Music Design

Those who like their flamenco music without fancy flourishes and heavy ethnic influences will find a lot to enjoy with Guitarra del Fuego from Johannes Linstead. Dubbed “nouveau flamanco,” the music has a sense of fluidity, never dispruptive or jagged, just smooth tropical melodies preformed in a very accessible, pleasing fashion. The tracks range from upbeat selections like “Mango,” and energetically charged mariachi florr-filler, to slower, mood-enchancing pieces like “Illusion,” whose bittersweet air seems perfect for a moonlight waltz.

The heat generated from Peter Kater’s Fire, from his bliss-inducing “Elements” series, is more of a steady burn than a blazing tourch. This is music that calls to mind the pale glow of candlelight, as you relax and sooth your weary muscles. Featuring the skilled playing of Grammy-nominated multi-instrumentalist Paul McCandless and violin master Ludvig Girland, Kater provides a very warm, peaceful environment for relaxation practices, meditation and healing work. The compositions are both gentle and spacious, with an acoustic flair that makes each feel very natural.

Chi is the energy that flows through our bodies, giving us nourishment and vitality. Stress and blockages can disrupt chi flow, causing everything from feelings of sluggishness to illness. Sacred Healing Touch, from composer of healing arts music Sayama, is a serene, comforting album of natural-sounding music for use with massage, Reiki and other therapeutic practices. The music is very meditative in nature, comprised of koto, shakuhachi flute and temple bowls.