by Backroads Music/HeartbeatsTrance is the latest in Gabrielle's cutting-edge musical series exploring primeval dance rhythms and ecstatic trance. Since her earlier drum-based efforts, Gabrielle's music has become more worldbeat in orientation, propelled by a powerful percussion section & various musicians who lend distinctive flavors to the pieces. At times funky and danceable, there are other portions which are airy and melodic, with trilling flutes and smoky sax. Jai Uttal adds to half the cuts, while Daniel Lauter and bandleader Robert Ansell join in as well. Rhythmic but restrained, earthy but ethereal, Trance is a strong pancultural statement about the hypnotic power of rhythm.