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From Chain DLK Kali Raga… such a title alone promises a mystical, otherworldly journey. And why not? When you have two stalwarts of the ambient and shamanic music world like Byron Metcalf and Mark Seelig at the helm, expectations naturally soar. You imagine yourself being swept away into a realm where time dissolves, where ancient gods and spirits dance to the rhythms of a world both forgotten and timeless. But let’s not get ahead of ourselves. Metcalf and Seelig are no strangers to this cosmic terrain. This is their seventh collaboration, after all, and over the years, they’ve carved out a niche for themselves in the tribal-ambient subgenre. They’ve combined Metcalf’s primal drumming and Seelig’s ethereal bansuri flute to create soundscapes that are as meditative as they are intense. Kali Raga promises more of the same, but does it deliver? The album opens with “A Teacher Appears”, a track that immediately paves the way for the hour-long odyssey. Here, Metcalf’s drums are gentle, like a heartbeat in deep meditation, while Seelig’s flute wafts in like a cool breeze over a sacred temple. Frore (Paul Casper) provides the ambient textures — analog and digital synthesizers that ebb and flow like the tides of an ancient ocean. It’s calming, yes, but it’s also a bit too familiar. If you’ve listened to their previous work, you might find yourself thinking, “Haven’t I been here before?”. The title track, “Kali Raga” steps up the intensity with a rhythm that’s both hypnotic and unsettling. This is where Metcalf’s percussion really shines, invoking the fierce, transformative power of Kali herself. It’s a track that could easily be the soundtrack to a shamanic journey, or perhaps the climax of a vision quest. Seelig’s flute, meanwhile, dances around the rhythm like a serpent, weaving in and out of the sonic tapestry. But here’s the thing: while the music is undeniably powerful, it sometimes feels like it’s trying a bit too hard to conjure the sacred. It’s as if the album is aware of its own gravitas, and in that self-awareness, it loses some of its authenticity. “Legacy” and “Beyond the Prophecies” continue the journey, with each track building on the last. There’s a dynamic flow to the album, a sense of progression that’s both deliberate and natural. Metcalf and Seelig know how to craft a narrative through sound, and they do so with a deft hand. “Legacy”, in particular, stands out with its layers of percussion and synths, creating a soundscape that’s rich and immersive. But again, there’s a sense that we’ve heard this all before. The album is like a beautiful painting that’s slightly faded at the edges—stunning to behold, but not quite as vibrant as it once was. “Timeless Voices” and “Eternal Tara” close out the album, and it’s here that the music reaches its emotional peak. Seelig’s overtone singing on “Timeless Voices” adds a layer of depth that’s both haunting and mesmerizing. It’s as if the spirits of the ancients are speaking directly through him, their voices echoing through the corridors of time. “Eternal Tara” is more meditative, a gentle conclusion to the album’s journey. But by the time you reach this point, you can’t help but feel a sense of déjà vu. The album, while beautifully crafted, doesn’t quite transcend the boundaries it sets for itself. Kali Raga is a journey worth taking, especially for those who are deeply invested in the realms of meditation, shamanic practice, or spiritual exploration. The album is meticulously produced, with each sonic element falling into place like the pieces of a carefully constructed mandala. But for all its beauty, it’s hard to shake the feeling that Metcalf and Seelig are playing it safe, revisiting familiar terrain rather than breaking new ground. In a genre that thrives on the exploration of the unknown, Kali Raga feels more like a comfortable return to a well-trodden path. It’s an album that will undoubtedly find its audience — those who are already fans of Metcalf and Seelig’s previous work will find much to love here. But for those seeking something truly transformative, something that pushes the boundaries of what this music can be, Kali Raga might not be the revelation they’re hoping for. This album is beautiful, yes, and it’s undoubtedly effective in creating the kind of meditative space that Metcalf and Seelig are known for. But one can’t help but wonder: what if these two visionary artists took a step into the unknown, embracing the chaos and unpredictability that their music so often hints at but never fully realizes? Now that would be an album worth waiting for. -Vito Camarretta
Ambient
