Album Notes

Z vrcharskeho raja (From the Mountain Paradise) is Žiarislav's latest album. Most of the songs are upbeat and rocking, some are slow ballads. Instruments used: traditional Slavic drum DOB, fiddles, flutes, guitar, bass, percussion.

Special guest - singing dog Borka (track #15 "white sheep dog"), his companion that has many offspring now. Other animal sounds, such as sheep, goats and horses, were used for this album.

Žiarislav - musician, multi-instrumentalist, songwriter, instrument maker, writer, former journalist and geologist -lives and works in seclusion in the Stolicne Vrchy (capital hills) of central Slovakia. After many years of intensive work in the cities he has retreated into the mountains where he founded organization for revival of the ancient natural spirituality, the Native Circle. There, in the woods, he created a special free range animal farm for horses, goats, sheep and sheep dogs. He is often visited by people interested in the natural lifestyle and ancient spirituality. Žiarislav regularly travels to towns and villages where he speaks at lectures and performs his music, solo or accompanied by the band Bytosti. He also performs ceremonies of ancient annual celebrations and weddings, gives creative workshops and classes on instrument making and different areas of the Slavic ancient spirituality and natural lifestyle practice he calls Vedomstvo.

In addition to music, art and writings Žiarislav's recent work includes ethnography, ethnology, ethno-musicology and history in connection with the revived ancient Vedomstvo.

Žiarislav's other interests and hobbies include archery with hand made bows and arrows, production of goat and sheep cheese, animal care and inter species communication and healing.