Native American artist Robert Mirabal is known for his efforts to preserve his Taos Pueblo heritage. In 1999 he recorded his most enticing CD to date with "Taos Tales," a mixture of Native music and modern elements against a dark, expansive backdrop. In addition, Mirabal has spent 1999 touring with "Spirit: A Journey in Dance, Drums, & Song," a stage show of Native song and dance that's rapidly growing in popularity across the U.S. For this great momentum and spurt of creative talent, Robert Mirabal takes 1999's honor as New Age artist of the year. REVIEW HERE
New Age titles on our 100 best titles of 1999 include:
"Cafe Atlantico"
Cesaria Evora
REVIEW HERE
Cape Verde singer Cesaria Evora woos us once again with a
repertoire of Brazilian and Cuban standards on this enticing
album that boasts her versatile, velvety voice.
"Mark II"
Sorten Muld
REVIEW HERE
Danish trio Sorten Muld melds traditional Nordic folk with
electronic sounds for an engaging music that flows like an
ancient ballad along a riverbed of trip-hop beats and
shuffling synth. Ulla Bendixsen's lucid voice moves in and
out of softened bagpipes, techno sequences, and dabs of
piano and fiddle for a sumptuous musical experiment. Check
out this exciting album that won two Danish Grammy Awards
and went gold in Denmark.
"Shri Durga"
DJ Cheb I Sabbah
REVIEW HERE
Algerian-born DJ Cheb takes traditional Hindu ragas and
twists them into sculptures of modern ambient sound on this
debut.
New Age selections from the list of customer favorites include:
"Book of Secrets"
Loreena McKennitt
REVIEW HERE
Loreena McKennitt charms listeners with her velvety music
and crystalline voice on 1998's "The Book of Secrets." This
Canadian songstress mixes elements of British history with
Moroccan sounds and Celtic music. A longtime customer
favorite.
"Tears of Stone"
Chieftains
REVIEW HERE
Paddy Maloney and the Chieftains invited such stars as
Bonnie Raitt, Mary-Chapin Carpenter, Loreena McKennitt, and
Joan Osborne to appear on this album of traditional Celtic
ballads and songs.
"Celtic Aire"
Dordán
REVIEW
This four-woman ensemble plays bright,
delightful Irish
traditionals with harp, fiddle, tin whistle,
and guitar on
their new CD "Celtic Aire." Their repertoire
ranges from
Turlough O'Carolan to Mozart for a gentle,
romantic music
that recalls ancient times and noble ways,
and evokes the
landscape of their Galway origins. Highly
recommended.
"Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar, Volume 2"
Various Artists
REVIEW
What happens when you pluck cuts by such
great Hawaiian
slack key guitar masters as Sonny
Chillingsworth, Cyril
Pahinui, and Ray Kane and put them on a CD?
Why, you get
"Hawaiian Slack Key Guitar, Volume 2," along
with one of the
best liner-note introductions to slack key
guitar music
around. This enchanting CD captures both
instrumental and
vocal recordings by the most renowned slack
key guitarists
of today and yesteryear.
"One Guitar, No Vocals"
Leo Kottke
REVIEW
The famously reserved Leo Kottke
appropriately titled his
new release "One Guitar, No Vocals." This
all-instrumental
recording of the country-blues master and his
acoustic guitar broadcasts his fingerstyle
virtuosity
on track after
track while still retaining a melodic,
playful feel.
"Northern Nights"
Various Artists
REVIEW
Unique in its Scandinavian languages and
dark, moody
atmospherics, "Northern Nights" takes you on
a journey
toward the end of the globe where such
artists as Loituma,
Hedningarna, and Hege Rimestad bewitch you
with their folk
tunes and icy ambience.
"Citizen of the World"
David Arkenstone
REVIEW
With Arabic, Asian, Native American, and
Celtic colors,
David Arkenstone paints lovely, animated
music on his latest
CD, "Citizen of the World." More understated
than some of
his earlier, grandiose works, this album and
its beautiful
melodies are sure to please the ear while
broadening your
global consciousness.
ARTIST ESSENTIALS: R. CARLOS NAKAI
In the late '80s, Native American flutist R.
Carlos Nakai
led a revival of Native American music with
his ghostly
cedar flute playing. Nakai has recorded both
the music of
his ancestors as well as modern jazz
improvisation; his
albums number in the 30s. To begin exploring
this prolific
artist, check out our list of his essential
recordings.
REVIEW
MUSIC FOR YOGA
This collection of CDs by such artists as
Sheila Chandra and
Tony Scott relax the mind and center the
spirit--helping you
focus on stretching, strengthening, and
finding clarity in
your day.
REVIEW
"Mestiza"
Perla Batalla
REVIEW
Perla Batalla is winning praise from critics
for her
melodious, acoustic pop and strong, stylish
vocals. Her
latest album, Mestiza, explores her Mexican
heritage with
warm, folky originals that recall the soul of
k.d. lang,
Shawn Colvin, and Bonnie Raitt. Download the
songs "Morning
Star" and "Camino a Santiago" and hear what
listeners are
raving about. Just click on the link below to
visit this
new section of our store.
