Out of the Earth

Artist:	HIGH KINGS, THE
Title:	High Kings, The
Producer David Downes has the Midas Touch when it comes to assembling touring groups of Irish musicians. First "Riverdance," then Celtic Woman and now The High Kings, the folk singing quartet of established Celtic musicians Finbarr Clancy, Brian Dunphy, Martin Furey and Darren Holden. Rather than simply attempting a male version of Celtic Woman, Downes plays to the strengths of the singers by focusing on a rustic, salt-of-the-earth sound. The arrangements are folk-based, featuring varying degrees of traditional Irish instrumentation (pipes, guitar, pennywhistle, flutes, percussion) alongside spirited vocals, mostly sung as an ensemble. For example, on their rendition of the pub favorite "The Parting Glass," the men start by singing the first verse a cappella; the song then builds in its second half as rhythm, strings and fiddle enter the fray. Other highlights include "The Rocky Road to Dublin" and the bonus track "The Wild Rover," which was performed live.

Cover image for High Kings, The

SOUND CLIPS:
The Rocky Road to Dublin
Fields of Glory
The Parting Glass

Artist:	ARKENSTONE, DAVID
Title:	Echoes of Light and Shadow
David Arkenstone has long been the new age world's great visionary. His music has a distinct imaginative quality to it, using strong melodies and jaunty rhythms to create works that sparkle with whimsy and adventure. And if ECHOES OF LIGHT AND SHADOW proves anything, it's that Arkenstone certainly hasn't lost his touch. True to the album's title, the compositions waver between brightness and mystery. "On the Winds of Innocence" and "Illuminations" are prime examples of the album's more upbeat side, using bass-enhanced rhythms, flutes, strings and the twinkly tones of the African kalimba to create a blissful soundscapes. On the other side of the coin, "Secrets of the Moors," "No Rain, No Rainbows" and "Drops of Starlight" are all deliciously moody with both Celtic and mystical elements to them. Another epic, vibrant effort from Arkenstone!

Cover image for Echoes of Light and Shadow

SOUND CLIPS:
No Rain, No Rainbows
At first Light
Drops of Starlight

Artist:	VARIOUS ARTISTS
Title:	Silk Road Cafe
The spirit of Asia combines with the groove of an upscale nightclub at the SILK ROAD CAFÉ, a destination themed compilation of trip-hop dance mixes from Kriztal Entertainment. Like the Silk Road for which the album is named, which has long acted as a central artery of trade and cultural mixing in Central Asia, the music here features a mixing of sounds and influences that bridge the Middle East with China, India and Japan. The music lies in the mid-tempo range, finding a balance between being danceable and chilled and providing an exotic atmosphere that would be right at home in a trendy restaurant or a cosmopolitan lounge. Highlights of the set include the seductive Indian sounds of "Punjaabi Love Affair" from AL-PHA-X, a downtempo, deep chill remix of the classic "Merry Christmas Mr. Lawrence" from Momix & Low P. and the mellow grooves of "Balsamic Jihad" from Special Branch.

Cover image for Silk Road Cafe

SOUND CLIPS:
Balsamic Jihad
Merry Christmas Mr Lawrence
Punjaabi Love Affair

Artist:	WRIGHT, DANNY
Title:	Healer of Hearts (2 CD)
For over 15 years, pianist Danny Wright has been touching people's hearts with his evocative piano compositions. His music reflects an idealized life, where the sun always shines, hope springs eternal and love conquers all. HEALER OF HEARTS is a two disc retrospective that captures some of the most memorable moments of Wright's career. The first disc delves into the cream of his "Black & White" series of romantic classics, including themes from "Forrest Gump," "Terms of Endearment" and "The Way We Were," as well as Pachelbel's "Canon in D" and "Memory." Disc two shows Wright's creative side with thirteen of his original compositions, including "Autumn" and "Daydreams."

Cover image for Healer of Hearts (2 CD)

SOUND CLIPS:
October
Daydreams
Time Windows

Artist:	SAYAMA
Title:	Harmony
Calling Sayama's album HARMONY 'peaceful' would be an understatement. The album makes you feel as if you've stepped into a carefully manicured garden in the heart of the Japanese countryside. The music is graceful and elegant, featuring dreamy synthesizer ambience, piano and twinkly chimes, that mix perfectly with Far Eastern sounds, like the shakuhachi flute, guzheng, koto and the Chinese erhu. The last third of the album tones down the Asian influences and becomes more ethereal and reflective, with a bit of Native American flute that adds an emotional, melancholy edge. Like many of Sayama's Reiki-focused past albums, HARMONY fits very naturally in a healing setting, and its relaxing nature makes it perfect for unwinding at the end of a long day.

Cover image for Harmony

SOUND CLIPS:
A Tradition of Harmony
Gently Awakening
Stream of Stillness

Artist:	SOLITUDES
Title:	Cabana
CABANA, from the "Solitudes" series of nature with music albums, captures the beauty and tranquility of a beachside retreat. Composer/Arranger Rouly Antonopoulos has crafted a soundscape filled with melodies that equally balances tenderness and relaxing bliss, featuring a dreamy blend of guitar, piano, cello, flute and keyboards. In the backdrop, ocean waves are present throughout - a gentle, cleansing sound that conjures images of blue horizons and sunny beach settings. This album would be a natural fit in a spa, but is also ideal for relieving stress. Pop it in your CD player next time you are having a strenuous day and its true magic will be unlocked.

Cover image for Cabana

SOUND CLIPS:
Aquamarine
Seeking the Sublime
Carefree

Artist:	MILLER, ROBIN
Title:	New Horizons
Multi-instrumentalist and new age music veteran Robin Miller began delving into celestial ambient music back when synthesizers were first growing as a musical medium, and has been fine-tuning his spacious style of music ever since. With NEW HORIZONS, Miller blends his characteristic ethereal sound with that of guitar - an instrument that he is proficient in, but rarely records with. The resulting sound mixes light, twinkling keyboards and piano with several string instruments - the mandolin, which adds a romantic European flavor; the electric guitar with its unique edge, and the acoustic guitar, which provides a sense of warmth and comfortable familiarity. Composition-wise, Miller continues to create music that has a whimsical quality to it, taking listeners on a journey through time, space and the heavens.

Cover image for New Horizons

SOUND CLIPS:
New Horizons
Celtic Dream
In A Mandolin Mood

Artist:	PREMAL, DEVA
Title:	Deva Premal Sings the Moola Mantra
The Moola Mantra, which was given as a gift to humanity by Sri Bhagavan and Sri Amma, is a very powerful mantra that can help you grow considerably in your relationship with the divine and alleviate suffering. It's also designed to unite all people in a common goal of love and peace. Deva Premal's gorgeous, expressive voice adds a new sense of brilliance to these sacred words, sung in a series of five movements. An ethereal, Eastern-tinged atmosphere backs Premal, featuring the instrumentation of Jai Uttal, Benjy Wertheimer, Manose and producer Ben Leinbach and instrumentation like sitar, bansuri flute, guitar, strings and piano. Celebrate oneness and spiritual awakenings with this gorgeous album of music - it will take you to new levels of inner peace.

Cover image for Deva Premal Sings the Moola Mantra

SOUND CLIPS:
Invocation
Part II
Part III

Artist:	VARIOUS ARTISTS
Title:	Buddha-Lounge 6
Like a fine wine, Sequoia Groove's phenomenally popular "Buddha Lounge" series has a reputation for being smooth, nuanced with subtle flavors and perfect for a night of entertaining. BUDDHA-LOUNGE 6 proves to be another strong vintage, with its lightly intoxicating mix of globally-inspired rhythms from artists like Jaya Lakshmi, David & Steve Gordon, Achillea, Artemisia and other top-notch artists from both sides of the Atlantic. The mood is mellow and the rhythms are laid back, possessing enough style to make the music suitable for a club and enough intimacy to earn it a place in one's living room rotation. The seamless mixing by the Gordon Brothers keeps you immersed in the entrancing grooves, allowing you to savor the atmosphere they create. Aged to perfection and certain to please!

Cover image for Buddha-Lounge 6

SOUND CLIPS:
Forward Way Back
Fire Dancer
Shiva Shankar

Artist:	VARIOUS ARTISTS
Title:	Prophecy 2
It has been almost a decade since the release of the first "Prophecy" album, which was culled from the weekly NPR radio show from Hearts of Space, and the follow-up is certainly worth the wait. Once again, the label has assembled a collective of inspiring, diverse artists in a tribute to Native America's rich musical scene, including songs by Joanne Shenandoah, Peter Kater & R. Carlos Nakai, Coyote Oldman, John Huling, Mary Youngblood, Johnny Whitehorse and others. The music leans toward being acoustic, yet contemporary, with a focus on earthy rhythms, Native American flute, some synth work and vocals on a couple of tracks.

Cover image for Prophecy 2

SOUND CLIPS:
Peace and Power
Iron Horse
Ancient Light

Artist:	LANIER, STANTON
Title:	Unveiled
Pianist Stanton Lanier may be a fresh face in the sea of pianists, but one listen to his music and you'll see that this is an artist whose skill was carefully developed over time. His sound is soft and acoustic with a reflective edge - it's romantic but in a subtle, non-traditional way, with an airy sort of nostalgia that is omnipresent. Lanier is a classically trained composer, and that aspect of his background can be heard in the structure of his melodies. UNVEILED was produced by Windham Hill founder Will Ackerman, and his touch can be heard on the album, both in the gentle acoustic nature of the music and with the guest artist line-up, which includes Philip Aaberg, Jeff Oster, Tracy Silverman, Eugene Friesen and others. There's a lot of talent involved in this album across the board, though it never overshadows the sublime piano playing of Lanier, the album's clear focal point.

Cover image for Unveiled

SOUND CLIPS:
Dreams In The Night
Wellspring
The Quest

Descriptions and clips provided courtesy of Music Design

	Visit Our Shop!	Welcome to Out of the Earth *Gifts from Nature & Other Beautiful Things!*
	New Music!
	Store Gallery
	What are Orbs?
	Orb Picture of the Month
	Fun and Informative links
	Downtown Info and Upcoming Events
	Map
	Home