I have a confession to make. Back in the 80s & early 90s I used to listen to a lot of New Age music. Stuff like Enya, Andreas Vollenweider, anything on Windham Hill, etc. Even though much of the general public thinks of ambient music as new age music, real ambient fans know the difference. It can be difficult to articulate that difference. I use a "I know it when I hear it" approach. I guess I'm still wary of the new age label so that's why I called the mix "Music for Meditation."
Even though I moved away from new age music long ago, I still have a soft spot for certain sounds that can be considered new age staples. Two of my favs are Tibetan singing bowls & the Fender Rhodes keyboard. Actually anything with a bell-like sonic signature usually gets me.
Last year I came across the re-release of an album called "Gymnosphere, Song of the Rose" by Jordan De La Sierra. It was recorded in 1977. It has been called a long lost new age masterpiece. I guess it is sort of new age-ish, although I think it has more in common with Brian Eno, Terry Riley & Steve Reich than Yanni or Steven Halpern. It's a fine album and it got me thinking about new age music and the parts that I still enjoy. Find out more here...
https://numerogroup.wordpress.com/2014/09/04/announcing-jordan-de-la-sierras-gymnosphere-song-of-the-rose-2cd2lp/
Once I decided to do this mix I knew for sure that Steven Halpern would make the final cut. I remember buying a cassette of his album "Spectrum Suite" from a shop in Madison, WI that had floatation tanks. I booked a half hour in one of the tanks and played that music while I floated around, literally & figuratively.
The Harold Budd track that follows Halpern, I have always thought sounded very new agey. But I have always loved it. I like that the mix has both old and new cuts in it. I think it does a good job giving off a meditation vibe without being too sickly sweet. Good for meditation or sleeping.
Enjoy
[ s t r e a m ] [ d o w n l o a d ] [ i t u n e s ]
T R A C K L I S T :
- 00:00 Sonmi451 - Yellow
- 06:30 Jordan De La Sierra - Music for Gymnastics
- 12:30 Field Recording - Wind Chimes & Thunderstorm
- 14:20 Michael Stearns - As the Earth Kissed the Moon
- 18:25 Peter Davison - Glide V
- 23:50 Porya Hatami - After the Rain
- 31:40 eternell - Kalimba I
- 37:33 Halftribe - Shashlik
- 42:12 Steven Halpern - Keynote C Red
- 44:54 Harold Budd - Bismillahi 'Rrahmani' Rrahim
- 52:36 Jeff Pearce - Through Darkened Halls
- 56:14 33 bowls - Morning
- 58:51 Jim Cole - Light Shines In Your Heart
- 65:21 end