By Eric Steiner

I discovered through an online surfing accident one of the most intriguing sources of world music, the NorthSound Music Group. After forgiving the search engine, I settled on browsing through what this northern Wisconsin company had to offer. A few months ago, I reviewed their World Disc Sampler on these screens and since then, I've found a company that specializes in some of the best in world music, aromatherapy and nature sounds.

Prior to clicking on http://www.northsoundmusic.com, I had been the staunchest critic of what I thought were misleading "nirvana-banana" experiments of New Agers trying to make a buck. I thought these guys peddled the snake oil of the 90's, but I was wrong. One evening with Island Tranquility and another with Heart and Soul, with their respective aromatherapy candles, showed me the future of music. I was hooked and wondered why I hadn't reached out of my comfort zone to experience the sounds of the islands or plucky Spanish Flamenco earlier.

NorthSound has assembled a team of recording professionals who capture the sounds of nature in the wild, whether it's a babbling brook in northern Wisconsin or the surf crashing toward the islands. We're not talking the old, scratchy memories of Marlon Perkins' Wild Kingdom here. It's first class field recordings designed to capture the sounds of nature as if we were there. NorthSound's Nature Guides series feature audio field guides to bird habitats. Each Nature Guide features a narrated segment to identify the birds' calls as well as a narrative-free side with birdsongs only. This series includes tapes on marshlands or backyard bird walks and is popular in many zoo or aviary gift shops.

NorthSound's Sounds and Scents product line links music and aromatherapy through a series of releases designed to create relaxing escapes through classical, Celtic, and Flamenco music. I've sampled Island Tranquility and Heart and Soul: both well worth a listen and a sniff.

Island Tranquility features a Serenity Candle that wafts lavender, sage, lemon and patchouli. The CD features 52 instrumental minutes of island sounds, from a wooden boat rocking at the dock, crashing surf and low tide, to contemplative morning rain. Guitar, keyboards and flute from NorthSound artists help create visions of paradise without the airfare. Best of all, Island Tranquility has no after effects of other forms of chemically-induced mental transportation or expensive Hawaiian vacations. Don't get me wrong, I'd rather be body surfing at Wailea on Maui than watching the Pacific Northwest cloud up for another autumn, but Island Tranquility has got that transcendental power to transport the listener far away.

Heart and Soul has an Energy Candle with lavender and orange blossoms with a touch of fruit. The CD features three virtuoso flamenco guitarists recorded on the World Disc Sampler: Adam del Monte, Federico Ramos, and Ramon Stagnaro. Heart and Soul explores softer traditional Flamenco guitar and a perfect compliment to a quiet (or not so quiet) evening alone with a loved one.

Prior to experiencing the sounds and scents of Island Tranquility and Heart and Soul, the only connection I made between music and the sense of smell was illegal drugs wafting to the rafters in concert halls of the 1970's. NorthSound, in its Sounds and Scents series, has changed the way we can experience music, making the musical experience a multi sensory joy.

Sounds and Scents is just a peek (or a sniff?) into NorthSound's world. In future issues, I hope to explore their Signature Notes or NorthSound product lines. In the meantime, check them online at http://www.northsoundmusic.com. If they could only get those scents online....

Island Tranquility Track List

Mirage * Secret Garden * Tropical Breeze * Rain Dance * Enchanted Forest * Cascading Visions * Rainbow Bridge * Drifting Tide * White Sail

Total running time: 52 minutes

Heart and Soul Track List

Gioia * Cecilia * Angelicia * Paula * Nanci * Christina * Lorena * Caterina * Gina * Noche

Total running time: 51 minutes


(C) 1999 Eric Steiner