The Perfect Jewel - Sacred Chants of Tibet

Rather than music, think of this as contemplation on a disc, meditation on CD. Listening to the Gyuto Monks Tantric Choir is more or less guaranteed to put your mind in another space with their eerie overtone signing (similar to the throat singing of Tuva). Two long tracks don't so much develop as unwind in sections, using voice and a few other instruments — notably short and long trumpets reminiscent of alpine horns and some percussion. These sacred chants, which have come down over generations, offer a continual stream of sound, although they are in fact edited down from much longer versions. But even at this length, there's a definite effect on the consciousness; listening leaves you feeling more relaxed and open, a good thing in today's stressful world. However, this isn't new age music — quite the opposite. This is a tradition that's grown up over thousands of years, and these chants manifest the essence of that tradition in sound. Not so much music as a spiritual experience.