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~ REVIEWS sarangi. It's good to see this style making M U Ss | C inroads into the world music scene. This Reviewed by Richard Giles album reasserts the sacred in music. ZEN CONNECTION THE JOURNEY by various artists by Jerry Brunskill , One World Music, Australia, 2002 New World Music, USA, 2002 (52mins) (2CDs, 148mins) Distributors: USA/Aust/NZ/UK— Distributors: Australia—New World New World Music, website http://www. Music, tel (02) 9565 4522, website newworldmusic.com http:/Awww.oneworldmusic.com.au; he Conversations with God series has UK—New World Music, tel 01986 taken the book publishing world by sur- 781682; USA—New World Music, tel prise, reaching millions around the globe. If (303) 415 1040 you haven't read the books, you probably ith the many double-set CD collec- have a best friend who has. Neale Donald tions released today, this offering from Walsch, the author, discovered the God in One World rates as one of the better I've everything around us. This CD translates heard. It comes in a beautiful "clamshell" those words of Conversations... into a musi- box presentation. There are melodies and cal format, touching us to the core as the beats from around the planet, from Western books have done. "Does Your Heart Ache chillout grooves to Eastern fusion, across to _© Tell the Truth About Me?", the first track, the sounds of ambient techno New Age sums up the sentiment of the recording. It's relaxation. Compiler Leigh Wood has movingly done, with some simple truths picked a strong and varied bunch of fresh about mankind and the relationship with the musical sounds to engage the listener. Divine. An impressive musical narration. ASIAN GROOVE pio Sh ; by various artists ly Axiom of Choice , Putumayo, USA, 2002 (47mins) Narada World, USA, 2002 (51 mins) Distributors: USA—Putumayo World Distributors: USA—Narada, tel (414) Music, tel 1888 7888 8629, website 961 8350, http://www.narada.com; http:/www.putumayo.com; Australia— Australia—MIRA, tel (07) 3849 6020; MRA, ta (07) 3849 6020, UK—Planacle | UK—Mac Two, fel 020 787 5644 Imports, tel 01689 870622 x1om of Choice—led by Persian emi- Pores Asian Groove features many Awe to the USA, Loga Ramin Torkian, of the new composers in the invigorated Mammad Mohsenzadeh and vocalist Mamak Asian music scene. I have reviewed several Khadem—has released a second gorgeous Indian and Asian compilations in the last album, a follow up to Niya Yesh (see review, two years and find this one to be exciting 7/06). The group incorporates instruments and adventurous without being repetitive. outside the Persian classical tradition—even Much of what's here is from Indian and subtle electronica. Inspiration for their Pakistani traditions, with cutting-edge styles _ lyrics is the illuminating poetry of Omar put together from new-blood Asian musi- Khayyam. Their instruments include the cians—among them, Nitin Sawhney, Bally quarter-tone guitar, saz and diwan (Middle Sagoo, Deepak Ram, Mo' Horizons and Eastern lutes), the Armenian duduk, clarinet, Badar Ali Khan. Excellent, funky album. electric cello and various global percussion , devices. This is rich, exotic Persian music BHAGAVAN DAS NOW with amazing, haunting melodies. by Bhagavan Das —s Karuna Records, USA, 2002 (64mins) K1OM . Distributors: USA—Karuna Music, tel < (310) 456 9063, http:/www.triloka.com; Aust—MRA, tel (07) 3849 6020; UK— Proper Music, tel 08704 440799 ~ hagavan Das is taking the US musical tit foldi Fis? world by storm with his reworking of ey traditional Indian sacred songs, converting t \ — them to a newer format. Even names like i Madonna are using his sounds in their music. In the age of gripping materialism, Bhagavan Das's sacred sound is making headway against pop songs devoted to death, drugs or destruction. Das is backed by guitar, keyboards, bass and popular Indian instruments such as tabla, dolak and ASIAN GROOVE by various artists Putumayo, USA, 2002 (47mins) Distributors: USA—Putumayo World Music, tel 1888 7888 8629, website http://www.putumayo.com; Australia— MRA, tel (07) 3849 6020; UK—Pinnacle Imports, tel 01689 870622 Pores Asian Groove features many of the new composers in the invigorated Asian music scene. I have reviewed several Indian and Asian compilations in the last two years and find this one to be exciting and adventurous without being repetitive. Much of what's here is from Indian and Pakistani traditions, with cutting-edge styles put together from new-blood Asian musi- cians—among them, Nitin Sawhney, Bally Sagoo, Deepak Ram, Mo' Horizons and Badar Ali Khan. Excellent, funky album. BHAGAVAN DAS NOW by Bhagavan Das Karuna Records, USA, 2002 (64mins) Distributors: USA—Karuna Music, tel (310) 456 9063, http://www.triloka.com; Aust—MRA, tel (07) 3849 6020; UK— Proper Music, tel 08704 440799 hagavan Das is taking the US musical world by storm with his reworking of traditional Indian sacred songs, converting them to a newer format. Even names like Madonna are using his sounds in their music. In the age of gripping materialism, Bhagavan Das's sacred sound is making headway against pop songs devoted to death, drugs or destruction. Das is backed by guitar, keyboards, bass and popular Indian instruments such as tabla, dolak and NEXUS +73 FEBRUARY — MARCH 2003 www.nexusmagazi ne.com