Song Carrier

On 1995's Song Carrier flutist Robert Mirabal creates a sweeping universe of ancient Native wisdom and metaphysical dreams. Here the flute maker and musician employs deep, round drums, eagle-bone flute, rattles, and rainsticks for a lovely, solitary music rooted in ritual and tradition. Mirabal's flute soars in plaintive melodies over gentle, ominous rhythms, as in "Yellow Ram's Song" and "If Ghosts Could Dream," while settling into intimacy on "Taos Summer Nights" and "Rainsong." Mirabal does a splendid job meshing the calls of birds, crickets, and other natural sounds into the album, as on the chatty "Taos Winter's Memory of Spring," where a soothing flute and chirpy birds interact amidst swooping rattles. Though the recording spawns a dark tone, the album is still beautiful for its masterful connection with Native mystical realms. --Karen K. Hugg