REVIEW: Dadawa, Voices From The Sky (Sire)
- Jon Steltenpohl
Tibetan artist Dadawa uses a unique blend of eastern harmonies, western mixing to create a completely exotic and echoed sound. Voices From The Sky is a more mature and engaging album than her previous release, Sister Drum. Once again, she comes close to attaining the crown of the Asian Enya, but, unlike Enya, Dadawa doesn't force her album into a single sonic dreamscape. Instead, she allows herself to punctuate silent moments with mind-bending vocal leaps.
At times, Dadawa is quiet and demur. At other times, she is striking and rampant. "The Sixth Dalai Lama's Love Song" is a perfect example. Her voice sounds like fine porcelain. It glistens and dazzles despite being precariously fragile. Slowly though, it transforms into something more beautiful and bold. Like a peacock spreading its tail, Dadawa emerges with a brilliant, shattering voice that is strong and blinding. Thunderbolts strike across the musical landscape, and Dadawa is unleashed. Even without a translation, this is a song befitting of its title. It's the Dalai Lama's love song indeed.
"Ballad of Lhasa" is a pretty, acoustic song with traditional Chinese instruments done in a very modern style. It features haunting background vocals and an interesting overlay of spoken voices that ends with a throng of people singing the chorus in what sounds like a large auditorium. Lhasa is the region of Tibet where Dadawa and her collaborator He Xuntian are from, and the track conveys a sense of broad community and harmony.
"The Believer" features a flute and Enyaesque layering of voices, instruments, percussion that flows in and out like overlapping waves caressing a beach in the moonlight. "Question From The Other Shore" borrows its tone from "The Believer", and it echoes and resonates with soothing fundamental harmonies. The only drawback to Voices From The Sky is when a little Yoko Ono appears on "Seven Drums". Amidst beautiful chorus's are the discordant cacophony often employed in Asian music. This is actually a stunning and engaging track, but it breaks the Enya-esque mood.
True fans of world music will find their ears challenged and invigorated, but casual fans may find their musical sensibilities assaulted. You can't relax to music like this in the sense that you can with an Enya album. This is captivating music, and it pulls your attention toward it rather than allowing complete relaxation. As an album, Voices From The Sky is arranged superbly. "Seven Drums" is included as the middle track, and acts as the emotional peak of the album. By the time the album finishes with the subdued "Question From The Other Shore", you have taken a journey. Those looking for a mystical experience that exposes new levels of emotions might find that Voices From The Sky provides the path they are looking for.
