Search - David Hykes, The Harmonic Choir :: Hearing Solar Winds

Vibrating Voices--Everything is Sound

C. Gardner | Washington D.C., D.C. United States | 11/19/2002

(5 out of 5 stars)

"You'll never hear anything like this CD anywhere. Hykes and his group have constructed amazing pieces of music based on the natural overtone sound of the human voice and by necessity, in order to hear the overtones, they sing very long vowel sounds, controlling the harmonics by mouth shape, tongue position, diaphragm control, etc. This CD was recorded in a cathedral which amplifies the overtones and doubles the sound of each voice. The effect--particularly on the track "Arc Descents"--is hair-raising and wonderful. I still can't figure out how their voices are able to descend in sliding tones for a full five minutes!I saw the Harmonic Choir perform once at the Kitchen in New York. Their singing was beamed by satellite to the abbey in France where they recorded this CD, and sent back (with a slight lag), giving them the acoustics of a space 3000 miles away! It was quite amazing."

Amazing, one of my favorites CDs of all time

P. McGrath | 02/28/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"This CD (in addition to their CD entitled 'Harmonic Meetings', which included some instrumentation) is certainly one of my all time favorites, especially for altering one's consciousness, inducing a state of meditation or restfulness. David Hykes & the Harmonic Choir brings the human voice to its mysterious depths. The only thing (that I know of) with which this vocal style might compare is classical Tuvan or Tibetan singing. Also, there are also some slight similarities to the vocalizations of composer György Ligeti's "Lux Aeterna"/"Eternal Light" (see film soundtrack to '2001: A Space Odyssey'). I can't imagine any serious lover of music, human voice, or meditation from cherishing this very special CD by David Hykes & the Harmonic Choir."

Pure Intent

Lujan Matus | 03/05/2006

(5 out of 5 stars)

"To this very day I find it difficult to explain what this music does in terms of shifting my consciousness. David Hykes' resonant chanting shifts one's cognitive system into virtual silence that allows one's awareness to move smoothly and progressively toward the sublime indescribable states that correspond to the purest intent."