Sound Benefits: Music Meditation: Awaken

Start your day with the effervescent sound of a gong, followed by random notes from piano, percussion and stringed instruments including the shimmering of a sitar. The gentle wake-up call is the work of Brian Scott Bennett, a composer who works on film scores and commercials but who is also a teacher of yogic breathwork and meditation techniques. The aptly-titled first track, "Gong" is followed by "Journey," "Gako" and "Mist," all of which clock in at between 15 and 20 minutes.

The tracks are less like linear, melodic pop songs and more like soundscapes that evoke images in the mind of peaceful places as they resonate and sonically build to their crescendos.

Woven throughout "Journey" are voices that seem to call out to the soul, including echoes of exotic, Middle Eastern singing and instrumental textures that recall the most lush of classical music without quoting any single famous work. Instead, the listener is caught up in the moment of each piece, without concern for a melodic logic or flow.

"Gako" starts out with a pretty piano figure that's soon joined by the calming drone of the sitar and other instruments including a flute that evokes both classical Indian ragas and American Indian mysticism. But the central instrument is the piano, played by Bennett, and later, nimble basswork by veteran session musician Leland Sklar (whose credits include many 1970s hits by artists such as Jackson Brown, James Taylor and Linda Ronstadt).

"Mist" matches its ethereal title with an airy flute intro by Bennett and casts a spell with its meandering snatches of melody, which wander enchantingly for almost 20 minutes. By the end of the disc, you'll feel truly refreshed and ready to face the world.

Running time: 1 hour 4 mins

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