“ Bernadette Yao creates relaxing melodies and rhythms that can only promote happiness and spiritual health to everyone within earshot of the music. The nearly seventy-minute recording contains the best of electronic washes with light additions of Quartz bowls, chimes, djembe, shakers, and bells. All of the instruments seem to be used in delicate portions that are not too overwhelming or busy. Anyone with an interest in experiencing peace, health, and happiness, should find solace in the sounds of Light Embracing: Music Meditations.” (From Review by Matthew Forss)

The music from “Light Embracing” may be used as a meditative, energy healing session - listen to it on headphones while napping, and in sitting or walking meditation. It can be played through your speakers while you do your household chores or clear negative or stagnant energy in the home or work space. This music may also be used in therapeutic sessions (including massage, Reiki, Brennan Healing Science, energy healings, acupuncture), meditation and yoga.

Artist: Bernadette Yao
Album: Light Embracing: Music Meditations

“Massachusetts-based, Bernadette Yao, is a soulful, musical healer that is an energy healer, Brennan Healing Science practitioner, and a Reiki practitioner. As a facilitator and purveyor of relaxation and peace, Bernadette creates an appealing record of meditative music for therapeutic healing sessions, yoga, dreaming, and other calming activities. The one-plus hour album contains seven songs and Bernadette offers a few vocals and plays guitar, keyboards, Quartz crystal bowls, djembe, shakers, bells, and chimes.

“Mother Earth” begins with the strike of a high-tone bell and a few softer bells with chimes and Bernadette’s om-centered vocal set that is intermittent. A slowly-played acoustic guitar enters the mix with a few slaps on the djembe and electronic washes stemming from keyboards. The keyboard washes are similar in tone to Bernadette’s wordless vocals. The serene vocal set and ambulating instrumentation are rather lackadaisical. The entire musical mix slows down to nothing more than a little very light djembe playing, a few chimes, and Bernadette’s soulful voice. The end of the song returns to the guitar, washes, and acoustic guitar, as a good summation or musical journey.

“Creative Wave” opens with a symphonic, ambient wash that is very cinematic and spacey. Bernadette’s kirtan-focused vocalizations are free-flowing and airy. The acoustic guitar adds a little punctuation to the music. The vocals are progressive and experimental, which resemble the instrumentation and melody. The peaceful washes and meditative voicings possess a slight throat-singing ambiance from the steppes of Mongolia, but the music is created in the USA.

“Light Embracing” begins with a few pensive guitar strums and Bernadette’s wordless vocals that add a touch of angelic magic to the music. The acoustic guitar is more prevalent on this song, which creates a slightly folk tone. Still, the luminous vocals add a progressive touch to the music overall. The shakers add a good dose of texture to the music, too. The kirtan-flavored rhythms and melodies are led by the guitar and free-floating vocals.

“Sky Drums” opens with a scintillating electronic wash and echoing display of Quartz crystal bells and Bernadette’s spacious, yet characteristic, vocals. The spacey electronic washes traverse the vast audio expanse with laser-like acoustics and pulsating waves of sonic beauty. The bowls add a sparkling tone to the mix. The shimmering metallic sounds and drifting noises of a crystalline nature seemingly suspend time with various oscillations and melodic devices that are free from musical jargon.

“Loving Grace” begins with relatively peaceful electronic washes and a steady tone with Bernadette’s wordless voicings filling in the melody a bit. The sonic sounds are blended with metallic drones and relatively little in the way of other instrumentation. This is mostly an atmospheric song with some new age voicings that solidify Bernadette’s mark in the world of meditative kirtan.

“Bliss” opens with an oscillatory wash and a few sporadic picks of the guitar. The electronic washes ebb and flow with angelic reticence, which is not a negative. The earthy, but airy voicings connote a welcome contrast to the poignant guitar, washes, and intermittent noises.

Bernadette Yao creates relaxing melodies and rhythms that can only promote happiness and spiritual health to everyone within earshot of the music. The nearly seventy-minute recording contains the best of electronic washes with light additions of Quartz bowls, chimes, djembe, shakers, and bells. All of the instruments seem to be used in delicate portions that are not too overwhelming or busy. Anyone with an interest in experiencing peace, health, and happiness, should find solace in the sounds of Light Embracing: Music Meditations.”

Artist: Bernadette Yao
Album: Light Embracing: Music Meditations
Review by Matthew Forss

Rating: 5 out of 5 stars