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Review by Bill Binkelman Wind and Wire I love this CD! All of the instruments played on it have existed for centuries: crystal bowls, chimes, rainsticks, gongs, assorted hand and steel drums, flutes and a few others. There is little here in the way of traditional structured melody (brief melodic elements surface now and then on flutes). This is also not a type of world fusion music or the "usual" new age music either. Instead, Journey to Wholeness is improvised meditative music, pure and simple. Per the liner notes, it was recorded live) with no manipulations and all in one evening. The artists are Elivia Melodey and Gaye Unverferth, each one of them playing more or less the same instruments. The seemingly endless reverberations and sustain (from the bowls as they are either struck or rimmed) sends chills down my spine. The spiritual sound of the chimes, sometimes barely struck and at other times hit more forcefully, mixes with the bowls to create a mystical listening experience. In addition, the improvisational flow of each of the five tracks actually heightens the impact of the music somehow, as if adding a deeper connection between performer and listener. Describing the music in detail is difficult and somewhat pointless. "Chakra Alignment" is very minimal and concentrates on the bowls and chimes, sometimes holding a drone or tone for long periods, while at other times letting assorted notes/tones coalesce, as if water droplet ripples were intersecting in a reflection pool. "Colloquium" is somewhat more "active" featuring more striking of chimes and the use of a steel drum. The struck notes are arrhythmic and again, for me, this almost "random" pattern evokes much more of positive reaction from me than if the notes held a noticeable "beat." A kalimba is also used, but played in almost progressive free jazz style, even though it's quite understated so that my use of the term "jazz" is not an accurate descriptor, I suppose. "Gaia Guardians" brings out tribal-esque Buffalo drums, flutes and rainsticks, painting the soundscape in earthy, primal and Native colors. There are two final pieces as well, "Higher Joys" (seventeen plus minutes long) and the title track (twenty-three minutes in length). A simplistic description of them would be "more of the same of what has come before," but that sounds negative, doesn't it? Even if it is somewhat accurate, that's not the point. This music is not supposed to be jarringly different from song to song. Personally, I never tired of hearing these instruments. Many people would automatically label this CD as new age music (and, being honest, it is), but Journey to Wholeness is nothing like recordings from other genre labels, e.g. New World Music, New Earth Records or Real Music For me, listening to Journey to Wholeness is a transportive experience. When I immerse myself in this music, I am taken away from whatever was plaguing my conscious mind. Maybe you'll think me highly impressionable, but even if I am, I still highly recommend this recording. Artist Bio: Elivia Melodey is a trance medium, sound vibrational healer and gifted speaker. She founded Crystal Vibrations Music Label in 2000. Her musical work is also featured on, "Shaman's Vision Journey" the newest release by the award winning artists, David and Steve Gordon of Sequoia Records and on “Crystal Bowls Around the World” (Dec. 2006) by Crystal Tones Music. She has been featured in Science and Spirit Magazine, and by KPBS and KFMB television. The Messenger Magazine christened her "The Angel Whisperer," for her clear connection to this realm. Elivia tours nationally with her collection of over 43 crystal bowls and other instruments. Her critically acclaimed music and message provides for profound healing on all levels. Channeling the music of the Angels, her music is transformational, balancing the body's energy centers and opening new doorways of awareness. It is used in healing and spiritual centers around the world. To learn more visit her web site: www.Elivia.com
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