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Album Review: Single Shots - Yoga Heart Healing
David Vito Gregoli
Cover image of the album Single Shots - Yoga Heart Healing by David Vito Gregoli
Single Shots - Yoga Heart Healing
David Vito Gregoli
2015 / Dharmapala Records
57 minutes
Review by Kathy Parsons
Single Shots - Yoga Heart Healing is a collection of five “re-imagined” tracks that originally appeared on David Vito Gregoli’s 2006 release, Yoga Heart Healing. Presented in a shorter, more radio-ready format, the tracks concentrate the relaxing and meditation-enhancing power of the original recording. The first four tracks range in length from just under six minutes to just under nine, and the fifth is a compilation of the first four, clocking in at 27’49”. Gregoli produced and performed all of the music, which is ambient in style and very diverse in instrumentation. Gregoli is a versatile and exceptionally talented multi-instrumentalist, and it isn’t always apparent which instruments are sampled and which are the “real” thing. Gregoli refers to himself as a “sound painter” and these richly-layered tracks are colored in darker hues that are soothing, healing and relaxing.

The first four tracks are titled “Asana Single Shot #1-4.” According to Wikipedia: “In the practice of Yoga, Asana denotes the art of sitting still and also any posture useful for restoring and maintaining a practitioner's well-being and improving the body's flexibility and vitality, cultivating the ability to remain in seated meditation for extended periods.” The stillness and openness of the music suit this definition very well. The mind is freed to drift through the vast darkened spaces of the music or to focus on thoughts other than the sound itself. Often mysterious and intense, but never threatening or scary, I can imagine some of this music being used in a film soundtrack or as an accompaniment for other visual media. It is strongly distinctive yet easily recedes to the background, not calling attention to itself - a fascinating mix!

Single Shots - Yoga Heart Healing is available for download from CD Baby. Check it out!
April 6, 2015
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(contributing artist)