Michael Stearns' brilliant New Age music soundtrack
to the Triton Films documentary Spirits of the Voyageabout traditional navigation in Micronesia.
On some of the music, Michael weaves in island songs and navigator chants which were recorded by Eric Metzgar on Lamotrek Atoll, a remote Yap outer island in the Federated States of Micronesia.
Other pieces are purely instrumental and evoke the mystery of initiation
into the brotherhood of sailing, the majesty of the sea, and the beauty of island life.
This CD by Michael Stearns is the soundtrack the artist created for a documentary by Triton films about the magical initiation rites of Micronesian navigators dating from ancient times, whose traditions, wisdom, lore and courage has lasted for thousands of years. The sixteen tracks paint a wondrous soundscape which takes us throughout space and time sailing the Pacific seas, portraying the beauty of the islands, the ritual songs and chants made on the island of Lamotrek, where the filming took place, the prayers of those about to sail into their quest as well as those from their loved ones asking for protection from the sea spirits for their kin about to test their skills on sea... It is indeed a fine addition to the World Music universe, with its flavor of distant lands and unknown quests full of the spirits of the sea, with relaxing touches and soft textures, bringing inner peace and enhancing the imagination of the listener, an album that will no doubt appeal to the lovers of this musical style.
Ben Kettlewell (Alternate Music Press):
The climate of "Spirits of the Voyage" is exotic, and is composed upon an aural canvas of mysticism and the hypnotic ambience of Micronesia. At times the music is possessed by a dynamic range as wide as any classical music, ... the key to a full appreciation of Stearns' sonic theatre is subtlety. A good stereo system is essential, and whether you use it as foreground or background, the music on this album is music which demands to be heard in a noiseless environment. Give it the space that it asks, and it can be exhilaratingly powerful and profoundly moving. The music on "Spirits of the Voyage" conjures up a sensation of wonder and astonishment; breathtaking qualities, which arise out of Stearns' ability to depict the grandeur and beauty of the world in an almost visual sense through his compositions. This is an incredible album. With an already impressive body of work behind him, the Santa Fe, New Mexico based composer/multi-instrumentalist shows no sign of creative fatigue. It's one of his finest works to date.
Jim Brenholts (Tracks Across the Universe: A Chronology Of Ambient and Electronic Music):
This is a beautifully melodic score with appropriate drama to accompany the film about ancient Pacific mariners and their adventures. Chant and native song samples augment the score ... Michael has spent much time in the techno tribal ambient arena. He aces this venture. The melange of his electronic ambience and the natural samples is awesome. The flow of the CD is flawless.
