by Jim Brenholts
Some of the best Native American offerings combine atmospheres, musical ambience, and vocals, mostly in the original tongue or as chants. Some of the atmospheres use modern instruments and synthesizers to augment them. Music From a Painted Cave has some of those qualities, and the selections that stick to that tried and true pattern are outstanding. Unfortunately, Robert Mirabal has gone beyond that. He has composed original lyrics in English. He has a good voice but he sings with an affectation that is too over the top. Again, there is some great music on this CD. There are too many misses to rate it as uneven.