12/10/2007
RJ Lanna,
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Prayers and beatitudes to the Divine Mother and goddess of energy are powerful and many on Larisa Stow & Shakti Tribe's new album Reaching In. The recording offers ten tracks of chill-out, chants and groove tunes with a worldly theme. Worldly in more ways than one. Many have attempted to unite chill-out with Middle Eastern themes, but Stow appears to meet the challenge and succeed. Her voice is very seductive and her blend of music is most appealing to listeners of several genres.
Amba Amba is the beginning track and it would be at home at the dance club or at the gathering. Great tempo for the dance and words of praise for the mother whose love we seek and in which we are enthralled. Stimulating percussion by Christo Pellani with guitar by Kimo Estes and vocals by Marti Walker.
The album focuses on the concept of peace and in that spirit the group presents the Muslim Peace Prayer. No matter what you hear in the popular media, I do not think there is a man or woman on the planet that does not desire peace of mind and spirit. Stow does an amicable job of sing the praise of a much-maligned source. On the other side of the pyramid is the beautiful song The Lord's Prayer sung in Aramaic. Once again Larisa's uses her charming voice to glorify God in one his most widely held deities. Great violin on this one by Terry Glenny and one of my favorites. The third side is the Hindu Peace Prayer. Soft and reverent is carries the wish: that our lives be filled with peace in every facet in which it is manifested. We are not so different, are we? This turned out to be a very melodious song.
Toning Bowls is the shortest track on the album, but by far the most fascinating. It has a haunting reverberation that sounds as if your body is walking in a maze of glass and every time you touch the walls they resound with the echoing tones of energy.
Finally, the last tune is called Unfold. The sound of single voice and a warm drone in the background is the call to love as a core emotion. Love is like the blooming of a single flower. In song it beckons to our sense of beauty and passion. This particular tune has an Alanis Morissett-like sound to it that was rather fascinating.
One of the many unique features of Reaching In is Larisa's use of more than one source other than the Hindu religion for her inspiration. There are instruments of thought from many aspects of Hinduism as well as entries from the Koran and the Christian Bible that are used as musical vehicles of praise. This album is, if it is anything a celebration for the spirit no matter what path you travel. The music has rhythm, passion and reverence.