One standout track on Awakened Earth is “Har Mukanday.” The instrumental accompaniment from the string section and keyboards are incredibly beautiful, and give a quiet and peaceful tone to the whole track. The guitar gives a slightly percussive feel as Angelika sings "Har Har," which is softened and tempered by the other instruments on "Mukanday." The English interlude halfway through allows the song to become more intense, as Mirabai Ceiba sings “Take from me... Fill me...Liberate me...” and layers the vocal tracks on top of each other. They allow the song to build for a moment before quietly relaxing and fading away.

“Sat Siri Akal” has a very different feel from the rest of the tracks on Awakened Earth. It's a very lighthearted and playful piece, with a pop-synth feel. The flute and guitar help create an infectiously joyful vibe to go along with Markus and Angelika's voices. If there were a crossover market between yoga music and the pop world, “Sat Siri Akal” would be Mirabai Ceiba's entry point into the mainstream market.

“Oh, My Soul” is a unique take on “Kabir's Song,” a much loved song popularized by Snatam Kaur. As presented by Mirabai Ceiba, this adaptation of the words of the poet Kabir take on great weight and urgency. This is a track that commands full attention from the listener, so they might learn the path to fulfillment. There is a wonderful string accompaniment, which mellows out the intensity of the song and ensures that it is powerful without becoming overbearing.

Awakened Earth is a beautiful tapestry of sounds, supported by a host of wonderful musicians and instruments. This is not an album to play in the background, half-listened to and half-ignored. Awakened Earth is an album worth savoring, putting aside day-to-day concerns and celebrating the mastery of Mirabai Ceiba. Visit www.spiritvoyage.com to find out more about Mirabai Ceiba and their music.
Markus and Angelika have done it again! With Awakened Earth, their music has flourished to brighter, broader and yet deeper places in the sacred music spectrum. Opening with the hauntingly beautiful sound of the duduk, the album continues on to astonish you with its rich layers of beauty. Angelika's sweet, soaring voice glides in such simple and evocative harmony with Markus' gentle rich singing.

This is the second musical partnership with producer Jamshied Sharifi, and like the first, A Hundred Blessings, this album invites you to a magical exploration of the undiscovered worlds that music can lead you into. With amazing guest performances from Yoed Nir on cello, Anders Boström on flute, Roubik Aroutiounian on duduk, Megan Gould on violin and viola, the musicianship on this album is unparalleled. The intertwining of Markus' guitar and Angelika's harp carries their signature sound through this album, with Jamshied's keyboards, accordion and bass creating rich textures throughout the music.

Credits:
Mirabai Ceiba are:
Angelika Baumbach - vocals, harp, piano, harmonium
Markus Sieber - vocals, guitars

Musicians:
Benjamin Wittman - percussion
Megan Gould - violin & viola
Anders Boström - bamboo flutes
Yoed Nir - cello, electric cello
Ramesh Kannan - tabla
Roubik Aroutiounian - duduk
Jamshied Sharifi - keyboards, accordion, bass, electric guitar
Music written by Markus Sieber, except Guru Ramdas Rakho Sarnae written by Markus Sieber and Angelika Baumbach
Art Design: Raj Naik
Cover Photo: Marco Alar

Produced by Jamshied Sharifi
Executive Producer: Karan Khalsa