Customer Reviews

Quiet

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

 

 

Have to comment on this - whether you like the effect or not, the "meaningless cacophony" remarked on by at least one reviewer of Sheila's CDs is actually the complex system of "bols" or syllables used by teachers of traditional Indian drumming to pass on the "thekas" or rhythm patterns to their students. Each syllable represents a particular drum stroke, and it is a very effective way of memorising and explaining the patterns.

I have heard many people wonder about and often criticize Ms. Chandra's use of non-lyrical syllables in her music... and I thought maybe i would try to clarify, so that future listeners are not scared off. The syllables very closely resemble the drumming sounds used in Indian classical music. Any person who has studied even the smallest amount of Indian music will see the similarities in them instantly. These sounds are called "bols" and are a way to recite what the drums play, used both for practice with rhythms and sung musically. So in effect, a seasoned Indian drummer could listen to Sheila's voice and play it back to her on his instrument. They aren't nonsense...

The music is good, but the CD quality is extremely bad. It seems to be recorded from a LP and you can hear the scratch sounds throughout

if you have thirsty ears listen to sheila chandra. i bought her first album and immediatly fell in love with her voice. Chandra pours her voice like water, it is as free as liquid. The background music for her vocal melodies is like the tea after she has poured her warm watery voice. The taste is organic, and will leave your soul feeling cleansed. Listen to this album while making love, and you will expereience something entirely new!

I've been listening to this release for about 10 years and I feel like I hear a new layer each time. The bols that she voices are precursors to the Speaking in Tongues that appear on her Realworld releases later. I find her voice soothing and it allows my mind to transcend beyond the present. Plus I just admire her creativity and her uniqueness.

A lovely voice, lovely music. Sheila's voice is mesmerizing, and the music is a joy to listen to. Quiet 1, 3, 5, 7, 8, 9, and 10 are all soft and peaceful. They take you to another realm where there is nothing but gentle music. I feel like I am being wrapped in Sheila's voice and nothing else in the world is worth thinking about. It's like a nap for your mind and spirit. 6 is more energetic while still being... uhm... quiet. 2 and 4 use words that represent rhythms, called bols, and will probably sound annoying unless the listener is a drummer or other musician. Several other songs use bols, but sparingly. 4 is composed of ONLY Sheila's voice using bols to make a song. While impressive, this song is hard to listen to all the way through.

In conclusion, this is a great CD for giving your mind and spirit a power nap. The bols will probably drive you nuts if you're not into them, but they are only a small part of this CD. This is great music to have for massage, reading, writing, resting, and various forms of meditation. I use dance meditation and meditation through repetitive task like sewing and braiding, so I don't know how well this works for the usual form of meditation. It's also great to listen to while playing around on the computer.

I bought this record in a sell-out for 1 $ some time ago, and I come here now to buy the CD because the LP got a bit scratchy over time. This alone should tell you more than the 5 stars I gave it (almost everyone gives 5 stars for almost everything)

Quiet! is Sheila Chandra's most, er, *quiet* album. The songs are

I have been in search for an album which consists only on non lyric vocals and finally I found this one. This would be an incredible CD for meditation if not were by the cacophony introduced by Shelia Chandra by repating a series of childlike meaningless words like: "ta, takatum, ta..." Something like that. This will take you out of any meditative state. If she could leave that out this would be a dream CD for meditation. However, this is one of the best CDs I own well above any New Age or World music you can find out there. It would be an excellent music for massage or yoga not so much for meditation...