Search - Mystic Rhythms Band :: Mystic Rhythms

IC B. (icberry)
Reviewed on 4/19/2009...

Here is a little something more about this recording. First of all, more from the liner notes:
All tracks composed by Gregor Theelen. Poduced by Gregor Theelen & Mystic Rhythms. Some of the vocals are recorded live on location by Gregor Theelen. Some vocals are adapted from 'Heart of Asia', courtesy of Spectrasonics. You hear native chants from Zuni, Lakota, Shoshone and other tribes. Indian, Tibetan, Chinese and Aboriginal chanting as well as music has been included.

[The following is an independent review of this album from screenindia.]

Mystic Rhythms is a fusion of native American and tribal Indian chanting/singing, with high quality and exciting synth and rhythm-laced grooves. The highlight here is the superlative electronica.
Gregor Theelen, the musician behind Mystic Rhythms project, was born into a family of musicians, producers and artists. At the age of five, he made his first public appearance, playing four-hand piano with his father, and at the age of eight he started composing. He discovered electronic music at the age of 12, influenced by the likes of Klaus Schulze, Tangerina Dream, Mike Oldfield and Pink Floyd. Theelen played in various hard rock bands before he founded his own band when he was 19.
Mystic Rhythms project shows Theelen’s fascination for rhythm and percussion from around the world. The album opens with the fast-tempo number Ocean of joy, featuring a galloping bass rhythm and a wonderfully sung vocal. Victory dance uses native American chanting with a propulsive rhythm and synth track, intermixed with a piano melody. These songs showcase some excellent electronica.
The comparatively slow compositions on the album too have the all-pervasive electronic music which elevates it to something special. The chanting on Shamanic tree of world (Part 2) as it alternates between high and low energy blending of techno and Berlin-school synth wizardy is an experience in itself.
Wee ha winnee yo reminds you of Peter Buffett with its mid-tempo loping gait, native American chanting, and overall cinematic textures, while Song for Krishna is properly sedate until a percolating beat comes into the picture.
The 16-minute long Earth dance dreamtime has an aboriginal spin to it, a serious ethno-tribal-funkified one. Besides the synth-beats, there is a Miles Davis-ish trumpet winding its way through this number at times, along with electronic effects.
Mystic Rhythms can be described as good example of the fusion of ethnic chant/singing with electronics. It sure is inventive and imaginative, and for anybody who can feel the music.