Amongst the vast assortment of music we are given to review, along comes an unusual release by singer / songwriter, John Litton Baroļ who is ably assisted by Pierre Vervloesem who arranged and produced this collection of 9 songs as well as adding guitar, bass and programming. Additional keyboards and drumming are found on a few extra tracks.
Percussion features predominantly with some great tabla playing on 5 tracks together with plenty of tribal / shamanic type of chanting without it falling victim to a lot of the more sedate New Age cheese that proliferates that genre's hit parade if such a thing existed. John's input into this album includes some very emotional vocals, keyboards, harmonium and acoustic guitar.
To explain exactly what is going on with this album is a bit difficult in that it embraces so many diverse styles of music and draws upon a myriad of ethnic sounds, instruments and vocalizations that one can hear influences from all around the planet. If one were to describe an overall sound, you would need to blend some Deep Forest, Prem Joshua, Jade Warrior, due to the occasional fuzz guitar together with some ethnic influences that Phil Thornton was able to elicit when playing with Hossam Ramzy on their "Immortal Egypt" album from 1998. The Middle Eastern influences on this release are certainly highly evident as there are very overt references to that fact on the short descriptor which is added alongside each track's title.
The songs are generally upbeat and fairly open in expounding their message of love, peace, harmony and respect for God and all the worlds' creatures far and wide. Although this is not really my cup of tea, there can be no denying the musical integrity of the players as their abilities, while certainly not pyrotechnic, are more than adequate.
Track Listings:
1. Tear Nai Tor (Sailor Of The World)
2. Tor Hashita (Will Sing In Melody)
3. Kal Gelo (Time Passes)
4. Pothiker Vhari Bozha (Heavy Burden Of The Traveller)
5. Talee Talee (Pronounce The Name Of God In Beats)
6. Tor Kotha (With Thirst Of Night)
7. Zala Zala (Crying The "Bina" Of The Heart)
8. Prethibee Prethibee (If I Am Awake Or Alive)
9. Aei Kotha (My Last Words)
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