Enter the Earth
WithEnter the Earth, what Burning Sky do best is to bring together elements of both traditional native instruments and sound with contemporary folk, forming a hybrid that is always interesting, often good, and at times sublime. The core quartet is formed by Michael Bannister on drums, Kelvin Bizahaloni on flute, Aaron White on flute and acoustic guitars, and John Katz on guitars as well. The music is emboldened by use of rattles,bodrhan, didgeridoo, mandolin, and various percussive instruments. The record's finest moments are those in which the band locks onto the difficult balance of restraint and abandon, as on the rousing sacred revelry of "Circle Dance." In this piece Darryl Iccard's guest appearance on bass guitar provides a firm foothold for the hypnotic ringing repetition of interlocking guitar lines, gliding flute, and drums accented by bells. "Celebration Song" is an uplifting booty shaker, and the exceptional "Tribal Stomp" is a funky fingerpicked Indian blues.--Paige La Grone