Track Listing

1. I Wish You Peace
2. Ska Ka Luk Sa
3. Eagle Come Pray for Me
4. Togetherness
5. Water Life
6. Hope
7. Te Ha Hon Ta Na Ken Ne Ha
8. Unity Song
9. Beautiful Bowl
10. Giga Aki Kwe
11. Drying His Tars
12. Men of Peace

Product Details

• Amazon Sales Rank: #48594 in Music
• Released on: 2000-07-25
• Number of discs: 1
• Dimensions: .21 pounds

Amazon.com
Lawrence Laughing is among a new generation of Native American singers that is bringing its traditional music and culture into a more contemporary setting. He shares much with Iroquois singer Joanne Shenandoah, with whom he recorded the album Orenda in 1998. Like Shenandoah, Laughing conveys a quiet, hymnlike quality in his songs. These aren't trance-inducing pow-wow chants, but gentle traditional songs that evoke his connections with his people and their environment. When spoken in English, such as on "Hope," the sentiments expressed can sound a bit simplistic, but when sung in Laughing's native Mohawk tongue, his songs carry a spirit that transcends language. The atmosphere of Now Our Minds Are One is provided by producer Tom Wasinger, who has also worked with Shenandoah. As he did for Shenandoah's powerful Peacemaker's Journey album, Wasinger surrounds Laughing's songs with delicate acoustic and electric guitar ornaments, subtle, coloristic percussion, and soothing harmonies. The simple pluck of a rabab or the stark whine of a bowed zither is enough to set the stage for Laughing's songs of the spirit. --John Diliberto

Customer Reviews

A Hidden Gem
Watch out for this guy at the Nammy's. I was listening to a Joanne Shenandoah album (gotta love her!) when I first heard Lawrence Laughing sing. My immediate response was, "Who **is** this, how many albums has he got, and have I got enough money to buy them all right now?" So far, this is the only album of his that I know of. Come to find not only is he a lovely singer with gentle harmonic sensibilities and great subtlety, but he's also got very clever instrumental arrangements in this album.

Being half Chiricahua, the 'can't we all just get along?' and 'let's be friends' vibes on this album resonates with particular intensity for me. But it's those sentiments that automatically make this album for absolutely anyone of any race or cultural background. Trust me. Just get this over with and put it in your shopping cart.

Now Our Minds Are One
I first heard Lawrence Laughing on a Joanne Shenandoah CD and was thrilled to finally have him come out with his own CD. He has a deeply resonant voice and turns each song into a spiratual experience. Can't wait for further releases.

NOW OUR MINDS ARE ONE
THIS IS A WONDERFUL, BEAUTIFUL, BEAUTIFUL, MOVING CD.
It is one of my, if not my very favorite cd.
I wish the very best for this artist, Lawrence Laughing, and look forward to more cds by him.