James Asher
James Asher is a recording artist, composer, producer and musician based in Shepherds Bush, London. His first commercial album, 'The Great Wheel', topped the English New Age chart on and off for a period of two years. The second album, 'Globalarium', fuses different world music styles and has been used by BBC1's 'The Clothes Show'. The third album, 'Dance of the Light', reverts to the New Age style and having been released worldwide by New Earth records has been popularly received. The forth album, 'Feet in the Soil', is an uplifting celebration of danceable energies centred in the earth. Rhythms of an infectious, hypnotic and tribal quality provide the frameworks for the music, which draws much from Aboriginal and African inspiration. It features the single 'Pemulwuy', a current Whirl-Y-Gig favourite. More recently are the albums 'Tiger of the Raj', featuring the Whirly track Temple Gates, and 'Tigers of the Remix', which is a compilation of remixes of James Ashers work by other artists.
Album: The Great Wheel
[MW180]
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Released '90 on Music West Records. The Great Wheel is acoustic and electronic music that spans a range of moods from upbeat rock, jazz and world music influenced to quieter and deeper passages. The core of this album is the epic title cut which invites the listener to enter into the spirit of change: into the cyclical nature of life itself.
Album: Globalarium
[SD-802]
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Released '93 on Silver Wave Records. Globarium is a collecion of pieces, whose central theme is a portrait of a unified world in harmony, through a light-hearted fusion of multiple ethnic music styles. Drawing much from rhythmic inspiration, and balancing on the central pivot of Western style 'grooves', the music sees the meeting of such diverse elements as didgeridoo, classical flute, trumpet, shakuhachi, recorder, stell drum as well as a large selection of sampled and electronic sounds.
Album: Feet in the Soil
[NE 9512-2]
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Released '96 on New Earth Records. Written by James Asher. Feet in the Soil is an uplifting celebration of danceable energies centred in the earth. Rhythms of an infectious, hypnotic and tribal quality provide the frameworks for the music, which draws much inspiration from Aboriginal and African lifestyles.
James Asher has written and composed many beautiful pieces for Aura-Soma, inspired by his association with Vicky Wall in the early days of Aura-Soma. Although James is well known in the ambient 'New Age' music field, he is a drummer! His first instrument is the drum and this collection shows his rich feel and love for the diverse indigenous rhythms of this planet. So, get to it! Kick off your shoes, and get your feet in the soil.
Many thanks to James Asher for the generous gift of this album.
CD Single: Pemulwuy
[NE9603-2]
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Released '97 on New Earth Records. Written by James Asher. From the album 'Feet in the Soil'. Track 1 remixed by Silvio Moroni and Attilio Casati. Track 2 remixed by Aetherius, Oscar Falanga and Simon Clarke. Pemulwuy was an Aborigine whose bold and fearless action to defend his people's rights became a stirring symbol of their struggle to avoid violent dispossession. In the late 1780's, the Aboriginal 'Eora' society was elaborate and based on a highly complex kinship system, integral to which was the notion of reciprocity between people. Their society was non-materialistic, eqalitarian and power was diffused. They regarded land as a religious phenomenon, and people and land were inseparably linked. Nothing in the history or experience of the Eora prepared them for the British Invasion of 1788. Throughout a series of incidents of wounding and capture, Pemulwuy displayed a noble spirit and great bravery. The name Pemulwuy means earth, and it was as protector of his earth that he became renowned. His story was an inspiration for the two tracks that form the bookends of the album 'Feet in the Soil' and this single.
Album: Dance of the Light
[NE9513]
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Released 1996 on New Earth Records. Dance of the Light, James Ashers' follow-up album to his #1 hit 'Feet in the Soil', leads you on a romantic journey. A tender collection of music bringing renewed nourishment and healing to the body, mind and spirit.
Album: Rivers of Life
[ASCD3]
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Released 1996 on Dance of Light Records (Radient Music Publishing). Two flowing compositions, both with the musicical theme of water, specially composed for guided meditations given by Mike Booth. The music is ideally suited to accompany meditation, healing, massage and relaxation. Allowing a little extra time to get settled, the music provides an excellent framework for an hour of any form of healing treatment, or just pleasant listening to aid relaxation or activity.
Album: Tigers of the Raj
[NE9805-2]
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Released 1998 on New Earth Records. The colour, slendour and epic sense of adventure of the palaces of Rajasthan inspired these rhythmic compositions, which form a lavish and romantic musical feast - an entertainment fit for maharajah. A worthy successor to James Asher’s hit album "Feet in the Soil". TIGERS OF THE RAJ blends the rich interlocking rhythmic textures of tablas, dhol, douffli, ankle bells, manjira and dholak, with the haunting sounds of Indian voices, swaramandala, santoor, sarangi, flute, sitar and modern keyboards.
Album: Raising the Rhythms
[NWCD470]
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Released 1999 on New Earth Records. James Asher's raising the rhythms is an exuberant world music expedition. The Caribbean, America, India, Africa and Middle East all contribute influences to these richly varied and energetic compositions, whose vibrance is superbly captured in this unique recording. Smouldering layers of percussion form the foundation with a wide array of tablas, dholak, djembe, congas, bongos and bata drums. These are then joined by an exotic selection of voices and melodic instruments including Native American flute, harmonium, sax, trumpet, guitar and plethora of keyboard sounds. James Asher's love of rhythm and the wide diversity of ethnic music is superbly enhanced by his spirited but super clear production style. World Music fusion has rarely sounded hotter!
Album: Tigers of the Remix
[SF1001]
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Released 1999 on Starfield. Following the success of his Aboriginal-African dance album, 'Feet in the Soil', James Asher was inspired by the sparkle and vibrancy of Rajasthan to create an album celebrating its power and mysterious appeal. In the year spent building this idea, James was able to track down twenty of the finest musicians Indian and Western, who would help craft the uniquely magical impression made by India. The resulting album was 'Tigers of the Raj', but James was keen to see how others could expand this vision through re-interpretation. He invited pioneers in the field of dance music to contribute their own remixes. The seventy minutes of this CD are a testament to the width and breadth of a growing and innovative musical area, fuelled by a rich cultural heritage, and bubbling with creative innovation. A romantic view of Rajasthan's splendour takes on new dimensions when explored with the imagination and expertise of these masters in the world fusion. Infectious intricate grooves carry you through the mystique and magnetism of India in her finest guise.
Album: Colours of Trance
[NE2004-2]
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Released 1999 on New Earth Records. An acoustic harp played with the lilt and poetry of Ireland's Madeleine Doherty, accompanied by a dynamic mix of percussion, including Japanese taiko drum, Indian tablas, congas and dideridoo. Produced by James Asher, who also plays an exotic array of keyboard sounds, this album expands the boundaries of trance. Asher's ground-breaking world beat albums Feet in the Soil and Tigers of Raj have distinguished him as a pioneer in the field of world music fusion. Each track is a musical interpretation of one of thirteen colours. The styles range from foot-stomping dance to lyrical and haunting visually evocative tone poems. The innovative combination of instruments and styles give this album a unique and vital originality.
Album: Feet in the Soil 2
[NE 2006-2]
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Released 10/2000 (Europe) and 01/2001 (USA) on New Earth Records. Feet in the Soil 2 offers more celebrations of danceable energies centred in the earth. Following on from the best-selling original, larger and deeper drums join the didgeridoo this time around with a fresh palette of sounds setting the party swaying. Drawing further on inspirations from Aboriginal and African lifestyles, the music provides further invitation to join the groove, kick off your shoes and get your feet in the soil!
Album: Mike Booth - Atlantean Chants
[6284/084]
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Released 12/2001 on Aquamarin (Germany). Featuring the vocal chants of Mike Booth, Atlantean Chants is essentially a James Asher production. A wonderful outing of down-tempo electronica featuring a host of unusual vocal samples that make for compelling listening.
Album: James Asher & Sivamani - Drums on Fire
[NE2304]
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Released 3/03 on New Earth Records. All compositions by James Asher and Indian master drummer Sivamani. This latest upbeat outing of drum fueled world music is Asher's finest since his first Feet in the Soil excursion.
For further information on James Asher see the Official James Asher Web Site
