Search - Various Artists :: Earthtone Collection, Vol. 3

Almost as good as the second EC compilation.

Distant Voyageur | Io | 12/21/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I got excited when I first eyed this release after the beautiful Earthtone Collection Two CD. This album to me is about 85 percent as good as the second installment in this series. While the first was very nature oriented and the second was more electronic this album offers New Age from both worlds.Flight Of The Condor by Nicholas Gunn is a beautiful opener to this marvelous CD. It starts off with a very stormy breeze and some flutes. It then blows up into a breathtaking song with amazing flutes, thundering beats, and violins. This is a must hear. I could play this song when I,m traveling to the Grand Canyon or traveling along routh 89 between Sedona and Flagstaff ,Arizona.New Fire by Ah-Kin is a very haunting song with pan flutes, jungle beats, and some electronic synths. Night Traveler by Ayman is a very hounting song with ambient rhythms, beautiful harps, and a very strong Middle Eastern sound. This song I could play when traveling through the sandy deserts at twilight. One and Twain by Ginkgo Garden is a very pop oriented song that to my pleasant surprise has some rock guitars in the middle. This is a great song. Pioneers by Mars Lasar is one of the best songs on this CD. It's a danceable song with acoustic guitars laced with ambient rhythms. It also has some electronic guitars as well. The part of the song I like is the almost jazzy bridge of the song in the middle with the Gregorian Chants. This song reverts between minor and major notes to make things better. Rhythm Of The Living Thing by Ginkgo Garden is a musical treat for the ears. It's another pop oriented song but better than the other song by Ginkgo on this CD. This song is very upbeat. Havasu Falls by Nicholas Gunn is like Flight Of The Condor but not as complex and not quite as good buy still this is a nice song to play when at the Grand Canyon. The Miricle Of Moona by FREUD is absolutely stunning. It's a very ambient song with beautiful vocals and well done arrangments. The middle of the song has som violins for a beautiful backdrop. Morning Drum by Primal Instinct is a very jungle oriented song with pan flutes and some jazzy sounds. The drum loop is borrowed from Enigmas TNT for the brain. Answer Mother Earth by Stonecoat is an upbeat song with Native American chants and flutes as well. Song For The Ruins by Primal Instince is another jungle oriented song wiht pan flutes, nature sounds, and jazzy sounds. Beyond The Blue by Cheryl Guun is a very mellow ambient song and quite frankly is kind of a sleeper to me but still good. Electric becomes Eclectic by Christopher Franke is mostly just flutes with nature sounds in the background. This song closes out this marvoulous CD. This is a great third addition to this series. While not as strong as the Second Earthtone CD this one is great and is a worthy CD to have in your collection. To Madyak who called this dull music, you might want to give this CD another listen. This is the energetic music that makes New Age thrive and makes it one of the greatest genres of music around. I know that for sure."

A stirring and uplifting mix

Brianna Neal | USA | 05/26/2003

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I have discovered a number of label anthologies that I really like, and this is one. Well-selected, these particular cuts from various EarthTone artists do a great job of defining a cohesive atmosphere--similar enough to sustain the mood, but different enough to keep it interesting and subtly varied. This compilation features compositions of sweep and intensity, some tense with anticipation, others soaring without inhibition in a high-spirited celebration of life. Standouts are the selections by Nicholas Gunn ("Flight of the Condor"), Ah-Kin ("New Fire"), Ayman ("Night Traveller"), Mars Laser ("Pioneers") and Primal Instinct ("Morning Drum" and "Song for the Ruins"). This fairly "high-energy" sampler is my favorite of the EarthTone Collections to date, and offers great motivational music to work by."