Seamlessly morphing from live studio recording techniques to multi-instrument choreography, including modular and analog synths, digital synths, samples, and acoustic elements, Howard Givens and Madhavi Devi explore a mindful relationship with music, spiritual practice, and the self-healing arts.
Reaching deeper into the science of sound to explore the unknown
The Celestial Expanse is a deep-field listening experience, reaching deeper into the science of sound to explore the unknown. Galaxies soar endlessly, musical chords are juxtaposed at specific frequencies, what lies inside those boundaries is the Universe itself. “The Celestial Expanse” is an additional track from the Source of Compassion (SPM 9093) sessions, by Madhavi Devi and Howard Givens. What you will hear and see is a fractal deep zoom into deep cosmic electronica, superclusters, galactic filaments and voids, under mirrored metals and glass, it has been mastered in stereo and is also available as a Dolby Atmos/Spatial listening experience.
Seamlessly morphing from live studio recording techniques to multi-instrument choreography, including modular and analog synths, digital synths, samples, and acoustic elements, Howard Givens and Madhavi Devi explore a mindful relationship with music, spiritual practice, and the self-healing arts. Both are well versed in this form of ambient electronic music, each having dedicated many years to the style, while refining their expression of it through previous works such as Tibet (SPM-9051) and Life Flows Water (SPM-9091). These two seasoned artists seamlessly merge their musical expressions; balancing the serene, pastoral and non-rhythmic, with the occasional intensity of evolving pulses and beats, all of which draw on the heart-mind energy that inspires the collaborative space and is at the source of spiritual discovery.
Balancing the serene, pastoral and non-rhythmic ::
For Howard Givens, the art of music, live or recorded, is all about an illusion that intends to convey the listener to another state of experience. In addition to being a co-founder of Spotted Peccary Music, he is directly involved with creating, recording, and producing the subtlety of sounds generated from various electronic sound sources including hardware analog and digital synthesizers, software synthesizers and samplers, and effects processing, and blending them with acoustic sounds including piano, drums, guitars, percussion, ethnic and other worldly instruments, and environmental sounds. Other albums by Howard Givens include The Bodhi Mantra (with Craig Padilla), Being The Light (with Craig Padilla), Life Flows Water (with Craig Padilla), Spirit Holy Rising (free download), and In The Land of Power (released in 1989).
Electronic musician, harpist, and meditative sound painter Madhavi Devi (Cheryl Gallagher) produces and performs music with intention towards supernal inner growth and development, composing inspiring sound-spaces reflective of mystical vibrations and light from the center of being. Her critically acclaimed releases feature rich textures and nuanced melodic structures that are evocatively moving and intimate, and yet celestial in scope. Nature sounds, various acoustic percussive elements, and subtly crafted electronic sub-components all add eloquence to her sonic palette and choreography. With several releases over the last couple decades, Madhavi Devi continues to explore her innate sensitivities towards musical conversation, evolving sound as a vital connection to personal discovery. Madhavi Devi also has released The Truth of Being, and Tibet (with Deborah Martin).
Howard Givens, Madhavi Devi, and Craig Padilla merged and blended their ambient electronic sound sculpted meditative styles in their premiere trio collaboration, Precipice Of A Dream (SPM-9096) which was formed to compose and perform a live recorded realization as part of Steve Roach’s SoundQuest Fest 2021. The 45-minute live set is presented as seven tracks of mastered high quality audio that unveils the subtlety and dimension of this captivating performance. Composed with a formidable array of mono and poly synthesizers, modular synths, electric harp, Tibetan bowls and bells, and an assortment of sequencers and effects.
The Celestial Expanse is available on Spotted Peccary. [Bandcamp | Release page]
