Search - Ray Lynch :: Sky of Mind

Astounding and beautiful

Steven E. Blake | Saint Peters, Missouri USA | 05/31/2005

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The four albums by Ray Lynch convey a wide range of musical personalities and all are excellent. The songs on Sky Of Mind can be classified as low energy and introspective. These tracks may not generate the instant affinity of Lynch's lively pop "Celestial Soda Pop" and so may take a few listens to appreciate. However, they are astounding, complex melodies and beautiful renditions."

Remarkable collection of diverse pieces

Peter A. Kimball | Chicago | 01/31/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I bought this CD after running across some of the tracks on the Hearts of Space website. I'm not familiar with Lynch's later work - people say it's much different. The six tracks here, which range over the territory between Western classical and New Age music, are framed/separated by interludes of bells, sort of analogously to "Pictures at an Exhibition". But these "pictures" are of diverse mental states.



I am surprised that anyone would consider these pieces to be flat or non-thematic or lump them together under the heading of "meditation music". "Temple" is meditative; "Green is Here" sort of. "Good News" is cheerful and comforting. The other three tracks are highly thematic and emotional; in the case of "Pavane" I would even use words like "passionate" or "anguished". "Pavane" is very much in the tradition of pieces like Barber's "Adagio for Strings" or some of Vaughan Williams' works. I think it's a real gem.



"Quendra" is not quite so emotionally charged, but is very engaging, with a melodic line that is questing, anxious, and compassionate (if that makes any sense). The sixth track, "Too Wounded", affected me deeply. It features a very simple melody, played on the piano as if by a single hand, over a background of strings. But the very human phrasing of the keystrokes, lagging behind the beat and seeming uneven, even faltering to me, imparted to me a very emotional message. For me it was like listening to someone who has actually been badly damaged, physically struggling to pick out a tune on the keyboard, fighting to retain hope. Maybe this is just a statement about my own mood at the time, and who knows if Lynch intended anything like this, but that's what I got from it.



Together with the more meditative pieces - and I'm not at all dismissing "Temple" by calling it that, I think it's quite lovely - and tied together by the bell interludes, I think it all makes a very beautiful, creatively assembled, and satisfying collection.



"

Truly invocatory music

Terry Cafferty | Loch Lomond, CA USA | 05/25/2008

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I first found this music in 1983 as I was entering into serious spritual life. Listening to it interrupted the flow of mind and dropped me into the realm of truly spiritual devotion, feeling and love. I listened to this music daily (sometimes many times each day), often before meditation or devotional activities, and it always helped me to connect deeply with whatever form of spiritual practice in which I was participating.



Over time, I moved on and stopped listening to this music. About a year ago while in a deep health crisis, a doctor I was seeing recommended that I take up the practice of Chi Gong, a Chinese moving meditation practice that enhances the flow of healing energies within the body. After beginning the Chi Gong practice routines and committing the movements to memory, I no longer listened to the musical sound track that came with the instructional DVD.



Instead, I remembered Sky of Mind an re-acquired it. Not only has it enhanced my practice of Chi Gong, but this combination of music and exercise has brought about continual improvements in the realm of health and spritual practice.



These are obviouly not the only reasons for wanting to recommend this music...any one who has even the least bit of contemplative interest in life will enjoy and benefit form this great music, which is, in its core essence, truly Happy, Free and Freeing.



I am entirely grateful to Ray Lynch for the help this music has given me these many years."