Higher Octave Music

2CD's of relaxing New Age, Smooth Jazz, Downtempo music.

Inner Journeys: Myth & Legends (2003). With its lush melodies, tribal rhythms and chants and soaring flute driven energy, Cusco has cornered the market on mystical world music since becoming one of Higher Octave Music's mainstays over 15 years ago. They could have sold those two million units based on the engaging, spirit-energizing music alone, but no doubt dedicated listeners have been prompted to brush up on Inca and Aztec civilizations, which fueled this brainchild of German born group leader Michael Holm. This sweeping and provocative new disc blends a multitude of world cultures while delving into the adventure, magic, and mystery of ancient myths and legends…

You can't keep a bad pun-maker down (EKO's John O'Connor was responsible for "Star Trekkin'," amongst other humorous sins) but the good news is that you wouldn't want to, at least this time. Alter EKO is an excellent album of acoustic/Celtic-oriented instrumental music, with all kinds of delightful flavors mixed into an excellent production. It sounds as though O'Connor and crew had a great time making this album; it's a terrific time listening to it.

Logikal is the second release from Irish guitarist John O'Connor's eclectic group EKO. The sound centers around O'Connor's guitars as he cooks up an old-world folk music hybrid that extends to Andean, Celtic, Irish and Caribbean influences. Gutsy finger-picking gives way to laidback island flavorings and easygoing changes. Several musicians with rock and folk backgrounds are heard, like percussionist Hossam Ramzy, Bob Loveday from Penguin Cafe Orchestra and the versatile Danny Thompson on double bass. The sound is ethnically based and highly charged with large doses of clean, lighthearted fun.

This California-based guitarist was actually born in Germany. His inspiration and style are similar to that of another German immigrant, Deuter, who co-produced and performed on Govi's debut album Sky High. Like Deuter, Govi spent a number of years living and studying in India, where he added sitar to his vocabulary of acoustic and electric guitars, mandola, and cello.Govi's music gained in popularity in the 1990s, with the expansion of peoples awareness of world music and a renewed passion for flamenco, spawning new age hit albums like Andalusian Nights and Passion and Grace. His music is a gentle, melodious combination of influences from around the world.