Media Reviews
by Mark Maxwell Abushady • New York City

CDs

Into Silence – The Meditation Music of Deva Premal
Deva Premal
Sounds True
www.soundstrue.com; www.whiteswanrecords.com
Deva Premal’s meditation music has an energy which, unlike many other meditation music recordings, will not lull the listener to sleep. That said, it is trance-inducing. Eastern modal motifs, coupled with beautiful harmonies make for an album which should not be limited to meditation practice, but to any activity which could become a ‘moving meditation.’ Cuts include the well set Guru Rinpoche Mantra, Om Mani Padme Hum, and Om Namo, each excerpted from former albums, and each supplied with a translation in the liner notes.

Spiritual Healing
Deuter
www.newearthrecords.com
Deuter is a master of this genre, and this latest album does not disappoint. Dreamy music washes over the listener and, as the title suggests, this would be an excellent selection for use in tandem with any of the healing arts. Even without such partnering, one might feel like a healing has been made just listening to this album! A fine addition to Deuter’s body of work.

Cinematic
Spencer Brewer
www.SpencerBrewer.com
Cinematic is a beautifully presented, well executed album with an interesting twist – the double album introduces selections on the first CD (subtitled “Black & White”) as piano solos, with many of the previous selections given orchestral back-up (as well as a different line-up), on the second CD (subtitled “Technicolor”). Mr. Brewer’s strong and passionate piano is shown to advantage especially well in the frenetically fun and upbeat “Lupin Swing” and the plaintive “Satie’s Forgotten Dream” which sounds quite true to the composer of tribute. He is accompanied by some excellent musicians, including talented reed player Paul McCandless. “Technicolor” will sweep the listener off his feet at times, and at others, will seem like a close friend. The mellifluous ‘”Ode for Patricia” is stunningly beautiful in both of its incarnations.

Renaissance of Grace
Aurora Juliana Ariel
Sounds True
www.aeos.com
www.Wrightful.com
Here is an interesting, interesting piece of work. The music, which I could only poorly describe with words, at times felt (not sounded) Enya-like, but with a latin sensibility, a perception which was helped along by a Spanish feel to the words. But then, the words weren’t quite Spanish. A look at the liner notes provided the clue: the songs are channeled (though the artist doesn’t use that word), as is the language.” What amazed me in this offering was the lack of self-consciousness in the music (as well as the performance), and the quality of the language, which over the course of the album seemed to encompass all that is melodic in the various languages of our planet. I believe these songs. The shape of the tones and words are evocative and expressive without involving left brain comprehension. The back-up musicians are also excellent, and take the term “world music” to a new level.

Films

Water
Intention Media
Produced by Saida Medvedeva
www.waterthemovie.com
Water is a Russian film – translated and with a running commentary in English – which examines a myriad number of theories about the properties of water. Some rather amazing statements are made regarding the capacity of water to hold memories and related energies of events occurring within and around it, and how these energies can affect those who come into contact with the water, either through bathing, drinking or living in it. The film doesn’t stop there; it goes on to examine the effects of different types of music on the structure of water, the effect of prayer on water as well as the effect of this ‘structured water’ on fish, fruits and vegetables, and man. Throughout the movie, there is mention of the pervasiveness of water in the writings and traditions of orthodox Christianity and other major religions. Where Water succeeds is in opening the imagination to possibilities and increasing awareness of this arguably most important element in our world. Where it falters is in its mixed approach to its subject and its blindness to other possible explanations for the phenomena being explored. Taking at times a scientific approach, at others a mystical approach, and at still others a faith-based approach, the film seemed unable to successfully unite these disciplines into a single voice. While scientific back-up was supplied at times, at other times statements such as “just as the flapping of the wing of a butterfly can change the climate of a continent,” or “it is well known that holy water has a very powerful and stable structure” were made without further explanation. Theories were then built upon these “facts.” An exploration of these statements would have been welcomed. I would not reject this movie out of hand, but would suggest viewing it for its possibilities and following up on its declarations.

All is Made Beautiful – Native American Traditions with Warrior Woman Oh Shinnah Fast Wolf
Produced and directed by Bettina M. Gordon
Concert Music and Lyrics by
Oh Shinnah Fast Wolf
www.TheWisdomKeepers.com
With the conviction that “…the age-old teachings of our ancestors are more needed and valuable now” than ever, Austrian-born journalist Bettina Gordon explores Native American spiritual practices of the Apache tradition through interviews with Apache Elder Oh Shinnah Fast Wolf. Ms. Fast Wolf, a lovely and genuinely engaging 70-something year-old woman with an impressive background encompassing both Native and Western education and experiences (she was a Ford Foundation Scholar, an opening performer for the Grateful Dead, a holder of six university degrees, a winner of the Chicago Critics Poetry Award…) is without artifice and has a wonderfully open and warm way of communicating. She leads the viewer through a number of traditional ceremonies, including smudging, food blessing, morning prayer, feathering, self healing and purification, and centering, as well as speaking of the importance of gratitude to the earth, crystal work, and viewing all upon the earth as living beings (not objects for personal use). In her explanations, she is gentle yet quite compelling. Quantum, Theoretic and Atomic Physicist Dr. Elizabeth Rauscher is also interviewed, who speaks of scientific experiments which bear out the “validity” of the practices described, though Ms. Fast Wolf often asks those who might be skeptical to try a practice and then notice the difference in inner feeling. Here is an enjoyable and edifying film which I believe will kick-start, or ramp up, many a viewer’s practice – something which would please Ms. Fast Wolf very much.

Earthlings
Written, produced and directed by Shaun Monson
Narrated by Joaquin Phoenix
Music by Moby
www.earthlings.com
Earthlings is a film which will break your heart. It is difficult to watch, which is not surprising given its subject matter: the use and abuse of other forms of animals by man. Commonplace practices in major animal-related industries are examined as the film moves through its five segments of animals bred for pets, food, clothes, entertainment, and science. Knowing what I was in for, I steeled myself, but admit to having to look away at the anal electrocution and live-skinning scene. BUT, before letting that statement scare you from the film, consider this: practices in these industries have changed little over the years precisely because we have turned away from such images. Mr. Phoenix makes a statement to the effect that if slaughterhouses had glass walls, we’d all be vegetarians – quite believable after viewing this film. But this is not a “gore fest.” Many, many thought-provoking statements accompany the images. “If a being suffers, there can be no moral justification for refusing to take that suffering into consideration.” Using the term “speciesist’” (akin to “racist” and “sexist” in their approach to that which they consider less than themselves) the film draws parallels, difficult no doubt for some to hear, to slavery and concentration camps. These parallels are extremely well defended both with logical statements and haunting images. “The hope for the animals of tomorrow is to be found in a human culture that learns to feel beyond itself.” If we are indeed transitioning into a new age of enlightenment, here is another aspect of our society that begs reconstruction, and that is just what this film asks: that we “. . . reconsider our eating habits, our traditions, our styles and fashions, and, above all, our thinking.” On a technical note, Moby supplies a very effective and often beautiful soundtrack. I must end this review with a quote from the closing scene: “We enter as lords of the earth, bearing strange powers of terror & mercy alike. But human beings should love animals as the knowing love the innocent, and the strong love the vulnerable. When we wince at the suffering of animals, that feeling speaks well of us . . . and those who dismiss love for our fellow creatures as mere sentimentality overlook a good and important part of our humanity.” Now to hug my cat and reconsider things …

Mark Maxwell Abushady is an actor, singer, designer and photographer based in New York City.