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Credits:
Arturo Garcia Orozco: samponas, sea shells, silver flutes, quenas & clay drums
Cesar Regino: quenas, tlapitzalli, shakers & clay drums
Gabriela Sanchez: vocals on "Let's Go Let's Go"
Carlos A. Arcila Sosa: translation from Maya
Lic. Juan G. Regino: translation to Mazateco
Music composed and performed by AH-KIN
Produced by Cesar Regino and Arturo Garcia Orozco
Recorded at Tulum Studios, Mar Vista, CA
Mixed by Cesar Regino
Design by Doerte Lau, Darwin Foye
Reviews:
Something strange is sweeping the music world. The world musical trends seem to travel an itinerary like
Jules Verne's Amund the World in Eighty Days. The progression of modern music seems to make its
influence by geographical regions, In the sixties The Beatles - primarily Paul McCartney - was heavily
influenced by the Indian mystics especially Ravi Shankar. There has also been fascination with the
Indonesian gamelans and the Chinese guzheng in the Seventies.
The latest trends seems to have moved into the American continent. Bonampak represents the Mayas, a
South American tribe situated below the Andes. The album tries to cream an accurate reflection of the
music of the Mayas, Attempts are made with traditional Mayan instruments including clay drums, sea
shells and shakers filled with dry leaves. The opening track, Ring of Gold, carries a haunting Indian tune
after the introduction of tropical bird sounds. The objective is to paint a magical landscape, to transport
one into the land of the Mayans. To a certain extent, it is quite interesting to hear the different instruments
of another culture. However, my opinion is that it is lost with the liberal use of the drum machine and the
strings which makes it lose some of its flavour. Also, most of the scales that are used in the album seem to
be the orthodox Ionian mode.
Experience has shown that most tribal music carry unorthodox modes like the Locrian modes (popular
with Eastern music) and the Aeolian modes. Children of the Moon breaks this disturbing trend and thus is
the most effective track with its haunting melody and very primate-driven rhythms. Sonically, this album
seems lacking as some of the sampling needs refinement and there is some muddying at the lower
mid-range level.
-Infotainment Magazine
Peruvian flute-and-percussion albums have been solid-sellers at museum shops, New Age and nature
stores for many years; this album is one of the best examples of the type, and should sell well given
in-store play exposure. Packaged in a style that is as attractive yet darkly mysterious as the legends
which surround it, BONAMPAK's beating drums and native flutes provide a colorful background for the
ritual dances of traditional Toltec, Aztec and Mayan spiritual practices; the reverent rhythms,
enthusiastic melody lines and artful arrangements beckon one to join in the celebration of a rich,
millenium old culture. As the instrumental music plays, one can close one's eyes and clearly envision the
secluded, sacred jungle clearings where soaring, stepped temples rose in homage to the sun; great for
reverie!
-New Age Retailer
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