Page 77 of 82
REVIEWS his album highlights the sounds of M U S I C Arab classical music and Sufi- Reviewed by Richard Giles influenced songs that have been handed down through generations of LAYA PROJECT musical culture. Dozan, based in by EarthSync ordan, was founded by the Jordanian EarthSync Music, Australia, 2008 vocalist Shireen Abu-Khader, and its (2CDs 95mins + DVD 67mins) seven musicians come from Distributors: Australia—The Planet Palestine, Syria and Jordan itself. The Company, tel (02) 9283 8250; group is named for the Dozan wa www.earthsync.com Awtar Music Establishment, founded Ti: Laya Project aloum arose out of by Abu-Khader. She heads the an interest to collect the music of | Department of Fine and Performing he lands hit by the 2004 tsunami. Arts at King's Academy in Madaba, 's a tribute to the resilience of the directing choirs and composing human spirit and the survivors of the music. The neat arrangements and great wave that swept thousands to voice harmonisations sometimes heir deaths. The team recorded suggest madrigals. A useful album performances in six countries that for someone from a white Euro- suffered the tsunami and produced background wanting to feel their way he album in Chennai, India. It's a into Middle Eastern music. mixture of folk, fusion, classical, devotional and Middle Eastern forms. SIYOTANKA So far, the Laya Project DVD has won by Michael Brant DeMaria our film awards. Snap up this one. Ontos Music, USA, 2008 (69mins) Distributor: USA—Ontos Music, tel NINE HEAVENS 415) 459 1892, www.ontos.org by Niyaz A ancient Native American legend Six Degrees, 2008 (2CDs, 92mins) explains the origin of the flute. Distributors: Australia—Fuse Music, tel _ It's a coming-of-age story of a boy's (02) 9699 7555; USA—Six Degrees vision quest and his personal "soul Records, tel (415) 626 6334, song". The word siyotanka is Lakota wwwasixdegreesrecords.com or “flute”, but literally means “great ollowing its self-titled 2005 debut song". Flautist Michael DeMaria Feibum. this second effort from drew on his work as a psychologist Niyaz is an amazing one that features and wilderness vision quest leader in Persian and Indian influences. A his musical re-creation of the legend. double-CD set, it presents acoustic DeMaria has performed with and electronic styles with a blend of | accomplished musicians in the Sufi mysticism and trance music. ative American and New Age he songs are inspired by traditional | Musical genres such as Carlos Nakai, ‘olk forms and spiritual poems and eff Ball and Coyote Oldman. An are presented in simple as well as entrancing album of flute music. electric versions to please all tastes. his is ancient music with a modern rance sound that takes you right into he mystical. A stand-out album. INTRODUCING DOZAN by Dozan World Music, UK, 2008 (40mins) Distributors: Australia—The Planet Company, tel (02) 9283 8250; UK—World Music Network, tel (0)20 7498 5252, www.worldmusic.net MUSIC Reviewed by Richard Giles LAYA PROJECT by EarthSync EarthSync Music, Australia, 2008 (2CDs 95mins + DVD 67mins) Distributors: Australia—The Planet Company, tel (02) 9283 8250; www.earthsync.com Ti: Laya Project album arose out of an interest to collect the music of he lands hit by the 2004 tsunami. 's a tribute to the resilience of the human spirit and the survivors of the great wave that swept thousands to heir deaths. The team recorded performances in six countries that suffered the tsunami and produced he album in Chennai, India. It's a mixture of folk, fusion, classical, devotional and Middle Eastern forms. So far, the Laya Project DVD has won our film awards. Snap up this one. NINE HEAVENS by Niyaz Six Degrees, 2008 (2CDs, 92mins) Distributors: Australia—Fuse Music, tel (02) 9699 7555; USA—Six Degrees Records, tel (415) 626 6334, www.sixdegreesrecords.com iollowing its self-titled 2005 debut album, this second effort from Niyaz is an amazing one that features Persian and Indian influences. A double-CD set, it presents acoustic and electronic styles with a blend of Sufi mysticism and trance music. he songs are inspired by traditional olk forms and spiritual poems and are presented in simple as well as electric versions to please all tastes. his is ancient music with a modern rance sound that takes you right into he mystical. A stand-out album. INTRODUCING DOZAN by Dozan World Music, UK, 2008 (40mins) Distributors: Australia—The Planet Company, tel (02) 9283 8250; UK—World Music Network, tel (0)20 7498 5252, www.worldmusic.net NEXUS ¢ 77 APRIL - MAY 2009 www.nexusmagazine.com