Music for the Native Americans

by

Robbie Robertson

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This CD is beautiful. Theres a ephemeral, spiritual sound to it, yet at the same time its so very modern. I can't think of a good way to explain it, but the music is wonderful. Someof the songs, such as "Coyote Dance", "Ancestor Song" and "Twistd Hair", call to mind beautiful spiritual images in your head. The sound effects and lyrics on "Twisted Hair" in particular still stand out in my mind. Others, such as "Mahk Jchi", "Cherokee Morning Song" and "Akua Tuta", blend traditional Native American music stylings with modern rhythms for a breath taking effect. Many of these songs incorporate other Native American artists, such as Rita Coolidge and Kashtin.

However, the most interesting songs on this CD are the ones that come from Robbie Robertson himself. The lyrics to "Ghost Dance", "It is a Good Day to Die" and "Skinwalker" are haunting and will almost certain stick in your mind long after you've finished listening to this CD. The sound effects and soft-spoken voices meld perfectly together with the powerful and moving lyrics to create a magnificent effect. This is one of my favorite Native American CDs and I simply can't recommend it enough, esecially for people unfamilar with contemporary Native American music.

Created as a soundtrack to a TV documentary series, "Music For The Native Americans" is something of a fusion album. It mixes songs from Robbie Robertson with tribal chants, song stories and atmospheric synthesizers. While the individual parts are often moving, the whole is a hodgepodge fit. Robertson may be the marquee attraction, however his vocals make up maybe half the album.

That leaves others in a spotlight, and they do acquit themselves well. Rita Coolidge and her sisters perform the lovely "Cherokee Morning Song," along with background vocals through-out the disc. A few of the pieces are instrumental, the best of which is the opening "Coyote Dance." Robertson himself contributes two dramatic vocals on "A Good Day to Die" and "Words of Fire, Deeds of Blood." This was obviously a labor of love for Robertson, and his respect for the music shines throughout the music and the collaborative efforts.