Deborah Martin and Erik Wøllo are back with another collaboration of hybrid Native American/ambient music after their acclaimed 2009 'Between Worlds' album. I hadn't heard that album previously, so I found it online and listened to it for comparison's sake. What I heard on 'Between Worlds' seemed a lot more episodic, with compositions falling either into the New Age or Native American categories, while 'Kinishba' seemed more integrated between the two. I think if you are looking for Native American "flavor" in ambient music, 'Between Worlds' will likely satisfy you, but if you're looking for a deeper experience, 'Kinishba' provides it, although both albums were created to honor the Apache people and the sacred nature of Native American culture. Like its predecessor, 'Kinishba' was birthed from many years of study, on-site research, recordings, and collaborations with a variety of Apache tribal members, most notably Edgar Perry — who was a significant contributor to the preservation of Apache traditions.

One key difference on 'Kinishba' is more prominent vocalization from Deborah with more lyrical content. There is also a natural drama to this work, enhanced by traditional tribal instrumentation throughout. Martin's voice acts as a spirit guide in “the house of the ancestors,” and the healing power of ceremony. Kinishba, named for an abandoned pueblo on the White Mountain Apache Reservation, is a reflection on this theme, a vivid collection of 10 pieces that open a respectful, authentic window into remembrance ceremonies of the Apache people. It may enhance your listening experience to have some affinity for Native American music, but regardless, this is excellent work melding tribal and ambient in a most authentic way.