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Michael Stearns
The climate of "Spirits of the Voyage" is exotic, and is composed upon an aural canvas of mysticism and the hypnotic ambience of Micronesia. At times the music is possessed by a dynamic range as wide as any classical music, ...the key to a full appreciation of Stearns' sonic theatre is subtlety. A good stereo system is essential, and whether you use it as foreground or background, the music on this album is music which demands to be heard in a noiseless environment. Give it the space that it asks, and it can be exhilaratingly powerful and profoundly moving. The music on "Spirits of the Voyage" conjures up a sensation of wonder and astonishment; breathtaking qualities, which arise out of Stearns' ability to depict the grandeur and beauty of the world in an almost visual sense through his compositions. This is an incredible album. With an already impressive body of work behind him, the Sante Fe,New Mexico based composer/multi-instrumentalist shows no sign of creative fatigue. It's one of his finest works to date. Review by Ben Kettlewell information: |
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Michael
Stearn's new soundtrack to the incredible documentary film,
"Spirits of the Voyage" documents the magical rites of
initiation for the Micronesian navigators on the tiny island
of Lamotrek. Michael incorporates the songs and chants of
the inhabitants of the island into several segments of this
wonderful aural excursion. Other pieces are purely
instrumental and evoke the mystery of initiation, the
majesty of the sea, and the beauty of island life.