Chad Kettering's latest release Voices of the Ancients is filled with the pulsing rhythms of ancient tribal rituals and the hypnotic chants that act as a beacon to the deeper aspects of the listener stirring awake those emotions and feelings that have been forgotten by civilization through the passage of time. I guess it is the way of life that as we evolve as human beings those experiences that were important to our ancestors tend to be left behind and replaced by new rituals and rites of passage that seem just acceptable to us and our generation.

Chad's new album is a reminder that buried within each of us are remnants of these old ways and music such as Voices of the Ancients is one way to stir those embers of long neglected fires to life and experience what our ancestors must have felt as they allowed the drums and the chants to carry them away into altered states of consciousness.  

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There are times that after you have heard enough music you start to think that you know what a certain album by a certain artist is going to sound like before you even start playing the music. You build up perceptions of a given artist based on what you have heard in the past from them and you have vague ideas based on the particular instrument that the artist plays as to what you think a release by them is supposed to sound like. If you had any preconceptions as to what you think Radiant Sky might or should sound like you should toss them out and approach Scott's new album with open ears because you will find that it isn't what you might have thought and it will definitely make you a fan of Scott August's talent as a musician if you weren't one already.  

Radiant Sky is Scott August's fifth album release and while it is not a complete departure from his signature flute it breaks some new ground for Scott as a composer and as a multi-instrumentalist musician. In the promo sheet that came with the review copy Scott is quoted as saying that "the concept of the radiant sky album began with me enjoying the night sky and feeling connected that way to ancient cultures." 

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Many of you may have heard Michelle and her group at some local festivals; others may have her previous CDs. Her very successful first CD The Promise was a great hit on mp3.com and introduced the public to her rich, silky vocals and folksy guitar style. 

This CD is an introduction to a series Michelle is putting out of chants for each of the turns of the Wheel of the Year.  This is music for pagan celebrations, focusing on the meaning of Beltane.    

There are nine tracks.  This is a well produced CD, with good sound and quality studio work. The range of chants on this CD run from traditional to classical melodies with some very well developed lyrics.  I was impressed with Evoking Beltane which uses music based on a Bach piece and some really nicely worked out lyrics.   Michelle’s strong vocals give us a lovely introduction to this work. 

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This German import features the work of Ronald Hoth also known as Ashron.  Published by BSC music Germany, this is the third CD by this artist, previous works being "Inner Peace" and "Reiki Mantras".  He also has two CD’s with his group “Aschera”.   

The artist is a Reiki Master whose works focus on building an atmosphere for working Reiki.  This work also focuses on working on a Shamanic level.   The addition of more forceful drumming than your usual Reiki CD’s appears to be his addition of the Shaman flavor to the Reiki music.  This CD also has a very definite Japanese flavor in all the tracks.

To quote his website: “The new Ashron album "Reiki Shaman" is once more based on an underlying topic: suggesting the listener to focus his inner powers and his will and to use both for the creation of a positive "Here and Now".” (http://www.ashron.net/html/reiki_mantras.html ) 

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