Prophase Rec.
Janina Angel Bath : Gypsy Woman -CD/LP+10''- (US,2009/20010)****/***'
Janina Angel Bath studied native American flute with Stephanie Balbridge (she did also a workshop with Mary Youngblood) and was part of the Cascadia Flute Circle in Oregon. She has also studied North Indian classical vocal music with Sri Karunamayee, Joan Allekotte, Michael Stirling and Terry Riley, all students of Pandit Pran Nath. After participating with some other indie bands this is the project where here flute playing and Indian music interests return to the fore, but also her interests in alternative ways (tarot,..) show its vision into a new development. She takes time and space to sing, on a bed of improvised flute and at times semi-Indian but always westernised improvisations, with several guests confirming the open spaced atmosphere, a bit more grounded by song than comparable performances of hippie origin (like Kali Balu), but more loose and musically mood-based than for instance Amelia Cuni's vocal investigations. Her slightly breathy voice with deeper spirals reminds a bit of the Faun Fables / Pumajaw lead singer. At times it is more like a native Indian idea calling back to a natural breathing. The tracks combining bowed guitars, bansuri and tamboura (by Janina) but also electric sarod with tamboura (Kazem Angel bath) and tabla (by Joss Jaffe) recall of course more the Indian atmosphere, more often the music is more a slow meditation with song and improvisation.
