“Autumn Monsoon”
by Suzanne Teng and Gilbert Levy
Album Review by Dyan Garris for New Age CD and Zone Music Reporter
“‘Autumn Monsoon” is true medicine for the soul.’” – Dyan Garris
“Autumn Monsoon,” the newest release from multiple award-winning husband and wife team, Suzanne Teng and Gilbert Levy, features 10 tracks of ethereal, instrumental music created with Native American flutes and drums, percussion, and stringed instruments from around the world.
Here, we embark upon a mystical musical journey to India, through the American Southwest, West Africa, the Saharan desert, and even to the galaxy Andromeda, all the while honoring the distinct voice of the Native American flute, which is the centerpiece instrument on the album.
The music of their group, Mystical Journey (Suzanne Teng, Gilbert Levy, Dann Torres, and Jon Ossman), has been licensed for hundreds of film, television, commercial and video productions and was featured on NBC’s “America’s Got Talent.”
On “Autumn Monsoon,” their 5th album, Teng and Levy are the primary songwriters and have released the album as a duet. The 10 tracks feature Teng on Native American flutes with Levy on an array of world strings, drums and percussion, the bass dulcimer, Turkish lute (saz), Inuk (hybrid guitar), and the melodic metal drums, Hang and Rav. Teng also adds performances on the alto and bass flutes, Indian harp (Swaramandala) and voice. Fellow Mystic Journey members Dann Torres and Jon Ossman contribute masterful performances on the guitar and dilruba (the East Indian fiddle, which is a cross between the sitar and sarangi).
The mystical, exotic, chill-groove album opens with the ethereal title track, “Autumn Monsoon.” This is a haunting, hypnotic, flute melody embraced by drums and world percussion, and perfectly lays the foundation for all that comes next. Immediately following is the sinuous, snaky, and sensuous, “Indian Sisters.” One can feel the gentle power of the “Divine Feminine” principle winding throughout and rising. Beautifully done.
The mysterious and exotic “Maya” is a favorite with its layered flutes, strings, synths, and world percussion beat. This is very relaxing, peaceful, and reverent. Ditto for “Traveler.” This is masterfully done, with perfect mix and production. “Blue Ngoni” has an engaging flute melody and an African beat. One gets transported to an ancient time quite easily here.
“Canyon Ghosts” is quite ethereal and haunting. This is another favorite. Great beat and percussion accompany Suzanne’s seemingly effortless flutes. I found this so relaxing as to be trance inducing. Again, we have the superior mix and production that are a hallmark of this album.
The gorgeous, “Sueños” (which means “dreams”), is aptly named. Here we can completely chill out with this day-dreamy and calming song. It’s total serenity. Next, we are most gracefully transported to “Andromeda.” Ethereal and atmospheric, one can feel themselves breathe freely again. What an amazingly relaxing song. And the flute here is extra exquisite. Perfect.
The “Journey of Life” is multi-layered and complex. We can literally feel ourselves traveling on the path of life, and beyond, actually. Again, the instrumentation is beautiful, as throughout.
The album closes out with “Prayer for Claire.” Etheric, heart-touching strings, along with extremely ethereal flute, bring us to a place of reverence and respect. Simply stunning. Perfect ending
This album is not just “another Native American flute album.” It’s “wow.” And it’s true medicine for the soul.
Get it here or wherever music is sold/streamed: http://mysticjourney.net
Press/Radio Contact:
Sherry Finzer
Higher Level Media
[email protected]
www.higherlevel.media
