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by Steve Gordon & Deborah Martin
The CD album Ancient Power, by Steve
Gordon and Deborah Martin, is listed as "new native-influenced
music" and sounds a little more traditional. Gordon and
Martin utilize synthesizer keyboards, guitars and many traditional
Native American instruments, such as Taos drums, deer claws,
turtle rattles, native flutes and an instrument they call
a dream tube that sounds like a digereedoo, to name a few.
Ancient Power is kind of the western
interpretation of Native American music and is much more melodic
and complex than one would expect to find in traditional Native
American music. Probably the foremost example of this is the
fourth track, called "Earth Dweller." It is a dramatic,
orchestrated melody with guitar, native drums and synthesized
symphony that sounds like something from a majestic scene
in a western movie soundtrack. Another good example is track
number eight, titled "Wind of Spirits," which opens
with spacious New Age synthesizer orchestra and a steady,
primordial drum beat. Gradually this is joined by the voice
of Edgar Perry, a White Mountain Apache of the Eagle Clan
in Arizona, singing the Apache chant of thanks.
This album CD does an excellent job of interpreting
atmospheric elements while moving from authentic Native American
music to ambient space and then back again. I found the overall
emotional texture of this album stirred the feelings of gentle
kindness.
Ancient Power can be ordered directly
from Sequoia Records, 1106 2nd Street, Suite 119,
Encinitas, California 92024. Or call 706/ 942-7574.
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