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NEWEST RECORDING/CD

Translations for the new CD vocals/spoken word are here too!

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The new album, entitled "VOICES",  features Herman Begay and  Rob Greyhill. More vocals, more drums, and more flute, this recording is one close to Douglas' heart, as it features the first time ever, Douglas playing on a recording with his son, Josh. The new record also marks the return of Lynelle Kirkwood on harp, and introduces Meade Steadman on sax. Sean Halley performs guitars and basses, with percussion from many different players. This recording spans emotion from the most humble and revealing passages ever played by Douglas, to the most wild and powerful tracks ever! These tracks, like many previous Spotted Eagle records, bring Native American/influenced music to a new and exciting level. Just as "SACRED FEELINGS" introduced the synthesizer to the Native American flute, this recording is equally ground breaking. These tracks, mixed by William Aura of 3rd Force Fame really keep your feet moving!. Even the ballad and solo flute cuts have an emotional sense that is unique to this record. 3 music videos are available for sale.

This recent recording, released on  August 24, 1999, is in a vein similar to Deep Forest, Enigma, Enya, Clannad, and Anggun. Deep percussion and drum loops drive moving melodies on the flute, sax, and voice. The record also brings 103 yr old Robert Wheeler Sr. as a singer and narrator. Mr. Wheeler is a Dine' from Round Rock, AZ. Also heard on the record are tracks featuring 89 year old Rita Wheeler.

   

Grandma Wheeler, age 93, recording vocals for "Kii'naa'daa' It was very important to me that all of the vocals on "VOICES" be real people, and no samples used whatsoever

Recording vocals for "Walk in Beauty"

Although Sacred Spirits, SpiritDance, and many other recent recordings of Native American/influenced music have utilized 'samples' of Native American vocalists or instruments found on yet other records, Douglas' new CD, like the past CD's feature only the REAL artists, people that can be seen, paid for their work, and are performers rather than clips of audio taken from other performances, then custom fit into the music. While there is not anything necessarily wrong with what other artists do with sampled material, many times the samples are taken without the original artist's knowledge or permission, and that artist is not paid for their work, even though it's their voice. In many cases, the concept of sampling is so new, there are not laws in place to protect artists or their families from this unethical practice. For this reason, Native Restoration's policy is to find the sound we need, from real people. Not from CD's recorded by someone else for purposes other than what it is eventually used for.

Great care and expense is taken to bring these artists to the studio, or to bring Douglas to them, but the end result is highly emotional, powerful, and real.

 

Audio files from the NEW CD may be found HERE....

 

Check out what NBA superstar Karl Malone had to say about Douglas Spotted Eagle

Reviewers comments on VOICES thus far...

 "I welcome his newest songs from the
  soul, from deeper within the heart than
  ever before. A summer into fall is
  simply just more complete when I have
  some brand new Douglas Spotted Eagle to
  'move out' some of that other stuff."
  ART GOOD, JAZZTRAX

  'Brings pride and inspiration, a
  contemporary transformative listening
  experience, an expression of beliefs
  that can be shared by many..." 

LORIE LEE, PROGRAM DIRECTOR/KTNN (Indian America's largest radio station)

 'Special meaning for us as Natives hearing this music, really shows the
 beauty of our culture...." 

Rachel, Nazlii'nii, AZ

 "...Vividly hued inner soundscapes,
 progressive layers with funky loops and
 world rhythms supercharged with
 emotion....." 

ANTOINETTE BOTSFORD, NAV Magazine

 "Pretty cool, and it's different, I can understand (my own language) and enjoy....."

 Lupita, Ft. Defiance, AZ

  "VOICES and Douglas Spotted Eagle make Native music live...without all of the
false fluff and contrived stuff many musicians create when they work with ethnic music....definitely true to the culture.....

David, Rapid City, SD.

 

Voices includes more vocals than anything Spotted Eagle has done in the past and incorporates everything from spoken word to Native American chants. Six of the disc’s thirteen cuts contain some lyrics.  I love the change in overall rhythmic direction on this release but there is something else... a deep emotional undercurrent that runs the course of the entire album. The first track, "Dance," combines an upbeat backbone with a "weeping" flute. Your body says, "dance" but your heart receives a different message. "Tears Alone, " a solo Native flute piece conveys a sense of emptiness and sorrow as each phrase echoes into silence. For over a week, Voices went everywhere with me. I heard little else. It owned my heart from the first note. Not only does it include some of the most emotional music I've heard come out of this man; it's a nice change in his musical direction.  

Judy Markworth/Wind and Wire Magazine