Search - Magic of Gregorian Chant :: Chill to the Chant

The Fabrics of Faith

TastyBabySyndrome | "Daddy Dagon's Daycare" - Proud Sponsor of the Lit | 01/22/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"There's something soothing about listening to the sounds of Gregorian monks, and I'm not really sure why that is. Perhaps its the spiritual resonance in those songs mingling with themes that I can't understand because of language barriers and that I don't want to translate because ignorance is bliss, or perhaps its simply the fact that its relaxing. Its so purified and unrefined, taking the essence of something seen as "important" and pinpointing it on the spiritual map, and it does so without the gloss and the glamour that is coupled with most of the sounds you hear. There are neither accompanying instruments droning throughout the background, nor are there attempts to reshape the voices into something they aren't. It is simply man and faith coupling in a language that seems to impact regardless of what one believes.While I'm a fan of many things that are done with Gregorian chant and like to hear it placed into a backdrop of electronica or something far less-than-holy, I have to admit that the mood sometimes strikes me and I want to strip it all away. I want to hear that sound because it allows me to concentrate and see the essence of the songs, almost smelling the incense burning and the temples forming before me. Granted, it is a rare moment when this mood climbs into my skies, but when it does it does and that's why I bought this album. Not only was the album impressive in its strength from song to song, but it was also impressive in the sheer scope of what I picked up when I got this. Not only are there 19 tracks on the album, but they range in the 2-5 minute range and deliver over sixty minutes of music. So, there's a setting for every piece that's allowed to develop, and that works out well. And that's why I would recommend it to anyone that burns out on the crescendo of noise sometimes, because a return to the basics is sometimes revitalizing."