Customer Reviews

Land of the Incas - Music of the Andes

5 star:		(13)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
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1 star:		(0)

 

 

Heard Inkuyu's "Land of the Incas" in a "Natural Wonders" Store about 15 years ago and it has been my favorite CD of South America music ever since. The traditional instruments, rhythms and melodies are played with authenticity and joyful exuberance. The liner notes are superb for interpreting the history and origin of the songs. Truly ancient rituals, festivals, and ordinairy life of the Incas come alive in the imagination of the listener. One is transported to another time and culture.

Music in the the diablada, kantu, saya, yaravi, huayao, carnaval, and San Jacinto, rhythms played on the panpipes, quenas, and stringed instruments transmit the energy, beauty, flow of life, joy, sadness and harmony of this unique part of the world. If you can not afford a trip to the Andes Mountains to hear the traditional music of the hidden villages live ... this is the next best thing! Erika Borsos (erikab93)

In this album Inkuyo plays a medley of traditional and contemporary compositions with traditional Andean instruments (flute, panpipes, guitar and drums). The tunes are mostly joyful with a few melancholy ones.The music, which is purely instrumental (except for one track),is through and through traditional with no concessions made to New Age or Pop styles.

It is however my opinion that Inkuyo has removed some of the rough edges of popular Andean music to better please our Western ears, at least this is what I feel when I compare the songs on this cd with other folk-music from the Andes that I have.But this is an improvement , not an impoverishment.

The quality of the recording is outstanding and the music a real delight for the ear and the heart. Besides, this is a very long cd:68 minutes! And unlike other albums that only have one or two good songs, every single track of "Land of the Incas" is beautiful and worth listening to. If you like Peruvian music or are looking for music to lift up your spirits, this is definetely a great buy.

I do not know why I am so drawn to this music. As far as I know none of my ancestors were from anywhere close to the Andes. But when I listen to this CD I am transported to lush green valleys through which clear rivers tumble, and above which tower majestic peaks. This music carries me away, and that (in my opinion) is what music is for.

The fact that the recording quality is superb doesn't hurt, either.

I'm a 16 year old guy who's into rock, hip hop, jazz, country, and all other styles of music that people listen to. I just got a little tired of OAR and I'm getting into Lifehouse, but this music is impossible to get tired of. I came upon Andes music in my spanish class and really liked it. I first bought Land of the Incas and the cheap compilation, El Condor Pasa. The Condor Pasa compilation is too "Paraguayan harp music" for me and really fades as you listen to it. I really wish that I would have bought Land of the Incas and Flute Music of the Andes instead. Flute Music of the Andes is like fun Andean town music. Land of the Incas is more spiritual and makes you picture lush, green mountains. Overall, I like these two Andean cd's the best (especially Land of the Incas), but all Inkuyo cd's are awesome if this music really gets to you. Most people don't enjoy this music, but if you're one of the people it appeals to like me, you should go for it. It really makes you feel renewed to listen to it at night on your ipod before you go to bed (or on your stereo if other people in your house actually enjoy it). Echoes of Incas is pretty cool too, but they make you feel more like your standing outside past midnight and dancing in the rain and thunder. I like their melodies and their charango player. Inca son has good flutes and Incantation (andean not the heavy metal group) is alright. I'm not a big fan of other world music (except Balkan Beat Box and Kidjo) or Andean music with vocals (it detracts from the mood), nor am I a fan of new age because it's usually yoga music, but I guess this music just hits the spot for me. It's so unbelieveable how this music takes you mentally over and through lush green mountains, winding rivers, icy mountains, little villages, heavy waterfalls with cool wind at your back and condors overhead. So basically Inkuyo pretty much kicks @$$.

I've listened to numerous other So American groups & like this one the best

Inkuyo is for me the best band of andean music. it really makes you want to dance it creates a whole new world in your mind. that's full of tranquility and love.

I really enjoy the CD it is great music to listen to while driving to work. I plan on purchasing other CDs from this group.

Listening to this album makes me feel that delicious fresh air has entered my stuffy winter room! I guess that makes sense, considering the music is from the high Andes. Whooda thunk it? That music would carry the character of its area of origin... seriously it happens a lot. Neato.

Most of the cuts sound pretty much traditional, but there's a little well-done updating here and there; not enough to be offensive or take the performance out of the realm of representative folk, but enough to give a little kick. I really enjoy the sounds of the "quena" flute and "siku" panpipes, which to me give an otherworldly sound, enhanced by the various indigenous percussion instruments and the tinkling stringed "charango". Inkuyo's music renews my hope to travel to the Andes and quietly absorb the local culture.

I have been learning to play the panflute for a few months, so I am always on the lookout for new panflute music to play along to. This
CD is by far the best performed and liveliest panflute CD that I have found, and I am having great fun playing along to it.

while seeing the movie BARAKA one of the tracks was Wipala of INKUYO .and I never stopped searching the cd cause the melody was addicting me. Inkuyo a must if you love life and like to travel . A great moment ...