David Parsons - Dorje Ling (1992)

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David Parsons - Dorje Ling (1992)

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This album marks a rare maturity merging excellent original acoustic recordings with Tibetan Lamas and their instruments, together with extremely delicate and inspired layering of keyboards and moving electronic vibrations… able to encompass from the quietest silence to massive landscapes of Himalayan proportions.
Add to that its intense meditation scope, that starts as circular chanting and soon spirals almost without limitations. The title track being the completest example. After years since finding this music, it still retains its place as one of the highest tracks, gifts, music-ships, etc. I could play to most audiences wanting to tune deep in.

As a Chill Out DJ, part of my task is to search for music like these, -so in my view-, this achievement is very unusual. Actually sound wise (see Note 1) D.Parsons' electronic releases before 1992 did not reach the complex timbre quality Dorje Ling achieves.
This music is recorded and mastered keeping extreme dynamics (sound volume variations)therefore clean and ample amplification would be needed to extract its full sound potential. Also bear in mind that Dorje Ling invokes meditation Tibetan music, which sometimes, goes through difficult sound saturated passages as part of the journey, high nonetheless, but far from 100% relaxed music.

The fusion between the real temples and the electronics is accomplished in a way nowhere to be seen up to that date. Only later, labels such FAX at (GR) or Blue Room Released (UK), Silent (USA) and others attempted such task at similar levels.
definitelly an historic musical turning point.

-Note 1, sound wise; meaning no comment on compositional aspects here, just taliking about its timbre and textural qualities. Electronic sounds and software evolved leaps from the 90s on, as compared to the 80s rather poor synths, electronic percussions and effects. This album "updated" sound reflects that technological change. Subsequent David Parsons releases retain the new quality sound level.

by cielspacing, discogs

Because his output is so excellent, it is extremely to choose the best David Parsons CD. It is equally difficult to compare the discs to each other. The ideal system would rate Parsons' entire catalog at the highest level and every album as essential. Because that system does not exist and this is the best system available, suffice it to say that Dorje Ling is definitely one of his best CDs and is highly essential. This album, like most of Parsons' albums, combines electronics and ethnic – specifically Tibetan – acoustics to create a spiritual, inspirational, and inspired soundscape. Unique to this CD is his use of "gyu me" – low-pitched chanting – as the drone. Parsons recorded three albums of the chants of the Monks of the Dip Tse Chok Ling Monastery in Dharamsala, India, where many Tibetan Buddhists now live as refugees. Those chants, like overtone singing and Tuvan throat singing, have an electronic timbre and deep solemnity. The entire package is perfect. Parsons is in a league with few others. Steve Roach, Robert Rich, Constance Demby, Michael Stearns, and Vidna Obmana are in that league.

by Jim Brenholts, AMG

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David Parsons - Dorje Ling (1992)

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David Parsons - Dorje Ling (1992)

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David Parsons - Dorje Ling (1992)

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