Weaving My Ancestors Voices

Sheila Chandra | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (January 29, 1993)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Real World Records Ltd/Virgin Records
• ASIN: B000000HOK
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.2 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (17 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #63,487 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

11 of 11 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of my "Desert Island Discs"!, December 9, 1999

By 

Wayne A. Hazle (Glendale, CA United States) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Weaving My Ancestors Voices (Audio CD)

You know that old question, "If you were stuck on desert island, and you could only have 10 CDs..." I don't know what the others are but this is a must. Haunting, beautiful powerful, though I agree that I could live without the Speaking In Tongues sections. That is what keeps it from being a perfect CD. I have about 12 CDs from the Real World collection and this is my favorite

12 of 14 people found the following review helpful:

3.0 out of 5 stars A Voice To Be Reckoned With, August 17, 2003

By 

Wil (AL) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Weaving My Ancestors Voices (Audio CD)

First, let me say that if you prefer your world music with strong instrumentation over vocals, then this is not the album for you. Sheila Chandra takes her listener's on a musical voyage using almost nothing but her versatile, compelling voice. The instrumentation is made up mostly of drones, and even that is minimal. But if you are a fan of voice, or a cappala work, you will dig this album.
Chandra lives up to the title of this disc by weaving eclectic vocal styles from various traditions together, sometimes on the same track, as on the so-so Dhyana and Donalogue. The stronger tracks include Nana/The Dreaming, The Enchantment, and the totally inspired weaving together of Ever So Lonely/Eyes/Ocean. And as a previous reviewer noted, the two Speaking In Tongues tracks have to be heard atleast once, but after that, they really are skippable (thank God for programmable CD players) as they don't offer much in way of asthetic enjoyment.
So all in all, the album is hit and miss. It really works best as background music, for relaxation or while surfing the 'net. Of course, Sheila's best was yet to come on ABoneCroneDrone, but you can hear the seeds of that work being planted here on this somewhat experimental disc.

9 of 10 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Gorgeous!, May 21, 1999

By A Customer

This review is from: Weaving My Ancestors Voices (Audio CD)

Sheila Chandra is an amazing singer, which is more than just an amazing voice. She uses her voice with such intensity of focus and range of inflection, the effect is hypnotic, entrancing, and very beautiful. Several here have commented on the vocal-percussion pieces, where she imitates Indian drums, but also listen for her uncanny imitation of a sitar on the raga Ever So Lonely/Eyes/Ocean. This album isn't for everyone, but if you love local music and world music, give this a try...