Entwined & Entranced

Govinda, a.k.a. Shane O'Madden, has a magic touch when blending diverse elements such as guitar, programming, violin, and sarod to create an enticing electronic music with hints of the Middle East, India, and British Isles. "Erotic Mystics" is such an example, with its heavy hip-hop beat below the crying of the sarod and Clarita Sanchez's delicate spoken word. "Aspetta" wraps sounds of Celtica around O'Madden's unadorned vocal callings, while "Next to Godliness" recalls the elevated, vocal praising of Sufi qawwali and ragas. Spanish guitar dominates the album early on with "Quintessence of Dust" and the intriguing "Compassion," a trip-hoppy dance endeavor that's laced with treated voice and electronic programming. "Le Zephyr" somehow manages to make a tinkly piano à la George Winston work with the ethereal soul of Amy Atchley's vocals--again manifesting Govinda's alchemist talents. --Karen K. Hugg