Ritual Path DVD

• 10 Journeys of Exploration
• 15 Environmental Loops
• Electro-classical score by Fritz Heede
• Guest vocals by: Jon Anderson of Yes, kaRIN of Collide, Molly Pasutti and Nijole Sparkis
• Bonus Track “BLUE EYE* featuring guest composer Noa Winter Lazerus
• 5.1 Dolby Surround soundtrack

Another sojourn into the heart of imagination and tranquility, Ritual Paths gently guides viewers to a mind-garden of thoughtful stimulation and peaceful contemplation.
Computer imagery, video and audio meld in a soothing potion of evolving patterns and intriguing passages to serenity.

Explore fantastical nature scenes from around the globe. These scenes are enhanced and combined with computer generated imagery to create a truly unique experience.
Fifteen environmental loops are like moving paintings that create a beautiful ambience in the home. Perfect for an evening of entertainment or to create a mood for family and guests.

Twentv-five unique video-art pieces that push the boundaries of the form with exquisite scenes touched with magic and coated with a marvelous soundtrack. this program provides hours of mystical enchantment and mood-altering serenity. It’s a journey unlike any you’ve undertaken before. Travel the Ritual Path to peace and contentment.

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“Ritual Path” is another one of those interestingly inventive video collections put together by producer John Banks. Banks is becoming quite skilled in this area, constantly finding new ways to improve on old ideas. Indeed, in some ways, this new album seems an extension of his previous ground-breaker, “Illuminated Manuscripts.” And, in some ways it is. But, in others it is so much more.

Again, the videos rely heavily on the wonderfully soothing music of composer Fritz Heede. But. this time around. the pair have brought in singers to enhance the effect Nijole Sparkis and Molly Pasutti, along with kaRIN of Collide and the instantly recognizable Jon Anderson of Yes make this DVD collection a step up in almost every way from Bank’s previous work.

Of course, for those not familiar with Banks’ previous work, perhaps some further description is called for. “Ritual Paths” is a series of animated shorts. Each centers around some natural or rural landscape, each beautifully enhanced with organic computer images and in man cases highlv inventive processes filled with vivid colors used in a variety of eye-catching manners. As with “Manuscripts,” the idea is not so much to sit down and watch this DVD in the serious manner one would a feature film. but rather to use it as background, the way folks used to use the radio.

This new idea of designing videos to act as “virtual fishtanks,” windows onto other worlds as it were, is one that is only just now being explored to great effect by pioneers like Banks. Yes, we’ve had collections of nature scenes set to music to play in the background almost as long as VHS has been alive. but these new collections are different.

“Ritual Paths” is more than just film footage of one natural treasure after another. It is a bold step forward into the sci fi idea of virtual wallpaper, where people can design their personal spaces to reflect their individual styles. This kind of freedom has been long in coming, and we as a society are only on the fringes of what is shaping up to be a tremendous revolution in home entertainment. In a world where stress levels are frighteningly high, naturalistic, contemplative DVDs like this are a prescription for relief from a frenetic pace that is sadly proving too fast for most of us.

“Ritual Path” is 128 minutes in length, a time span that includes ten master animations as well as fifteen Eternal Loops, shooting location maps, and a dazzling bonus dance track so unlike the others that it lets you know that Banks has only begun to entertain the world.

C.J. Henderson
Author of “The Encyclopedia Of Science Fiction Movies”