July 2006 CDs
Tempting the Muse
Otherworldly, but gently so. Tempting the Muse takes you on a journey into an age when myth and legend were the keys to a magical realm peopled by fabled heroes, mystics, and poets and their muses.
But for all the medieval flavor, the instrumentation is quite contemporary. The effect is textured and timeless, a seamless celestial bridge uniting Gregorian chants and etheric female vocals with modern rhythms, keyboard and a variety of guitars.
Sensual and sacred in tone, Tempting the Muse plays like a cloud of angelic voices lifting you and floating you away to the euphoric dream of your choice.
This album comes in a beautiful tri-fold cover. I find it pleasant listening. It would make a good gift for a friend with romantic tastes.
—Chiwah
Soundtracks of San Diego
Go sit on the beach anywhere in San Diego County and let your gaze wander in search of dolphins… take an afternoon stroll in one of our many lush canyons… relax in the shade of a Torrey Pine… set sail on the bay or at Oceanside Harbor… stick out your tongue to taste the ocean breeze, or feel the stillness of a Santa Ana… meditate in the SRF gardens—nowhere else in the world could you revel in the unique magic that is San Diego.
Until now. Solana Beach resident Ed Balian and The Silver Sky Orchestra have created a magnificent musical tribute to the beauty of this area that you could listen to anywhere and feel like you're right here.
“I wanted to use this music to express my deep feelings about the beauty found throughout San Diego,” Ed says.
Kudos! San Diego has a flavor all its own, and Ed's 12 original romantic compositions for piano and orchestra have caught the spirit of this wonderful place. The cover design is Ed's own photograph, a beautiful shot at the beach in Del Mar that captures the spirit of the album.
What's missing? McDonald's. The malls. Freeway traffic. Can we dream they don't exist? I think so. The compositions and instrumentation on this album are masterful enough to induce just a bit of forgetful fog….
Soundtracks of San Diego is available on the Web site, but locals and visitors to San Diego can also find it at the Seaside Bazaar in Encinitas and in La Jolla, Old Town, Hotel Circle and Coronado.
—Chiwah
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African Dream
Ready for a musical trek to the primal heart of Africa? Heart— yes, that's the word. The rhythms are clear, the vocals pure and subtle. You can feel the heart.
And the heat! The inescapable African sun announces its presence in the slow beat of the chants.
African Dream is ethno-jamming at its subtle best, perfect for trancing out as you let your body take you away….
“Music and the daily life activities of the traditional African people are completely united,” reads the inside cover. “Every song, chant, instrument, and dance is specifically linked to life and carries spiritual significance… The inspiring force behind this album is our deep respect and love for the raw beauty, rhythm, and healing power that is Africa.”
You will marvel at the eclectic blend of sounds on this album. Craig Kohland and Jason Hann's original compositions include field recordings of tribal chants, nature and animal sounds Kohland captured during a trip to Kenya and Tanzania, as well as traditional songs sung by African artists from the Congo and West Africa. Other songwriting credits go to Abdou Mbaye, Marcel Adjidi, and Dido Tshibangu.
From the gorgeous album cover to the inner beat of each song, this album truly honors the sacred rhythms of African life.
—Chiwah
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