Guzheng

Born and raised in Luanda capital city of Angola, Vivalda Dula is considered as ‘’The New Face of Angola World Music’’ and has become the voice of the new generation of Angolan musicians that creates a huge cultural and international impact on today's Angolan music. This soulful singer, songwriter, percussionist and multi-award winner, has conquered and grace the world music stage with her undeniable talent and excited eclectic music symbiosis between her traditional roots and world music.

Chinese Instruments brings you a collection of individual instrument performances that capture some of the beautiful and exotic sounds of oriental China. The collection is dominated by instrument and percussion loops that were recorded in Shanghai and features Guzheng, Pipa, Bamboo Flute, Erhus, Temple Blocks, Ju, Sticks, Kuai Ban Er and various traditional cymbals and gongs.

By welcoming the beauty of imperfection and simplicity, Sven Wunder applies the timeless wisdom of wabi sabi on this musical journey.

Line-Up: Anders "Nobility" Nyberg - cembalo, pump organ and miniature piano | Anton "Quinton Taljenblock" Teljeback - viola pomposa, fiddle, mandoline, cable cutting crashes | Bjorn "Bellows" Malmros - squeeze box, hurdy gurdy and voices of madness | Eva "the Navigator" Maaherra Lovheim - violin, nyckelharpa and vocals | Frida "Freebird af Warmaland" Granstrom - violin, viola and vocals | Hampus "Monkey Boy" Holm - the big drum and other floggables | Hampus "Bojtikken" Larsson - percussions and vocals | Louise "Happy Lou" Gillman - feisty fiddle | Ina "Battery" Molin - cajon, marimba, pompous percussions and all things beatable | Jens "Wan Chou Zhong" Tzan Choong - obnoxious stringdrum, wee guitar, huge oriental fruit thing with strings and Chinese harpy harpy - aka Banjo/Guitalele/Sitar/Guzheng | Jim "Silent Jim" Sundstrom - mandolino, guitarra, irish tenor banjo, false chord-posing, wishful singing | Jonas "Hogeye McGinn" Nilsson - rusty old 5-string

After hearing EASTERN ENERGY several times I found quite a few aspects to like, while a few areas left a bit to be desired. Yet the latter should be weighted against the fact that this is their debut USA release and as such there's lots of time for them to reach their potential with music of greater artistic impact. I'm not really into new age music, but I do recognize that there is an audience out there that is emotively impacted by this genre. And despite it not being my normal listening fare, I do feel an emotive connection with a fair amount of the material on EASTERN ENERGY.