Thoth- Herma Act III. Thoth is a NYC/San Fran outsider whose music is in the avant-classical (minimal) vein with some hints of “primitive” music coming from the bells on his calves, a few handmade rattles and other basic percussion. Sounds like all recorded live to tape in a big room, or studio with good reverb box. All tracks start with a brief spoken synopsis of part of a legend, then there are wordless vocals over violin, then more agitated singing-in-tongues over singing. It’s all introverted/meditative. It’s all good. I’m afraid my track-by-track is just a repetition of this… may fit into a classical or world show… if you’re into dungeons & dragons you will find the booklet to b uber-cool…

1.brief vocals, interesting “indigenous” whirling sounds, then operatic singing and Phillip Glass style violin, and singing in tongues.
2.spoken word and stomping, then fiddling & stomping and singing in tongues, sad
3.spoken word with big rattles, slow violin, faster operatic warbling
4. strong simple rhythm at start, rest has lots of voice and less violin
5. The violin here sounds like a 19th century dance
6. sounds like Tibetan bells. Plaintive singing
7.a little heavier, more violin, a bit more dissonant
8.doomy spoken intro, short violin solo, short track
9.Tibetan bells & singing then violin, changes moods
10.rattle over intro vocal, more minor key violin & warbling
11.more violin and less vocals, thoughtful
12.a bit more agitated
13.strident violin confrontation intro, then stomping & violin, speeds up
14.Mystical intro then heavy stomping, violin, singing, speeds up
15.slow solo violin start, then singing & stomping mid-tempo ¾ time, slows down and quietens