Vas: Azam Ali (vocals, hammer dulcimer); Greg Ellis (hammer dulcimer, percussion).
Additional personnel: Tyler Bates (guitar, keyboards); Brent Meyer (bouzouki); Cameron Stone (cello); Deepak Ram (bansuri); Justin Meldal-Johnsen (bass instrument); Pejman Hadadi (tombak).
Recording information: Atman Studios, Los Angeles, California (05/2003 - 12/2003).
On the fourth album from Vas, vocalist Azam Ali and her partner, multi-instrumentalist Greg Ellis, have moved away from the sparse musical arrangements of their past and have introduced a new, elaborate sound that incorporates every instrument in the world beat library. Often favorably compared to Dead Can Dance and Axiom of Choice, Vas evolves its sound on FEAST OF SILENCE in a way that's sure to please fans and introduce the duo to a whole new audience. Guitar, bass, and other instruments have been added to their signature mix of cello, world beat percussion, and Indian flute. In addition to the expansion of the instrumental repertoire, the music on FEAST OF SILENCE shows Middle Eastern and Eastern European influence in their compositions. "Bardo" is a particularly unusual track that combines ecstatic drumming with Egyptian vocal stylings and ornamentation. Ali's vocals continue to be honey-toned, breathy, and mesmerizing, but for the first time, the Iranian-born singer performs her own songs in English, showing sensitivity and great emotion. FEAST OF SILENCE is a tight, well-crafted album that establishes Vas as a singular talent.
