Dreamland: World Lullabies & Soothing Songs

Full Title - Dreamland World Lullabies & Soothing Songs. Putumayo invites you to turn down the lights and relax to the tranquil melodies of gorgeous lullabies & soothing songs from Africa, Europe, North & South America & Asia. More than simply a bedtime album for children, Dreamland features beautiful, universally appealing songs that will help create a calm ambience in the home & during yoga, meditation & massage sessions. Featuring Angelique Kidjo with Carlos Santana, Zulya, Beatriz Pichi Malen, Claudia Martinez, Fortuna & more. 13 tracks packaged in digipak format. 2003.

If these truly gorgeous lullabies and songs from all over the world don't soothe the savage beast within your child, nothing will. This hypnotic collection of soft and slow melodies--some ancient, some new--is perfect for lulling a child to sleep or for any evening when you want to escape into a warm bath with candles. Carlos Santana accompanies African singer Angelique Kidjo on the sweet opener, "Naima." Claudia Martinez sings "Arriba Del Cielo (Above the Sky)," a lilting traditional lullaby with roots in the Mexican state of Guerrero. The Letterstick Band, from the small An-Barra clan of Australian Aborigines, performs the moving "Yi-Rrana (Sunset)." One favorite is "Lá Vai Alguém (There Goes Someone)," a hot-summer-night-sounding lullaby sung in velvety tones by Virginia Rosa. Another lovely addition is Kanji Yano of the Sanshin Café Orchestra playing a generations-old lullaby on a traditional stringed instrument from Okinawa called the sanshin. The liner notes, written in English, Spanish, French, and Dutch, provide kid-friendly facts about the countries of origin. A portion of the proceeds are donated to the Putumayo Cross-Cultural Initiative, a non-profit organization that uses the power of world music and the arts to inspire children to connect with diverse cultures. Vive Dreamland! --Karin Snelson