Ancient Journeys

With their prolific outpouring of keyboard, flute, and tribal rhythmic recordings, Cusco has won over a strong following of genre listeners. A fairly light and easy offering, Ancient Journeys: A Vision of the New World will likely only appeal to those who are already fans. Smacking of all that is stereotypically New Age (insubstantial soul and cheesy soundscapes), Cusco can be headache-inducing for those not already enamored of the group's uneasy saccharine charm. Quick flute trills merge with syncopated electronics, hand drums, water-drip sound effects, and breezy synthesized strings. A far better and more interesting choice for modern electro-instrumental soundscape is Damage by Roger Eno and Lol Hammond. --Paige La Grone