Search - David Parsons :: Shaman

David Parsons
Shaman
Genres: International Music, New Age, Pop, Rock

Track Listings (6) - Disc #1
1. Gathering
2. Shaman
3. They Come
4. Whirling into the Light
5. Trance/Formation
6. The Return

CD Details

All Artists: David Parsons
Title: Shaman
Members Wishing: 0
Total Copies: 0
Label: Celestial Harmonies
Original Release Date: 12/20/1999
Re-Release Date: 12/7/1999
Genres: International Music, New Age, Pop, Rock
Styles: Progressive, Electronic
Number of Discs: 1
SwapaCD Credits: 1
UPC: 013711318128

Synopsis

Album Description

This project was inspired by the great shamanic traditions of the world, in particular those of Central Asia, the Middle East and North Africa. It is also inspired by the writings of Gurdjieff and Madam Blavatsky, and the art of Nicholas Roerich. The word shaman these days is loosely applied to medicine men, dervishes, lamas, etc. It originally comes from the Tungus people of Siberia. It is not the name of a religion as such, but has become a name for those people who have certain mystical experiences irrespective of philosophy, religion or culture - a kind of universal brotherhood or sisterhood. These experiences may be in the form of ecstatic states where the shaman leaves the body and travels to the upper or lower worlds. The shaman is even likely to exhibit control over nature (siddhi in sanskrit). He or she may also be a great healer.In composing Shaman, David Parsons "imagined a gathering of mystics, headed by a high shaman, at night in a remote desert valley." This recording is his "impression of a complete ceremony where mantras are chanted and dervishes are whirling in ecstatic trances to the rhythm of the music."It is Parsons' intention to leave the listener to imagine what the track titles mean as they will surely mean different things to different people.

CD Reviews

Deep, moving and complicated.

David M. Kramer | Las Vegas | 02/29/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This Cd is a continuation of the devlopment of this artist. I have most of David's CDs and this is a new direction...better? ...no....different?..very..This CD is very subtle and puts you into a trance before you realize whats going on... I like it."

Not great, but very good

Neil Kerr | Hastings, NE United States | 10/28/2002

(3 out of 5 stars)

"In creating this release, Parsons said he "imagined a gathering of mystics, headed by a high shaman, at night in a remote desert valley." The music certainly has a desert feel to it. He relies almost purely on electronic instruments here, but each track features at least one traditional middle-eastern instrument. All but one track, "Whirling Into Light", are in a minor key, lending a slightly sinister tone to the CD. The synth-rhythms move quickly - this is certainly not ambient music. You get the sense that the mystics are gathered around a huge bonfire, shaking and dancing ecstatically during the night.But it doesn't feel AS Middle-Eastern as, say, Open Canvas. It is has only a slight mid-east feel to it, which doesn't really set it apart from his other music or make it a unique experience. It's not my favorite of David Parsons' many CDs, but worth listening if you're a fan of his, or if you like electronic music."

Prepare for the Trance-Formation . . .

ricARtist | New York, USA | 07/29/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Drawing on the influences of 1970's Berlin school sequencer-based electronic spacemusic such as that of Tangerine Dream, ethnomusicologist and multi-instrumentalist David Parsons goes a step further creatively merging this with primal shamanic drumming and vocal drones and washes. The end result is a hypnotic almost trance-inducing sound experience. This is electronic Trance music with a soul, without the often relentless pounding of Techno. This is a slight departure in style from Parsons' other trademark albums, along with Ngaio Gamelan, being more polyrhythmical. Though perhaps not considered his greatest, it is however a different, evocative and equally mystical side of Parsons."