Track Listing

1. The Inner Journey
2. City of the Clouds
3. Blessings of the Earth
4. Temple of the Rising Sun
5. Sky Watcher
6. A Symphony of Storms
7. Dante's Theme
8. Temple of the Setting Sun
9. Pulsar
10. The Haunting
11. Black Cloud Canyon
12. Where Have the Feelings Gone (bonus Track)

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #414468 in Music
• Released on: 2005-05-24
• Number of discs: 1

Album Description
Channeling the mystical symbolism of its Chinese namesake, SpiceHouse’s first wholly instrumental album, Anise Star, is synthesized from a seemingly juxtaposed, yet surprisingly congruent set of influences both ancient and modern, interpreting ecclesiastical modes with modern electronics and intertwining synthesized and organic instrumentation to create sonic architecture that leads one down dark corridors into spaces of celestial light, taking you on an orchestral journey that one critic has described as "a 23rd century symphony playing at the end of the universe."

Containing three tracks - ''The Inner Journey,' 'A Symphony of Storms,' and 'The Haunting' - originally commissioned for the film 'Bushinko,' as well as nine new compositions and the bonus track 'Where Have the Feelings Gone,' from the Barbarian Lovers album Dancing in Dreams, Anise Star shines brightly with a warm, ambient aura while still maintaining a cool edge of shamanistic mystery that lures the listener on a transcendent trek of aural exploration, again and again.

SpiceHouse's Anise Star showcases the band's instrumental, ambient side, as compared to their album Tomorrow is the Answer, which focuses more on SpiceHouse's trip hop and vocal compositions. With seventy-two minutes of music, much of Anise Star is suitable for meditation, yoga, or simple relaxation.

Review
Spicehouse mixes music from many eras and styles, from ancient ecclesiastical modes to twelve tone atonal music to modern Ambient music. Authentic ethnic instruments are mixed with modern electronics on top of various world and electronic grooves. --Downbeat

About the Artist
SpiceHouse is a foray into world beats, acid and traditional jazz forms, and trip hop grooves, filtered through the aural prism of an ‘80s and ‘90s pop and alternative soundtrack. Influenced by the unique stylings of groundbreaking artists from the avant-garde jazz scene of the 1950s to modern day electronica pioneers, SpiceHouse has quickly become a favorite on Amazon.com.

Customer Reviews

I luv it
Who would think you could mix such different musical styles such as Electronica and World Music, and make something so interesting. "Blessings of the Earth" is a good song that just moves me every time I hear it. "A Symphony of Storms" at certain parts sounds like a hurricane coming at me, when I play it in my iPod I have to turn the volume way up. This is the kind of music I like - peaceful and uplifting. I am looking forward to getting more of them.

One of the better albums of the newer generation of ambient music
I recently returned from a trip to the South American Rainforests. While I was there, I took along my mp3 player filled with various types of "atmospheric music". I put 8 songs from this CD in my player. The music I listened to the most was from Anise Star and Robert Rich. Walking through a jungle at dawn with headphones on listening to songs like "The Inner Journey" and "Temple of the Rising Sun" with their tribal rythms really enhanced the experience to a very high level. Although this type music has been around quite a while, this CD has a nice freshness to it. So much so called ambient/new age music seems to be an overblown syruppy kind of sound, where this album has a nice transparent kind of three dimensional sound to it. Good Stuff!

Very interesting mix of music
This is a very interesting mix of music. So much of this style of music is little more than someone splicing a few sound loops together, adding a few blips and bleeps and calling it a song. These people manage to elevate this genre to a much higher level. This is one of my favorite instrumental albums at the moment. Very modern, but still very earthy.