Tara – Brian Abbott (Dakini Records) www.brianabbott.info

I’ve played this album every now and then with a view to reviewing it, but a certain bafflement has kept returning it to the ‘maybes’ pile. It’s actually well over a year old now and it was when I recently heard that Brian might have a new album out soon that I decided to give it one final trial. And it was with some surprise that I realised that I’d become more at peace with, and really quite fond of much of the CD.
On reflection my uncertainty was caused by it being so musically eclectic, with some of the tracks seeming so out of place on a CD devoted to a Tibetan Goddess. I’m used to ‘devotional’ music having a cautious, precious, too ‘holy’ vibe. In contrast, Brian’s work is big, bold (and at times frankly bonkers), and pulls together all sorts of musical influences from his extraordinarily rich musical past. A long-time collaborator with Daevid Allen (Gong), The Invisible Opera Company of Tibet, Global (Nigel Shaw’s New Age ravers), and the glam-rocking Diamond Dogz, there’s much that Brian can throw in the mix… along with a bunch of Chuchikjall nuns!
Expect a few surprises and a few incongruous moments but this music has enough depth to grow on you – plus there are some really subtle, enchanting moments too (amongst the power riffs!).