CD REVIEW: Drumming Planet
By Melanie - 05/25/04
Score: 4 1/2 stars

Ethno-Trance drumming is sure becoming one of the most celebrated styles of music worldwide and this compilation brings to the listener the finest collaboration of percussion instruments such as the log, dumbeck, pony, derbuka, dhol, bhodran, frame, jun-jun, tablas, plus much more! Take yourself on a first class trip around the world celebrating history and culture of far away regions from South Pacific, Africa onto Ireland, Native America and the exotic India. The world is truly your oyster with this delicious mix of aural tantalizing feast for the fanciful lovers of cultural music.

Track Listing:

1) Drumming Circle by Professor Trance A shaman's drum is joined by drummers from Alaska, North, Central and South America, Africa, Asia, Europe, the Caribbean, Polynesia and Australia? in memoriam to Frank.
2) Invocation by Gabrielle Roth & The Mirrors Ceremony: Shaman drums, native feel, American-Indian-like vocals - Hypnotic
3) Keonukpo by Adesa Music of the Ga people from Ghana: groovy parody to drive away the horror of death.
4) The Prodigal Son by Keiya Tribal rhythms, didgeridoo and a sweet melody appearing from the African bush give a sense of the Orient.
5) The Shisha Room by Solace Strong Break-Beat rhythm with a moody thematic melody
6) Utsheva by Baul Bishwa Sufi Rhythms: faster and faster than the mind - joyous trance of percussion, flute and monochord - follow the drums and let go.
7) Sister's Gonna Dance Now by Native Ground Just that: She's gonna dance now on a lush rhythm, layered by a didgeridoo and an resonating djembe drum - won't you join
8) The Owl Dance by Gomer Edwin Evans Drum rhythms and syncopated tribal voices mark the shaman's vision of the animal spirit, inducing enchanting trance-states
9) Talking Drums by Ariel Kalma Tuned low drums and dumbek mark the beat of the earth while log drums and kanjera Indian tambourines joyfully dance around.
10) Samhain by Phil Thornton Earthy rhythms celebrating the solstice accompany a melody transmitted through the ages - stories of the people, the animals, the crops.

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