Shabda : शब्द

Gorgeously serene and mystical, full of atmosphere and timeless grace. The mainly female voices maintain the charm and spell throughout – whispering, singing, speaking, breathing, with classical elements, soft oohs and aahs – perfectly attuned to the mood and vision established by the music. Slightly melancholy in places – wistful and emotional, occasionally powerful, always with a subtle, richly layered dreaminess.

Celestial’s first album, Spirit House, is an engaging blend of styles and sounds. Peter Millward is the group’s mastermind, writing most of the songs and thereby developing a signature sound which draws from a variety of sources, from contemporary worldbeat, pop and new age music to Vietnamese and Chinese folk. There’s nothing overtly challenging on the album. Instead, it’s an inviting set of worldbeat fusion deisgned to stimulate emotions, not the mind. And, according to that criterion, it works very well indeed.

Each track on JIA PENG FANG BEST combines soaring Chinese melodies with Western pop orchestrations. The niko is an extremely expressive instrument, and in Fang’s hands, it is used to create long, legato phrases. Never does Fang pluck this instrument or play any kind of staccato passages. In contrast, this music is smooth, steady, and flowing. Highlights include the tranquil “Seishu (Pure)” and the innocent “Memory of Childhood.” BEST is a picturesque and charming overview of Fang’s work.