Natural Mind

Anyone who's read Child of Tibet, the moving autobiography of Tibetan singer-songwriter Soname [reviewed in #39], will appreciate the extent to which music has both shaped and reflected her remarkable journey into exile. Soname's distinctive singing style closely adheres to her Tibetan roots – natural, lyrical and free-flowing. All the songs on her latest recording are her own original compositions, some voicing conventional themes of nostalgia for her homeland and spiritual yearning, but others carrying messages of political and cultural aspiration. The tone throughout is one of sentimental reflection and inner peace, tinged with sorrow.

One of Soname's hallmarks has been her innovative work with traditional instrumentalists in the West, and much of the appeal of this album rests on the delicate and evocative string accompaniments of an international ensemble of Tibetan damnyen (lute), kora (harp-lute), cello, guitars and drums. Some of the more intimate duet work exposes some vocal inaccuracies, while the whole vocal approach to ‘Yarlung’ – a sentimental Western pop ballad style – doesn't sound idiomatic. Overall, however, listeners will find some pleasing and engaging original material on this recording. Highlights include the driving blues-inspired ‘Bird Sad Song’ and the beautiful blend of sonorities supporting Soname's mesmerising chant-like ‘Freedom Song. There are some delightful solos on cello and kora, balancing a darker, richer sounding vocal on ‘Refuge. On these tracks Soname is at her best – beautiful, sonorous and sustained.