In the Garden of Souls

1	In the Garden of Souls 10:26
2	Inamorata 4:50
3	Samaya 6:07
4	Prayer for Soheil 5:04
5	Ceremony of Passage 3:44
6	Beyond Despair 1:37
7	The Inward Coil 5:11
8	Ephémére (Upon the Faded) 6:23
9	Lila 5:26
10	Unbecome 6:11
11	Sevdama 7:32

Barnes & Noble

Float with Vas on the exotic strains of an imaginary language through a prayerful yet sensual Middle Eastern world. Not bound by lyrics, Azam Ali conveys raw emotion with her extraordinarily versatile voice, which can be as enticing as a siren, as sensual as a lover, as mournful as a widow, or as devout as a caller from a minaret. Greg Ellis, the other half of Vas, plays keyboards, udu, dumbek, tabla, hammered dulcimer, and a bench full of Middle Eastern percussion instruments. Cameron Stone guests on cello, adding drones and solos that easily match the mournful power of Ali's voice. In the melancholy "Inamorata," Ali's intonations float like a lost soul. A determined march cadence on the frame drum builds to a climax in "Samaya" while sword-like cymbal accents slash off the measures; additional layers of drones, vocals, and percussion join in as the piece accelerates to an intoxicating pace. "Beyond Despair" combines Ali and Ellis's voices in piquant layers with cello drones, while gongs and timpani emphasize the inevitable. Most tracks feature the intertwined dance of voice and cello, but "Ceremony of Passage" is a highly orchestrated percussion powerhouse. In the dark, textured paisley world of this GARDEN OF SOULS, the inner seeker can dance, pray, or be lured into forbidden passages of love. Carol Wright

All Music Guide

In the Garden of Souls is the third CD from Vas -- Azam Ali and Greg Ellis. Cameron Stone is a guest cellist. This is a grand-scale project. Ali's Farsi vocals tell tales of unknown splendor, triumph, sorrow, and pain. The dark passages and light passages weave throughout the soundscape effortlessly. Ellis is a superb multi-instrumentalist; his percussion surrounds ethereal atmospheres. Stone's cello provides a drone to splay the soundscape. This is consistent with the first two Vas albums. It is an excellent cross-cultural hybrid. It will appeal to fans of Sheila Chandra, Natacha Atlas, and Loreena McKennitt. ~ Jim Brenholts, All Music Guide