Magna Canta: Sanctuary

Artist: Magna Canta
Album: Sanctuary
Released: April 19th, 2005
Genre: New Age, Electronica, Trip-Hop, Crossover



Track Listing:

1. Russia - 4:06
2. Kyrie - 4:05 Song Sample
3. Pater Noster - 4:01
4. Sanctum Christe - 4:02
5. Credo - 4:07
6. Japan - 4:18
7. Lux Lucies - 3:44
8. In Excelsiss Deo - 4:43
9. Close To Heaven - 4:22
10. Celestia Organa - 4:07
11. Sequentia - 4:14

Grading: (Niche Weighted)
Listenability: A
Relistenability: A-
Listening Experience: A
Variation: B-
Overall: A-

Magna Canta really came out of left field in terms of the style of music that I normally listen to. In general I have fairly eclectic tastes when it comes to music, and I can listen to pretty much anything that I like the sound of. Magna Canta, is this interesting blend of techno/dance, Gregorian chants, and very smooth melodic lines. It is certainly what I would classify as a "chill out" album; it seems to fit this category so well I think I'll even classify that as a genre here. It is really quite difficult to find much information about the artists that are particularly involved with this group because they don't seem to have a proper webpage. They are designated under the Intentcity Records label which also produces the artist Lesiëm which I will more than likely be doing a review of in the future.

For those of you that grew up in the Catholic faith, the Gregorian chants might sound a bit familiar, but this record is probably something that would happen if you were having a rave party in a church. (I apologize to any fervent Catholics out there that might take offense to this, I don't intend such offense). What really drew to me to this particular style of music is that they did a crossover, they blended Gregorian chants (which I found quite nice) with a modern beat and great melodic lines which give a very calming overall experience. Like it says on the cover of the album, "Close your eyes and listen to Sanctuary" this is really something that one can do with this particular album. It is definitely an excellent candidate for one of those days when you just need to relax a bit (*shakes fist at economy*), damn office workers never refill the coffee machine when it's empty, why do they make the doors for right handed people, and so on.

I have a difficult time really picking out any particular favourite songs in this album because they are all equally a pleasure to listen to, although "Celestia Organa" is one that really grabs me. "Russia" and "Japan" also strike me more than some of the other tracks on this particular album.

The vocals are really the most striking this on this album to me, and oddly enough despite the more "classical" feel of those vocals they seem to blend together so nicely with the dance beat sort of backdrop they are put against. I guess it's one of those odd combinations that one would never think would work until they try it, and then it's like, woah hey I think I've got something here. Magna Canta certainly has something here, and while not everyone might be into this sort of genre, if you are pretty expansive and open about your music tastes, definitely give this album a listen.

Keiko Matsui: White Owl

Artist: Keiko Matsui (Offical Artist Website)
Album: White Owl
Released: October 7th, 2003
Genre: New Age/Smooth Jazz





Track Listing:

1. "White Owl" – 5:05
2. "Moonlight Sailor" – 5:11
3. "Steps Of Maya" – 5:47
4. "Precious Time (Solo Piano)" – 3:33
5. "Kappa" – 5:30
6. "Across The Sun" – 4:54
7. "The White Gate" – 7:07
8. "Doll" – 4:50
9. "The Next Plateau (Solo Piano)" – 4:43
10. "Safari" – 4:35
11. "Light Above The Trees" – 8:42
12. "The Wind And The Wolf" – 6:30
13. "To The Indian Sea" – 4:34
14. "Forever, Forever (Solo Piano)" – 3:19

Rating: 9.5 out of 10

I have a sort of obsessive compulsive thing about giving an album 10 out of 10. The thing I don't like about giving number ratings to albums is it makes it feel like a rating of 10 out of 10 means perfection.. which it doesn't. 10 out of 10 means that the album has far exceeded my expectations and highly scientific measurements (actually completely arbitrary). I'm considering revising my rating system to better reflect how I feel albums should really be rated. Anyway, on to the review.

I'm actually a bit of a newcomer to listening to Jazz music. Throughout most of my teen years I was a rocker/metal-head along with some alternative and truth be told I never really ventured into the jazz music arenas. Not to say I was averse to jazz music, it just simply never made it onto my playlists purely out of complete lack of information about any artists or albums available. I discovered Keiko Matsui (an absolutely wonderful jazz piano player) from listening to Sky.FM internet radios listening to their "Solo Piano" channel I believe. So after searching around a bit I came across this album. Now it is a LIVE album. I'll be the first to say I generally stay --away-- from live albums for simply one reason.. sound quality. Often times live albums (while the music itself might be good) the actual sound quality produced from the live CDs can be shaky and sound really hollow and disgusting. So I was pleasantly surprised when I gave this particular album a listen. It can even be difficult at times to recognize that this album is a live album (unless you have some killer sound gear) until of course the customary audience applause at the end of the song tracks. So if you're one that's like, "Ew live album I bet it sounds like shit" (I think that a lot) this one actually sounds really good.

This is a tough album for me to review.. because there's very little that I can criticize about it (I like criticizing..) Every song on this album is absolutely beautiful and unique in it's own way (I'm going to hold myself back from criticizing uniqueness in jazz music). One pitfall that a lot of jazz songs fall into (at least from what I've listened to..) is a number of them generally have that same "sound". One can listen to different artists.. different albums.. different songs.. and you sort of get this feeling of deja vu sometimes.. did I already listen to this? I didn't get this feeling at any time from listening to this album. Another beautiful thing about this album, is there's a good variety of song formats.. What do I mean by that? Simply, every track isn't just your standard jazzy drum, with maybe some jazzy guitar chords, and then a busting saxophone repeating the same melody over and over again. One of my favourite tracks on this album, Track #7, the White Gate, features this really incredible guitar solo type of thing at the beginning which has this sort of flamenco feel to it.

My absolute favourite track on this album would have to be the Track #9, "The Next Plateau (Solo Piano)", it features this beautiful piano solo (this album contains three piano solo tracks all together, Track #4, #9, and #14 (as you can see from the track listing)) all of which are a wonderful experience to listen to. From start to finish one is almost forced to close their eyes as they listen to it as it builds in tension then slowly eases off again.. absolutely wonderful.

If you have ever been interested in stepping into the jazz world, I would definitely recommend this album as a starter album. Once again, as this album has passed the 9 rating on my scale that means the re-playability of the album is very good. Time and time again that you set this sucker playing, you'll be glad you did each time. Every song on this album has a very steady flow of current (meaning from start to finish it carries you along with it). A number of artists have trouble getting caught on a log in the middle of the river.. meaning they'll keep the listener moving along with them then they'll get stuck.. perhaps replaying the melody line too many times, then one may get sick and change the track. The movement of the album has a very nice forward momentum that won't eject you from your seat, but will keep your ears perked up the whole time.