In the Garden of Souls

Vas

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 9, 2000)
• Original Release Date: May 9, 2000
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Narada
• ASIN: B00004SZDO
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (36 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #11,689 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com
On their third album, In the Garden of Souls, Vas doesn't so much extend their sound as go deeper within it. Singer Azam Ali continues singing in tongues; she's an intoxicating priestess who invites you into terrain that's both sacred and sensual. Her voice is framed by her own hammered dulcimer and the percussion of Greg Ellis. He draws on a trap set that replaces tom-toms, snare drums, and cymbals with djembes, dumbeks, udu drums, chimes, and bells to surround Ali with a seductive swirl of throbbing percussion, while Cameron Stone adds sinewy, raga-like cello lines. You can hear the influence of Abbess Hildegard von Bingen's medieval chants on pieces like "Inamorata" and "Beyond Despair," while "Inward Coil" builds from a plaintive folk tune into a classical crescendo. Azam Ali's voice is a stunning instrument, hovering between the ululations of Iran, where she was born, and the extended, note-bending melodiousness of India, where she was raised. In a language of the imagination, she's revealing a glimpse of heaven. --John Diliberto

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

35 of 36 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Beautiful, April 15, 2001

By	Gwen Kramer "gwenhwyvar" (Tehachapi, CA United States) - See all my reviews

Vas is one of the most beautiful and unique groups to come on the scene in a long time. I have no idea why people are trying to compare them to Loreena Mckennitt. Loreena has a very Celtic sound with middle eastern influences whereas Vas is almost entirely middle eastern with some african and classical influences. In other words, they are different and comparing them is pointless. Don't get me wrong, I love Loreena but comparing her to Vas is like comparing Deep Purple and the Beatles. Same genre, same country, totally different sound.

This is Vas's best album yet. Azam Ali's incredible, pure, powerful, sensuous voice is displayed to perfection. She is a truly beautiful woman with amazing talent. She is backed by the best. Greg Ellis is an amazing drummer. I loved Ceremony of Passage, it really displays his ability.

Here's my point, Vas is Vas. Just listen to their beautiful wall of sound and try not to compare. Let their music stand on its own merit.

18 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars "All of our precious memories are but shadows...", April 23, 2004

By	Marc Ruby™ "The Noh Hare™" (Warren, MI USA) - See all my reviews (TOP 10 REVIEWER)

This is the third album done by vocalist Azam Ali and percussionist Greg Ellis, and their best to date. Ali's talent is not simply that she has an expressive and beautiful voice, but that she transcends any particular language and creates a form of communication uniquely her own.

As you listen you will sometimes hear medieval sonorities (Beyond Despair), the devotional singing in an Indian temple (Samaya), or even the spiritual music of some imaginary Eastern country (Inamorata). As Inamorata ably demonstrates, she can do all of this in the space of a single song.

Ellis balances her perfectly playing an array of Indian and Middle Eastern instruments in a rhythmic patter that weaves around Azam Ali's voice without ever overpowering it. In fact, if Ellis has a fault it is that he his sometimes too invisible. Fortunately, one this album, he has a chance to shine on his own (especially in Ceremony of Passage), and the listener is well rewarded.

An interesting addition to the percussion, bells, santour, and oud, is a specially processed cello played by Cameron Stone. The result is often a dialogue between Ali's abstract language and the cello's wordless singing (Prayer for Soheil). The balance is perfect - while Azam Ali's singing naturally takes center stage, one quickly comes to understand that she wouldn't be there without her co-conspirators.

It is hard to single out favorites in this album, which is a carefully woven tapestry, intent on creating a sacred space. Vas has an ability to step outside ethnicities and cultural differences to produce a music that has appeal to a broad spectrum of listeners. The result is something beautiful and different.

16 of 18 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars a voice from heaven, June 24, 2001

By	Summer B. Frace (Austin, TX USA) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I agree with the reviewer that points out that Vas is Vas and we shouldn't spend time trying to compare them to other artists. They are unique and listeners will only be disappointed if they are looking for a carbon copy of Lisa or Loreena. I love all these artists, but Vas are in their own territory far from anyone else. The music is moving and rythmic with soaring female vocals. The vocals are from the soul, real and honest but somehow perfect at the same time with true emotion and depth without words (she sings in toungues). In terms of instrumentation, the sheer myriad of instruments used on this CD is mind boggling. As far as trying to describe what the music sounds like, it is difficult, which is why I think many have reverted to comparisons of existing artists. It is a mish-mash of so many different musical cultures, mostly eastern. Trying to describe what genre Vas fits in is like trying to describe to someone what Enya sounds like (I am not comparing the two - they are worlds apart, they are just both difficult to pinpoint in terms of genre). It is indescribable. Listen to the samples and see for yourself what you think. For those of you already fans of Vas' music who are wondering if you should pick up their lastest - do it! This is their best album yet (I own all three) and you will not be disappointed.