Flying Spirits is a collaborative album released in December 2020 by fusion guitar virtuosos Nicolas Meier and Dewa Budjana, via Blue Canoe Records. This project seamlessly blends Middle Eastern and Indonesian musical influences, offering listeners an immersive experience that transcends traditional genre boundaries. Produced by Nicolas Meier, Dewa Budjana and Yellowjackets co-founder Jimmy Haslip, the record features eight original compositions–four written by Meier and four by Budjana.
Upon its original release, Flying Spirits was made available in both standard stereo and Dolby Atmos formats. The Atmos remixes were created by Erich Gobel and Karma Auger at Studio 1LA in Venice, California, ensuring high-fidelity sound that captures the nuances of each performance. Auger and Gobel are perhaps best known in the immersive music community for their Dolby Atmos remixes of four classic Frank Zappa albums released between 1972 and 1974.
Though the Dolby Atmos mix has been accessible via streaming services for some time, we’re proud to announce that Flying Spirits is now available as a hi-res immersive download in the IAA shop! IAA offers immersive digital downloads in Dolby TrueHD, the same hi-res format used for Blu-Ray discs with Atmos audio. While streaming services offer convenience and access to a vast library of music, they also severely compress the audio to save bandwidth. With lossless TrueHD, the inner detail and sonic clarity is much better preserved for home listeners.
The title track opens the album with intricate melodies that weave together Eastern scales and jazz improvisation, setting the tone for the journey ahead. Meier and Budjana’s guitars are mixed wide across the front stage, hovering between ear-level and the height array. Saat Syah's flute adds an airy quality to the proceedings, enriching the compisition's texture and depth.
The vocal chants that kick off “Ganga” circle overhead to amusing effect, while percussion floats behind the listener. Jimmy Haslip's bass lines provide a solid foundation, seamlessly blending with Asaf Sirkis' dynamic drumming to create rhythms that are both complex and accessible. Sirkis’ drum kit fills up the entire soundstage–including the overhead speakers–to stunning effect.
Throughout the album, Meier and Budjana engage in a musical dialogue–their guitars conversing in a language that is both ancient and contemporary. “Jayaprana” is another standout, featuring more overhead flute work from Syah while the guitars move mostly to the side surrounds.
Flying Spirits stands as a testament to the power of cross-cultural collaboration in music. Nicolas Meier and Dewa Budjana have crafted an album that not only showcases their technical prowess, but also their ability to create emotive and evocative soundscapes. The contributions of Haslip, Sirkis, and Syah further elevate the project, making it a noteworthy addition to the world fusion genre.
For enthusiasts of fusion and world music, Flying Spirits offers a rich and rewarding listening experience that bridges continents and cultures through the universal language of music. Even for immersive music fans unfamiliar with the artists, the album is worth seeking out just for the incredible Dolby Atmos mix.
Purchase Flying Spirits in the IAA Shop!
