At this point, Tina Turner could do just about any music project. She chose Beyond, which will probably not sell a million units. That says a lot. This is the same woman who, in 1969, taught Mick Jagger to be a proper front man.
The fusing of Buddhist and Christian prayers is a bold undertaking. Having been raised in a Catholic/Christian community, I guarantee someone somewhere is burning a pile of these CDs…and they are not Buddhists. Maybe, as Bob Dylan would say, “the times, they are a-changin’.”
The Beyond project was born out of a collaboration between Dechen Shak-Dagsay and Regula Curti. Shak-Dagsay (Buddhist Voice) is a Tibetan singer who has been recording since 2001. Curti (Christian Voice) is a Kundalini Yoga teacher. (Is it possible to be a Christian and a Kundalini devotee?) Tina Turner (chanting and spiritual messages), unfortunately, is the least represented on the album. But when she chants on track three (“Sound of Mystic Law”), it sounds both ancient and authentic. Tina’s spoken word bits are inspired by Deepak Chopra and a favorite of mine, Rumi. Listening to Tina do spoken word, I couldn’t help but smile and think of Mad Max: Beyond Thunderdome.
Most of this album is New Age music made up of long, pastel, computer-generated brush strokes, low and high drones, bells and bowls, angelic voices, chanting and spoken word. On track 12 (“Dance with the Divine”), Dave Eggar does some beautiful and moving cello work. Next to the loops and synth pads, a human playing an instrument jumps out of the speakers and into your soul.
If you’ve been thinking about trying to introduce your Christian/Catholic parents or grandparents onto your Buddhist or Yogic lifestyle without freaking them out, this album might be the ticket. Just don’t give them any matches.
–– Daniel Overberger is a Los Angeles-based Yoga teacher, the author of Leaving Stress Behind and founder of alt-kirtan group, Dharma Gypsys: leavingstressbehind.com
There are many ways to connect to the meditative vibrations of our Earth. A walk through the woods or a stroll on the beach remind us of the peace and simplicity which is at the heart of nature.
Dean Evenson continues this dialogue through vibrations which gently and mindfully touch the ear. Sacred Earth is a conscious blend of flute, keyboard, cello and sounds collected from nature herself – with the occasional singing bowl, harp and native chant. The journey is certainly meditative, as the album cover suggests, yet, like the changing of seasons, uplifting at times as well as comforting.
For those looking for new sounds to draw listeners deeper into the embrace of our loving planet, this album gives off those seductive tones. Any bodywork, Yin Yoga, or home meditation session would be inspired though this music. However, take caution using this album as a way to stay awake on the drive home after a long day at work.
The individual songs on this album are mini-ecosystems, each with a unique soundscape, yet blend beautifully together to form a flowing work of art – much like our pulsing planet and its diverse life and landscapes.Some tracks from Sacred Earth are drawn from Dean’s previous work, yet the new music produced within the theme common to our blue green planet make it an elemental message. We live on a Sacred Earth and we must not forget to bless every reminder – from the sounds of rainfall in a forest, to the hypnotic language of the ocean and even the masterful flute played by a man with a long white beard. soundings.com
–– Reviewed by Michael Blahut, who recently returned from Fiji as a Peace Corps Volunteer. He is currently a student at the Shiatsu Massage School of California, and a friendly face behind the desk at Exhale Center for Sacred Movement.
By Daniel Overberger & Michael Blahut
