Search - Nana Simopoulos :: Daughters Of The Sun

Eclectic, original and fun!

Brianna Neal | USA | 01/01/2004

(4 out of 5 stars)

"Nana [Simopoulos], minus her last name and plus a number of new musical friends, returns for another foray down the misty, musical pathways of her fertile imagination. Her exotic, contemplative compositions for strings, winds, voice and percussion are rooted in ethnic traditions from around the world, but are enhanced by modern jazzy flavors and improvisational flourish. The fusion of eastern and western musical styles is apparent simply by the noting the variety of instruments contributing to this album: sitar, bouzouki, tanpura, fretless guitar, sarangi, bansuri flutes, clarinet, pan flute, Apache spirit flute, Chinese flute, bass flute, hammered dulcimer, violin, cello, bass, tablas, glass armonica, udu, digeridu, toms and other world percussion, with vocals, chants and spoken Greek rounding out the soundscape. Guest artists include Ustad Sultan Khan on sarangi and vocals, Steve Gorn on flutes, and percussionist Arto Tuncboyacian. Nana and friends can also be heard in her previous release, "After the Moon", and if you enjoy their work, you might also like that of the innovative Persian group, Axiom of Choice."