra percussion and interesting additions on woodwinds and vocals. The sum is definitely greater than the individual players on this CD. The added musical contributions bring a satisfying quality to the overall fullness of the pieces which really enhances the mood and the music. I enjoy Halpern's other music, especially as a one-on-one experience. This CD goes beyond that introspective, singular feeling, creating music that begs to be experienced by everyone--all at once. I hope that this is trend for some of Halpern's future releases! This is one of the best ever CDs from Inner Peace Music."

New Age electronica skillfully weaves Eastern moods

Brett Cooper | Wheaton, IL United States | 10/08/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I've sampled about 75% of the tracks on this CD at a listening station at Tower Records. This album reminds me of Sacred Spirits by Yeha-Noha, which took authentic and plaintive American Indian vocals and set them to a mellow ebb and flow of new age electronic strings and synths atop soothing percussion. On Deja-Blues the theme is Egyptian (?). I don't know exactly how to describe it. Like the CD says, it makes you think of pyramids and deserts, but perhaps at night or deep inside the pyramid, not out in the scorching sunlight. The electronica elements are more varied and textured than Sacred Spirits, yet without being obtrusive or distracting from the hypnotic quality of the tunes. This is intelligent music which fans of strict electronica may think too new-agey. It's definitey not music for dancing. It's for dreaming."