First, let me say that if you prefer your world music with strong instrumentation over vocals, then this is not the album for you. Sheila Chandra takes her listener's on a musical voyage using almost nothing but her versatile, compelling voice. The instrumentation is made up mostly of drones, and even that is minimal. But if you are a fan of voice, or a cappala work, you will dig this album.
Chandra lives up to the title of this disc by weaving eclectic vocal styles from various traditions together, sometimes on the same track, as on the so-so Dhyana and Donalogue. The stronger tracks include Nana/The Dreaming, The Enchantment, and the totally inspired weaving together of Ever So Lonely/Eyes/Ocean. And as a previous reviewer noted, the two Speaking In Tongues tracks have to be heard atleast once, but after that, they really are skippable (thank God for programmable CD players) as they don't offer much in way of asthetic enjoyment.
So all in all, the album is hit and miss. It really works best as background music, for relaxation or while surfing the 'net. Of course, Sheila's best was yet to come on ABoneCroneDrone, but you can hear the seeds of that work being planted here on this somewhat experimental disc.
First, let me say that if you prefer your world music with strong instrumentation over vocals, then this is not the album for you. Sheila Chandra takes her listener's on a musical voyage using almost nothing but her versatile, compelling voice. The instrumentation is made up mostly of drones, and even that is minimal. But if you are a fan of voice, or a cappala work, you will dig this album. Chandra lives up to the title of this disc by weaving eclectic vocal styles from various traditions together, sometimes on the same track, as on the so-so Dhyana and Donalogue. The stronger tracks include Nana/The Dreaming, The Enchantment, and the totally inspired weaving together of Ever So Lonely/Eyes/Ocean. And as a previous reviewer noted, the two Speaking In Tongues tracks have to be heard atleast once, but after that, they really are skippable (thank God for programmable CD players) as they don't offer much in way of asthetic enjoyment. So all in all, the album is hit and miss. It really works best as background music, for relaxation or while surfing the 'net. Of course, Sheila's best was yet to come on ABoneCroneDrone, but you can hear the seeds of that work being planted here on this somewhat experimental disc.