Music Review: Sacred Spiral by Yuval Ron, featuring Úyanga Bold

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Sacred Spiral by Yuval Ron featuring Úyanga Bold

It’s hard to classify the Sacred Spiral. The new collaborative album from award-winning composer Yuval Ron, acclaimed vocalist Úyanga Bold, and executive producer Richard Gold — out on February 6th, 2022 — is both classic and contemporary, meditative and curious. Conceived as a tool for wellness, reflection, introspection, relaxation, and creativity, it is intended to help the mind align with the body. But it does so in a pleasantly unexpected way.

Consisting of seven tracks, the shortest of which is nine-and-a-half minutes long, the album has a lot of range. It’s not, as I first imagined it would be when I read the press release, a perfect fit into a niche genre. Rather, it weaves the expected with the unexpected; throws in a few surprises here and there. While some tracks sound like something you would expect to hear at a yoga studio, others sound jazzy, or reminiscent of world music or even the opera.

Uyanga Bold in the Studio

For example, “Ethereal Voyage” is a lovely track that aligns with expectations. It has no real tempo or beat to speak of. The instruments are long and winded, with vocals to match. But it’s followed by “Voice of Freedom,” which has a very different feel and tone. The vocals are much stronger, and a lot more defined, think Durga McBroom performing with Pink Floyd. And the music is jazzy, romantic, and something reminiscent of an old school noir film.

Next up is “Mind Vision Invocation.” This track, too, has a strong and controlled voice, but it’s less jazzy and more in the style of world music. It’s the perfect track to watch a sunrise to, with traces of chirping birds melodically singing in the background. It, however, precedes my least favorite track “Mysteries of the Heart.” Featuring prominent male and female vocals it, in my opinion, comes across as a little too much auditory stimulation at certain moments.

“Water of Forgiveness” features a sitar and vocals performed in the style of classical Indian song. It’s a very slow and melodic track, but it also feels very familiar, which can be comforting for some. However, “Darkness into Light” is probably the most surprising track on the album. In the style of classical music with hints of opera, it’s darker and moodier, but it’s also very, very beautiful. Last is “Deep Earth Chant” and it makes me think of shamanic-style songs.

Sacred Spiral, composed and arranged by Yuval Ron, is a pleasant auditory experience that can be enjoyed by both the leymen and seasoned mindfulness practitioners. To learn more about the music, its creators, and the intentions behind it, join the musicians for their upcoming livestream: https://youtu.be/yujxvvhxto0 on February 6, 2022, at 11:00 am PST

Vocals: Úyanga Bold

Sitar by Pandit Nayan Ghosh on “Water of Forgiveness”

Jaw Harp by Chugge Khan on “Voice of Freedom”

Didgeridoo by Andjru Werderitsch on “Deep Earth Chant”

Bansuri flute Shye Ben Tzur on “Mysteries of the Heart”

PanArt Hang by James Hood on “Mind Vision Invocation”

Flugelhorn by Andrew Carney on “Voice of Freedom”

Glass harp by Brien Engle on “Ethereal Voyage”

Cello by Dennis Karmazyn on “Darkness and Light”

Gongs by Kenneth Goff on “Deep Earth Chant”

Note* Music provided for objective review by our partners.