Lotus

Amazon.com Lotus, a self-titled debut, is a collaboration between American born composer-producer Jimmy Harry and English vocalist Alex Edenborough, who met at a composer's retreat. While there, Harry became entranced with the singer's bewitching sound and rightly thought she'd fit into his next dream project. A righteous induction to the ever-expanding world music catalogue, Lotus adorns the garden beautifully. Heady and intoxicating, the duo, along with a host of magical musicians, mix smashing dance grooves with ambient texture and the exotic sounds of Balinese gamelan music. Virtually ignored by Western audiences, gamelan music takes several forms, but is notable for it's elaborate rhythms and intricately interlocking pitch patterns. Lotus utilizes these techniques to great effect, incorporating bamboo flutes, gongs, and bar instruments, which when combined, levitate to swirl around more modern instrumentation. Edenborough's vocals add just the right sacred and sensual touch, making this recording a truly transcendent listening experience. --Paige La Grone