11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
I LOVE the drumbeats and flute., December 28, 2005
This review is from: Spiritlands (Audio CD)
All of the music on this CD is great! I can listen to this while I'm working on the computer to help keep me relaxed, or during meditation. The gentle nature sounds mixed in with the soft drum beats and heart-felt flute playing...I just can't say enough. It's fabulous and has a definite Native American feel and sound.
The first track, "Breath of the Mountain" starts out slow, and then when the drum beats kick in combined with the flute, it makes me want to go outside amongst the trees with my arms up in the air and dance around. This track is one of my favorites.
I've always loved the way the rainstick sounds, and track 2, "Gathering Spirits" combines that with the flute, some silent pauses, then, the drumming starts, sounds of a bird, and a keyboard, I think. This song is uplifting.
Track 3, "Lost Canyons" is light and mellow all the way through. This is a great song for meditation. If you have six and half minutes for a short meditation, put this song on, and let it take you away.
Who doesn't love the sound of a thunderstorm? Track 4, "Final Journey" combines the soft pattering of rain with thunder, soft drums and light flute. Like track 3, it is mellow all the way through, is also about six and a half minutes, and is great for meditating or relaxation.
Track 5, "Ghost Dancers" starts out with upbeat drumming and rattles. It brings to mind people dancing around a fire, in trance, lost in the moment, letting their body be one with the beats of the drums. Like all of the tracks, there is also beautiful flute combined with the other instruments.
"Into the Memory," track 6, is very mellow and light. Great for relaxing.
Track 7, "Spiritlands" starts out with birds chirping, bringing to mind the dawn of a new day, waking up to fresh morning dew. I imagine waking up, stretching, and hearing these sounds as my body wakes. It also brings to mind the feeling of coming out of trance, bringing your spirit back into your body.
Lastly, track 8, "Ascension" starts out with sounds of a storm. The flute and keyboard combine to form a feeling of hope. The storm is breaking, the gray turning to brightness as the sun comes out of hiding. It ends with light pattering and sounds of nightfall, signaling the end of the day, and the CD.
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8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:
4.0 out of 5 stars
A Musical Vision of the Southwest, February 22, 2006
This review is from: Spiritlands (Audio CD)
John Huling's "Spiritlands" is a New Age exploration of the Colorado Plateau, employing his own unique take on Native (First) American music. Using Native American flutes, drums, and pan flutes, Huling crafts simple melodies and rhythms, creating a soothing, uplifting aural picture of the desert, canyon, and mountain landscapes of the American Southwest. Like many of his contemporaries, he also effectively employs "found sound"-rain, thunder, the squawk of ravens, and the howl of coyotes-as counterpoint/accompaniment to his music. "Spiritlands" may not appeal to purists, who might prefer First American artists like R. Carlos Nakai (who I also happen to appreciate), but Huling does create soundscapes evocative of this remarkable part of the world. For that, it's definitely worth a listen.
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