Customer Reviews

Mystic Journey

5 star:		(9)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

I fell in love with the music of The Angels of Venice years ago, and thus when I learned that Suzanne Teng (a former "Angel") had produced a solo work, I was very excited. But the music on this CD easily surpasses anything Teng had done with the Angels of Venice. Lyrical melodies, accompanied by enthnic rhythms on traditional percussion instruments, overlaid with Teng's own haunting performances on Asian flute, transport the listener to another time and another place -- both in this world, and in the "otherworld" created by Teng's mystical music edge. Tibetan singing bowls, Middle-Eastern bells, Celtic strings and a vast assortment of drums and wind instruments create a musical whirlwind that will leave the listener breathlessly awaiting Teng's next musical offering.

Last year, during the World Festival of Music during the Dalhi Lama's visit to the LA area, I had the fabulous fortune to hear Suzanne Teng perform live. This CD recreates that experience so well! The rich percussion and other instruments backup her virtuoso flute performances on this recording with sublime grace. During the live performance one of the pieces faded off into an absolutely crystalline solo flute note. It died with her last fragment of breath into a church so quite you could hear your own heart beating. The audience was stunned beyond applause for several seconds. This recording captures that feeling. I work a cut from this into my DJing each time and I always get comments from dancers. I am so pleased to be able to tell them it is widely available now. (I bought my copy at the performance and now will be getting more for gifts.) It is perfect for slow, self-expressive dance, some people love it for massage music, it always is in order when wanting to disconnect from time and space for a while. Mystic Journey is an absolute must for world music listeners and dancers. Highly recommended for all.

Suzanne Teng, the original flutist with the group "Angels of Venice", breaks out on her own in this playful and exotic 1999 release. Teng shows herself a master of flutistry, not only the playing the standard western "C" flute, but also piccolo, alto and bass flutes, dize (Chinese bamboo flute), ney (Turkish flute) and panpipes. Her tone is rich and liquid, and her improvisations range from jazzy to sinuous to ephemeral depending on the style of the piece. Many of the selections have a strong Near- or Far Eastern flavor, but the mood remains gentle and cheerful throughout the album, without any of the dark intensity that characterizes some of the "Angels'" work. Teng is not alone in "Mystic Journey" either; many guest artists lend their well-established talents to the mix to create ever-varied layers of texture. Gilbert Levy provides intricate world percussion accompaniments, while cellist Martin Tillman, Prince Diabate, Hans Christiansen of Rasa and Greg Ellis of Vas (among others) also pop in to lend a hand, making for a richly orchestrated album that is full of apt and interesting surprises. Occasionally the flute melodies seem a little trite and meandering, qualities that are at odds with the earthy, percussive background, but overall this album is appealing. Teng's simultaneously light and down-to-earth compositions find ways to be relaxing without being boring--a common pitfall for many New Age artists. The music of "Mystic Journey" would be great for warm-ups and slow-dancing for belly dancers, as well as just pleasant listening after a mundane and stressful day at work. Other recordings featuring Suzanne Teng's flute-playing include "Awake Inside a Dream" and "Music for Flute, Harp and Cello" by the Angels of Venice. For more bamboo and metal flute improvisations, in this case without accompaniment, check out also Richard Warner's "Quiet Heart / Spirit Wind".

I ordered this CD after only hearing two songs which I "accidentally" heard while flipping the channels of the television. There was a performance done on Public Access and I was surprised to see that a CD was available. I ordered one for myself and a friend who is a yoga instructor. I love this CD! It is perfect for yoga or meditation or even just in the background while working. The music is heartfelt and joyous and everyone who hears it immediately loves it. I would definitly recommend it, especially if you are looking to expand your collection of instrumental music. Personally, I love flute pieces, so this was a perfect choice for me.

I caught Suzanne Teng & Mystic Journey on vacation at this year's Topanga Days festival, but didn't buy the CD. I thought about their music the whole rest of the trip and ordered the CD as soon as I got home. It's truly magnificent and beautiful music, and I could listen to the CD over and over. Perfect background for anything - reading, meditating, special dinners, yoga, whatever. I find myself getting up just to move to the music. They're all very talented and the CD is a real stress-melter.

Wow! I just received this album today, and it is simply stunning! The music is sincere and very sweet to the ears. Beautiful compositions, with layers of gorgeous percussion. All the musicians perform wonderfully on this very high quality recording. It has my highest recommendation!

This is really an excellent independently-produced CD. Some of the tunes are fairly straight-forward, rhythmic wonders with Ms. Teng's incredible flute playing polishing them off. Others are more "world" sounding incorporating thraot singing and chanting. There is not a bad cut on the CD. Listen to Katiya's Waltz, and try to concentrate on the beautiful music while your feet waltz across the floor.

Love this product and the seller is super to work with. We'll do more business in the future!

This is a truly wonderful CD. The cuts run from the soulfully relaxing to the playfully refreshing and all of them are simply beautiful. If your looking for music to help restore your nerves and sense of balance after a murderous day at work this should definitely be on your list. I also highly recommend Suzanne Teng's "Enchanted Wind" CD -- all of which falls into the "soulfully relaxing" category. The music on both albums is acoustic, earthy, and richly spiritual -- good medicine for the mind, body and soul.

The music is special. It communicates from the heart and reaches ones heart as it truly takes one on a mystical journey. . . I would highly recommend this CD for anyone who appreciates deep and meaningful music by highly talented artists.