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review by Michael Debbage Confession is good for the soul, thus my first admission is that the closest I have come to Yoga is yogurt. They are both healthy for you but the former is not a practice that I would truly consider. That said, there are many basic benefits from the school of Yoga and one of them is the peaceful music and ambient passages that are accompanied with this way of life. While Leinbach emphasizes the latter, there is just enough music here to keep matters interesting without being distracting from its purpose. With an educated background in music that took him from the University of Wisconsin to the University of California, Leinbach's early beginnings started in the jazz and Latin jazz genres. His move to the technical side resulted in the opening of his own Old Bull Studios which is where this particular project was created. Comprised of four very long passages, the album cover states that it is "Music to ease stress away and promote peace of mind." I would certainly concur that the exploration present here is very relaxing and would be a great disc to fall asleep to and that is meant as a compliment. Leinbach's floating keyboard work is complimented by the dotar of Jai Uttal and the bamboo flute of Manose Singh. As a result, there is just the right balance of East and West. In fact, it lies somewhere between Buedi Siebert's The Light Dance and the recent Namaste project, both from the same record label. The shortest track clocks in at approximately 13 minutes, which I am sure is to keep the listener focused on shedding away the chaos of our daily living. Probably the most evoking track is "Khumjung" that opens the disc which includes the gentle flute work of Manose. Some of the other tracks include nominal chanting that is only more distracting than beneficial. Despite my lack of interest in this lifestyle, the disc still has its benefits of being a good mood setting that will whisk you away from your everyday concerns. Slip this disc upstairs on your shelf system and gently descend into your soft pillow and rest your weary eyes. It's been a long day and you deserve it. |
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