Customer Reviews

Star of the Sea

5 star:		(10)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Against shimmering electronics, brittle dulcimers, dolorous bells, and percolating poly-rhythms, Sonya, the lead singer's, voice unfurls. Like Lisa Gerrard , her vocals are a bewitching mix of Eastern and Western vocal styles, and while the group (a duo, with Jeffrey Stott handing other duties, including guitairs and oud, an African harp-like instrument) is influenced by the same liturgical music, there's a different feel. With DCD, I feel the music is almost escapist; with Stellamara, there's an anthropologic reverence, that's not so much *academic* as it is *resonant* with history. Part of this is due to the fact that the lyrics are taken from actual medieval texts -- there's a song in Croatian, a Persian song, and musical forms from Serphardic Jewish music.

Sonja Drakulich is a bewitching siren. I am longtime Dead Can Dance fan as well as historian of the Balkans. My two loves came together in this exquisite recording from City of Tribes records. Stellamara excels where others have but succeeded. VAS and Yahili are bands that live in the shadow of musical greats like Loreena McKennitt and Lisa Gerard, while Stellamara breaks out as group that is destined to eventually eclipse their tutors. I highly recommend this CD to anyone with an interest in the music of the Middle Ages, the Balkans or North Africa. I believe this album would also be accessible to a casual fan of ambient world music as well.

Sonja Drakulich sings historical Galician, Persian, Judeo-Spanish and Croatian lyrics with microtonal eastern flair, often in multi-tracked harmony with herself, and above ambient drones both accoustic and electronic. Violin, oud and hammered dulcimer add their distinctive contributions, while deep drums effect a steady, resounding beat and darbukas (doumbecs) weave complex rhythms around it. These pieces, some exciting and fast paced, others mesmerizing and meditative, were written or arranged by Sonja Drakulich and Jeffrey Stott, and flow together seamlessly like rivers into the sea. There is plenty of improvisation, both instrumental and vocal, and the virtuoso hand-drumming of Stott and Susu Pampanin offers a passionate variety that no boringly repetitive elecronic beat could ever match. Whereas some attempts to merge ambient and eastern music merely result in the watering down of both influences, here everything stands out with resonant depth and pure sharp clarity. A must-have for any fan of world fusion music! If you like Stellamara, you'll also enjoy Vas, with singer Azam Ali and percussionist Greg Ellis, and the later work of the Angels of Venice and Loreena McKennitt.

I simply never tire of this fascinating CD. Absolutely compelling, riviting; first-class. The vocalisings are different, but EVERY bit as striking & technically skilled as Lisa Girard of Dead Can Dance; I would call it as fine a release as "In the Realm of the Dying Sun" by Dead Can Dance. A very mysterious air surrounds this recording. I only find one track a bit less enjoyable; track one, which seems just a tad repetitive. There are also a few fine instrumental tracks; one has vocals in background. Perfect blend of mystery, with south eastern European, Ancient Christian, North African and Middle Eastern influences. Very much worth seeking out.

Much of my collection is comprised of angelic female vocalists: Elizabeth Fraser/Cocteau Twins, Bjork, Jocelyn Montgomery or Sequentia performing the works of Hildegard von Bingen, DCD/Lisa Gerrard, Vas, etc., and this CD fits right in.

The music is ethereal and angelic. Soft, seductive, even sexy crooning coupled with world flavors combine for some excellent music for chillin', reading, foot massages, getting jiggy with it, or sleeping to. If you love ethereal or clear, divine female vocals, you could really like this. It compliments my collection, and blends in without blurring or becoming redundant.

At first I didn't regard this multi-instrumental composition of "world music" as exceptional. However time was to prove me wrong! I discovered with many playings something special, something mysterious here.

"Star of the Sea" is up there with the best yet stands out unique. The music combines a variety of traditional Persian, Galician, Croatian and Judeo-Spanish ballads flawlessly arranged from beginning to end. Vocalist Sonja Drakulich has a soft yet strong voice, and the instrumentation is superb. A must to add to your collection with Axiom of Choice, Vas, Jamshied Sharifi and Dead Can Dance etc.

A splendind combination of medieval western european chansons with present-day Balkan folk tunes. An album which is among my favourite neofolk releases, including Dead Can Dance, Vas, Axiom of Choice... I am looking forward to their upcoming release "The Seven Valleys" and searching for a limited edition of "Entrance" album.

I have to admit that, as much as I love this style of music, this album is a bit weak to me. Not nearly as rich as something from Lisa Gerrard or Azam Ali. I put these guys near the bottom of my list for this style, right above Lumin. Still a good listen but there is alot of stuff out there that I would reach for first.

In short, this is beautiful. Moody, medieval, and Middle-Eastern. The music and voices are exotic and they transport me. I enjoy it for listening, mood creation, ambiance making, and relaxing. Yummy.

I would grab up any music put out by Stellamara. They are a staple when I travel - wonderful, beautiful music to which to explore and discover.