Samsara’s Edge

This amazing duo out of famous San Francisco World band Haunted by Waters, slide into new territory, reminding me of Babel, the dance duo created from ashes of The Thomson Twins. Like Babel, these sexy driving low end dance beats are hard to resist, but Cait McWhir’s Clear pure vocal tones go way beyond ordinary Trance-Dance-Pop! Fans of Dead Can Dance, Delirium, Mortal Coil & Vos will be happy to own this entrancing disc.

Track 1 “Invokation” is timeless trance layered into dream like states as exotic ethnic sounds overlaid by the sweet clear tones of Cait McWhir’s excellent vocals. The Prog-Rock real guitar solo lifts this song out of the average programming and into creation.

Track 2 “Earthen Vessel” Urban beats lead the listener into a dark forest, Gothic in it’s deepness but then the light drifts through with the dreamy sensual vocals. Like the Celtic faerie girl surrounded by trolls, Cait sings her way out of the darkness with strong uplifting lyrics; “when you fall-you find yourself”. Delightful mix of dark and light here.

Track 3 “How Many Worlds” is uptempo hipster dance groove at it’s best, San Francisco poet Juan Domingo adds a Latin feel with his Street Shaman lyrics ala John Trudell and the dry desert Native sexiness of a Robbie Robertson chant. Avant keys float in and out balanced by dark distorted bass, then sweetened by McWhir’s dream state whisper….

Track 4 “Mind Meld” Syncopated vocals Raga style add Indian flavored layers to this sweet and savory track.  McWhir’s magically tinged words of hope float over exotic dance pulses spiced with brown sugar & curry & showcase her breathy octave sliding style…

Track 5 “Chrysalis” Great Dance beats on this track make it impossible to not picture yourself at a Goa rave, dancing until dawn when McWhir’s vocals rise up like the sun after an all night transformation. The beat goes on & on, you cannot stop the trance-dancing…

Track 6 “Mutant Grace” Dark Urban Funk, slap your wa-wa with a side of Belly Dance, keyboard programming like a psychedelic counterpoint to Cait McWhir’s very sensual and sexy vocals…”do you want this?”…”do you feel that?” while World flavors swirl around her, longing, purity and fire drifting together in a salty sea of desire. Fantastic!

There are two more outstanding tracks, this CD is great for those that love to dance to something beautiful and interesting, beyond the usual Trance World feels. David Hannibal’s music is both light and dark, Urban yet Shamanic.  I can also highly recommend this to lovers of excellent female singers, rare indeed, but rarer still is Cait McWhir’s haunting combination of Celtic - Indian feels. She is a Pomegranate sitting on a misty green knoll, to be found & waiting to be opened, rich deep red jewels inside. 

Cyoakha Grace, Spiral Eye Records
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