The man behind Xumantra managed to keep his identity a secret for a little while. Marco Dolce is a talented musician and a disciple of the bowls. The Golden Portal is a set of gamelan compositions that Dolce created on indigenous and ethnic instruments, including bowls and strings. These ancient instruments have electronic sonorities and textures. They are deeply psychoactive. The ancient cultures used atmospheres and soundscapes like these in their religious rituals. The instruments have spiritual timbres and meanings. This is a great CD. It will appeal to fans of Jonathan Goldman, Klaus Wiese, Stephan Micus, and Henry Wolff and Nancy Hennings. – Jim Brenholts
more »