Search - Vas :: In the Garden of Souls

Beautiful

Gwen Kramer | Sunny and not-so-sunny California | 04/15/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Vas is one of the most beautiful and unique groups to come on the scene in a long time. I have no idea why people are trying to compare them to Loreena Mckennitt. Loreena has a very Celtic sound with middle eastern influences whereas Vas is almost entirely middle eastern with some african and classical influences. In other words, they are different and comparing them is pointless. Don't get me wrong, I love Loreena but comparing her to Vas is like comparing Deep Purple and the Beatles. Same genre, same country, totally different sound.This is Vas's best album yet. Azam Ali's incredible, pure, powerful, sensuous voice is displayed to perfection. She is a truly beautiful woman with amazing talent. She is backed by the best. Greg Ellis is an amazing drummer. I loved Ceremony of Passage, it really displays his ability.Here's my point, Vas is Vas. Just listen to their beautiful wall of sound and try not to compare. Let their music stand on its own merit."

"All of our precious memories are but shadows..."

Marc Ruby? | Warren, MI USA | 04/24/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This is the third album done by vocalist Azam Ali and percussionist Greg Ellis, and their best to date. Ali's talent is not simply that she has an expressive and beautiful voice, but that she transcends any particular language and creates a form of communication uniquely her own. As you listen you will sometimes hear medieval sonorities (Beyond Despair), the devotional singing in an Indian temple (Samaya), or even the spiritual music of some imaginary Eastern country (Inamorata). As Inamorata ably demonstrates, she can do all of this in the space of a single song.Ellis balances her perfectly playing an array of Indian and Middle Eastern instruments in a rhythmic patter that weaves around Azam Ali's voice without ever overpowering it. In fact, if Ellis has a fault it is that he his sometimes too invisible. Fortunately, one this album, he has a chance to shine on his own (especially in Ceremony of Passage), and the listener is well rewarded.An interesting addition to the percussion, bells, santour, and oud, is a specially processed cello played by Cameron Stone. The result is often a dialogue between Ali's abstract language and the cello's wordless singing (Prayer for Soheil). The balance is perfect - while Azam Ali's singing naturally takes center stage, one quickly comes to understand that she wouldn't be there without her co-conspirators.It is hard to single out favorites in this album, which is a carefully woven tapestry, intent on creating a sacred space. Vas has an ability to step outside ethnicities and cultural differences to produce a music that has appeal to a broad spectrum of listeners. The result is something beautiful and different."

Spiritual, beautiful, and a bit haunting

Patrick M. Rodgers | Philadelphia, PA USA | 09/25/2001

(4 out of 5 stars)

"First of all, let's address the Dead Can Dance issue. While it's clear that Vas has been influened by some of the same music and culture that has influenced DCD, it is neither accurate nor fair to paint Vas as a DCD knockoff. Vas seems more firmly grounded in Far Eastern traditions, eschewing the cultural eclecticism of DCD for a more focused presentation. Where DCD had a number of tracks that delved into Middle Eastern dance, Vas stays decidedly mid-to-low tempo, offering music that is more suited to reflection or relaxation. Some of the album's slowest moments are almost haunting, but not in a sinister or unsettling way. The vocals are lush and beautiful, and the instrumentation is appropriately exotic. Should appeal to fans of Enya, Loreena McKennitt, Rhea's Obsession, DCD, etc. A solid album."