2006/06/25

David Hykes & the Harmonic Choir - Hearing Solar Winds [WORKING LINK]

from what I understand, David Hyke's vocal work is based on ideas and techniques derived from Tibetan and Tuvian throat singing traditions, yet streamlined and refined according to an european choral aesthetic - the result somewhat akin to an Eastern gregorian chant... or if Arvo Part converted to Buddhism.

recorded in an old church, the resonant psychoactive overtones slowly build from the layering of voices; hair-raising and chillingly powerful in its majestic stillness - this is deeply transporting and transcendent stuff - music for mystical journeys and out of body experiences.

regrettably, like so many others, his later work succumbed to the garish tackiness of new-age music, but this earlier recording, regarded by many to be his masterpiece, is nothing of the sort - uncompromising and rigorous in its mystical search for a perfect sound - the Ocora label would not let us down.

I recommend late night or dawn as optimum times for this record; or meditating for a while in silence before listening.

http://rapidshare.com/files/19860706/THCDHHSWall.zip

(note: this is not out of print but it does cost $20.00 and somehow I get the feeling that money is the last thing on their minds when David Hykes and his choir made this music...)

13 comments:

those said...

this is one of the most beautiful, haunting things I have ever heard...

fantastic...

Anonymous said...

Hey, thanks for posting this, some pretty interesting stuff (apt description of it - "if Arvo Part converted to Buddhism").

Anonymous said...

really looking forward to
hearing this , thanks

Loopy C said...

Hadn't commented before, having had this in my personal library already and the need for focus amongst such choices to be had these days!


This release is not only 'beautiful, haunting' in it's organic abandonment of temperament but, on a personal note, it put me a long way bit further along the road of microtonal tuning explorations with tempered instruments (i.e. the keyboard).

The possibilities now afforded the 'virtual' musician are prompted by such moments in art such as this. I hope some will be converted to the impressionist frontiers opened by these 'smearings' of interval and timbre.

Once again, a benchmark share ;-)

Anonymous said...

I love this. Everyone should listen.

Just a little syntax help: we need FEWER, better options. "…less, better options" is incorrect.

zhao said...

Loopy, do you know Akira Rabelais' work?

ah... yes... english was my second language after all... cheers! :)

tom7865 said...

Ahh... very beautiful. Reminds me of "Tibetan Buddhism: Tantras of Gyütò, Vol. 1" by the monks of the gyuto tantric college that I listen to on occasion when I feel the need to get in touch with my inner universe. Job well done Mr Confucious, love your site also...

Loopy C said...

confucius said...Loopy, do you know Akira Rabelais' work?

Yes sir! I actually use his software quite a bit.

One of his albums was a strange Deja Vu for me. Somewhere in 1990 I did a series that was basically a spectral and time/pitch treatment on Satie, Cage, and Debussy piano works (all hardware processing back then). About a year ago I picked up a used copy of one his albums that was about the same idea (and was very similar in sound and atmosphere). So, I like to think great minds think alike ;-)

I do have on my wish list to pick up his release on David Sylvian's label. What is also interesting to me is that what I feel his software does so uniquely (evisceration) never appears in his work from what I have heard of it, he seems to be more after a diffused afterimage of classical/folk/ethnic origins, a 'Plato's Cave' representation of existing traditions more than any kind of the granulized re-assemblage which features in the software so prominently. It may be he has a whole unheard catalog of that direction but his public musical persona has never revealed it in my experience.

Anonymous said...

Oh, how great is to find it ! But much time ran through - could you please repost this record? It's not available now.

Anonymous said...

Oh, how great is to find it ! But much time ran through - could you please repost this record? It's not available now.

Anonymous said...

fantastic, thank you very much!

M said...

Thank you for sharing this

M

reikiandrew said...

Thank you very much. May all beings be liberated.