The first time I heard Matthew G Davidson's self-produced CD, Blue Forest Mass, it sent shivers down my spine as I heard ancient Catholic liturgical chants combined with haunting and beautiful cascades of sound. Davidson has blended ancient instruments and verses with cutting-edge technology to create a wonderful, trance-inducing sonic journey.

The first song on the album, "Kyrie," begins with an a capella multi-layered dub of the Kyrie chant, after which a danceable, tribal-induced drum track enters the mix along with a woman's voice and, later, a fuzzed electric guitar track. This track consists of complex and beautiful vocal and instrumental arrangements punctuated by intervals where there is nothing but the drum track--almost as if to cleanse the palate before the next wave of sound.

The third track of this CD, "Laudamus Te," is a bit more bouncy than the rest of the album--but considering the Laudamus Te is a song of joy and praise, the tempo and the tone are appropriate. I just happen to prefer the track that convey a hugeness, a wonderful mystery, in a more contemplative way. The fourth song, "Gratias," does just that, opening with an echoing bass drum beat, an ethereal synth track and an echoing, breath-like sound.

The most beautiful thing about Blue Forest Mass is that it defies classification. It's not an ambient or gothic album, it's not a new age album, it's not a trance-dance album. It's all of these and none. What Davidson has managed to do with this CD is to create a beautiful, thoroughly modern, and totally timeless Latin Mass. The music transcends genre, and the chants transcend religion. Listening to Blue Forest Mass is truly a spiritual experience.

Blue Forest Mass is produced by Stretta Records, which I believe is Davidson's own label. If you go to the Stretta website, you can listen to samples of tracks from this CD, which they offer in RealAudio or MPEG format, and you can download the "Cum Sancto Polka," which Davidson wanted to put on the CD as a data track accessible only with a CD-ROM drive (unfortunately, there wasn't room to do this), you can read some more reviews of Blue Forest Mass, and find out how you can get a copy of it if there isn't a music store near you who will stock it or order it.

I would like to thank Azure Dragonfly in Belfast, Maine--where I bought this CD--for carrying Blue Forest Mass and lots of other cool music from all around the world. Don't forget to support the independent music sellers; they are the ones who are willing to take a chance stocking music by new artists like Matthew Davidson. Besides, Borders, Wal-Mart and MegaCDWorld Online Superstore Inc. don't need the money.

--Review by JaneA Kelley