Moving and mysterious, mischievous and impish, and surging with unbridled energy, Mana’s “Book of Sand” is a comprehensive cross-cultural musical experience. Drawing on a veritable orchestra of unusual and evocative western and eastern instruments, Chris Tokalon (saxes, Bansuri Indian flute, Hang drum and vocals), and Nic Paton (guitar, zouk, ukulele, charango, cittern, and programming) have produced a magical musical palette strongly grounded in Arabic and Eastern moods, yet defying any adequate description. Their diverse musical backgrounds include Indian devotional ballads, African guitar styles, jazz, lounge and electronica, Greek folk idioms, desert percussion, flamenco, Celtic, and kletzmer. From this spicy mix, an original, decidedly varied, and yet tightly cohesive sound has been forged: “Book of Sand”.