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Waking the Cobra
by Baird Hersey
Hersey Music, 1998
http://www.waking-the-cobra.com
I've heard a lot of overtone-singing by Western vocalists
lately. Ever since David Hykes and his "Harmonic Choir" brought
this Central Asian technique to the world of pop and New Age
music, imitations have sprung up wherever this music is made,
both with choruses and solo voices - for instance,
Innerstellar by Gordon Rhyne, which this album resembles.
So my first impression when I received and heard this album was,
"Oh please, not ANOTHER overtone singer." And I felt the same
way about its theme of the "seven rainbow chakras," a Yogic
system which has become a standard, indeed, a cliché, of New Age
doctrine. "Not ANOTHER rainbow chakra album."
I decided to forget the chakra theme and even the idea that
this was vocalization, and just listen to it as I would listen to a
"drone ambient" album done on synthesizers. How does it stack up
simply as ambient sound? Well, after you get through the first few
pieces, where Hersey is just crooning by himself, you find some
interesting passages. Hersey multi-tracks himself like a Yogic
Enya, and thus adds some pleasant harmonies to the otherwise
stark drone sound. For instance, in track 14, "The Wheel," he
multiplies his voice into a comforting choir of major-key chords.
In other tracks, he can make his voice sound like a synthesizer
(perhaps using a little electronic sound-manipulation there) and it
creates a nice mystical atmosphere for those inner temple
moments.
Nevertheless, you will probably have to be a drone fan to
like this album. And with drone sound, in my opinion even a little
complexity is better than just one tone, so for me Hersey's
multiplied "choral" tracks, that is 14, 15, 16, and 18, are the most
listenable. The rest of the album (most of it) might be better for the
ashram than the living room.
Rating: 2 out of 10
Hannah M.G. Shapero
2/22/01
Walking the Cobra: Vocal Meditations on the Chakras is actually
meditations by overtone singing, Baird Hersey.
This is some exotic stuff. The qualities of overtone singing mimic
synthesizers and electronic manipulations. But there are no manipulations.
Tibetan cymbals are the only sounds other than Baird's voice. His voice is
layered to allow for multiple tones and harmonies. It is a cool sound.
It takes great personal dedication to achieve this sound. It also takes
tremendous discipline to work the chakras. Baird has both.
~ Jim Brenholts, EER-MUSIC.com
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