Ama

Pretty cool recordings of Tibetan singer with an amalgam of world-class instrumentalists (though Annie Lenox on track 9 threw me!). Soulful and exotic, sultry and lingering. This is for the really cool coffehouses. All tracks good!

1. Starts minimal with voce and "danyen"- asian string instrument? Then fills in with bass and tribal percussion, viola, more voices, etc. Good intro.
2.Pastoral, early morning music. Lingers on the vowels. gentle guitar
3.Starts with a Xena-like vocal trill, then sings a catchy mantra.Scary Tibetan chanting/horns in the middle, then fast bollywood-style!
4.mid-slow, lots of "thank yous"... decent, more japanese sounding, but one of my less favorites
5.starts quiet with only voices chanting in a round, then a clear voice on top, slightly sad. bamboo flute & a bell gently respond, mostly acapella, some cello at end. Restrained.
6.Clear acapella intro, then accompaniment reminiscent of later Dead Can Dance. Mood is like cooly describing a tragedy.
7.Folk-like sing-song quality, a little playful. tabla(?) & bamboo flute, etc
8.Entirely a-capalla, lots of long syllables, wistful
9.Mid-slow, powerful. Instrumental intro reminds me a bit of something Bill Laswell would do. Guest vocals halfway through a welcome surprise (and the first English on the disc!)
10.Happy simple and simply-produced song. Gentle and uplifting