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Stephen Kent's more recent offering. Although this CD is a bit different than his 'Landing' and 'Family Tree' titles, it should still do a lot for loyal followers. Tracks to fully take in (listen to 'em twice) if need be are the eight-minute ethnic / tribal "Thel Kupa", "Ouled Sergo" (to me, it sounds like maybe a lost Embryo cut that never made it onto an lp), the stunning Lights In A Fat City-like "Valley Of The Winds", "Edge Of Time" and "Elders Lament" (sort of reminded me of possibly Third Ear Band). I know what you're thinking - WHAT am I on tonight? Actually check out all the cool instruments that Kent decided to employ while assembling this piece of work - didgeridoo (of course), frame drum, sintir, bass, guitar and percussion. Hopefully, this CD won't be the last we hear from him.

The mere mention of the Australian digiridu --a long, oboe-like instrument-- is enough to make some nonbelievers cringe in terror: several years ago it was adopted as an instrument of choice by world music's fusion-y New Age contingent, and since then its status has never been the same. What's most remarkable about this album, though, is that it's really quite good, although it is pretty much what you'd call a "world fusion" album. To start with, Californian Kent is a virtuoso performer, capable of delving deep into the tonal richness of his chosen instrument, but also of playing shorter notes and not just the long, resonant drones the digiridu is known for. These controlled percussive bursts are so unlike most digiridu playing that at first I wondered if they'd been sampled or digitally manipulated; but no, I think he's just an amazingly skilled performer. Naturally Kent also explores a wide variety of musical styles and it's the album's odd multicultural combinations -- the "oil and water" of elements you wouldn't expect to mix -- that bring life to this album. Some parts work better than others: in general, the Western funk and pop mixes seem tacky, but the tracks that borrow from various "world music" styles -- Tuvan throat singing, Arabic percussion, EastIndian flutes -- are pretty nice. One song which features a shimmering cascade of Rajasthani flutes, "Edge Of Three," is particularly beautiful. Though this record edges into territiory that I don't normally go for, there are several songs on here that I could see working into a mix. Worth checking out!