Musicby PJ Birosik
A warm and lovely fusion of tribal-ambiance and scintillating soundscapes, this brilliantly creative, enigmatic record will certainly please fans of James Asher's Feet In The Soil and Steve Roach's Dreamtime Return. Its softly rounded rhythms urge one's feet to wander through lush jungle landscapes into a magical, forgotten realm where the music radiates with a meditative, cocooning pulse from the earth itself. On "The Visitation," an enchanter's mesmerizing words -- "meteorites...optical illusions...hallucinations...weather balloons" -- is ritually woven through gently percolating percussion. Exotically sweet sax and violin strains, hushed murmurs, soft keyboard swirls, and luminescent aural shadings layer into floating atmospheres for a truly transformative listening experience.
After ten excellent studio recordings, Ciani's considerable keyboard talents are infused with a whole new energy during her live recording debut at San Francisco's Herbst Theater with The Wave, a spectacular septet spearheaded by Paul McCandless, Michael Manring, and Teja Bell. Favorites including "Neverland," "The Velocity of Love," and "Hotel Luna" literally come to life with the additional instrumentation of soprano sax, bass, guitar, electric sitar, flute, violin, cello and more. Ciani's performances have never sounded brighter as she straps on an electronic keyboard and bops with the best, though her work on acoustic grand piano is nothing short of delightful.
To paraphrase comedian Jim Carrey, this platter is "sm-sm-smokin'!" Strunz & Farah, one of the hottest guitar duos ever, positively ignite on this live set with backing band on bass, drums, and percussion. You can actually feel the heat pouring out of the speakers as Strunz takes the right channel and Farah the left. It's like sitting front row center as these acoustic string virtuosi counterpoint, blend, and alternate highly emotive melodies with highly nuanced and blistering solo riffs. The talented twosome really stretch out improvisationally, succinctly capturing all the spontaneity and excitement of their popular concert performances for the first time. Note: a new, previously unrecorded song, "Chincha" - is included.
Inspired by a Sufi teaching story, piano soloist Spielberg has made the best record of an already illustrious career. Birds "Dancing in the Quiet Rain," a much loved childhood tale ("That's How the Story Goes"), and other soft subjects -- butterflies, dawn, first snow, dreams -- are seen in new light as her expert yet delicate touch coaxes heart-opening melodies from a remarkably resonant instrument in crystal clarity. Being partnered on a few songs by guitarist Chris Theriault, fiddler Johnny Cunningham and others on cello, flute, recorder and percussion, does not diminish the haunting fragility of these remarkable compositions. Rather, tasteful accents only enhance their ethereal loveliness with a soothing, comforting, human touch that entices one even deeper into reverie.
Is it just my imagination, or is that a wood nymph photographed emerging from a tree stump on the cover of this album? This and other reflections of the forest are contemplated on this excellent, all-acoustic outing in honor of the Native American flute. The liquid, expressive sound of cedar mingles with six- and twelve-string guitar, bass and organic hand percussion instruments on a dozen spirited, playful and deeply heart-felt melodies by one of the brightest new ensembles to come to light in recent memory. A romantic courting song, a loving lullaby, and an audio postcard to powwow trailmates blend with cheerful tunes for a completely enjoyable listening experience.
Strikingly beautiful artwork on Laurie's third outing hints that there's something special here, some new creative inspiration for the solo pianist. The burbling joy of "From the Ashes" is positively triumphant, its rolling chordal patterns reminiscent of Elton John's earliest -- and most successful -- tunes. But as her fingers caress the ivories in ever-shifting patterns of sound, tunes like "In the Monterey Mist" and "Good Night, My Friend" demonstrate a new maturity of composition, a deeper level of emotion achieved. There are subtleties of both intent and style here that reach a higher level of communication with the listener, without sacrificing the quiet loveliness that characterizes much of her previous work.
Basing his compositions on beats-per-second cycles that induce an awake yet relaxed state of mind, Branch's music is perfect for visualization exercises and reverie. Believing that the drum is the heartbeat of both life and love, his music consistently features a tuneful percussion sound layered with deeply emotive piano melodies and electronic textural swathes. Fingersnaps, celestial chimes, rattles and reverberations combine in delightful permutations on "Rhythms of Love," a simple, but elegant instrumental romance. "Mind Renewal Through Time Travel" goes galactic with synth whines, laid back wind whooshes, and a synth lead that strains towards the stars. Colorful stuff, indeed.
Silverlight, a top session drummer/synthesist for the likes of Roberta Flack, George Benson, Anne Murray and others, crafted this upbeat, smooth jazz debut over the course of several years (so in demand was he!). The results are a tasty blend of soprano sax, acoustic piano, acoustic guitar and orchestration that goes down as easy as warm honey on a hot day. From the slow, sweet musings of "The Love of My Life" to the odd-meter, cross-playing on "Magic Rainbow," it's obvious Silverlight is one of life's optimists, desiring nothing more than to make one's day a little brighter. That's nice, and the music is too. If you're looking for a little lift, some get-out-of-bed-with-a-smile music, this could be for you.
The poet Byron eloquently stated that "the earth is but the music of the spheres." Inspired by this noble sentiment, multi-instrumentalist Vidhano turns his attention to evoking through sound the deep rumble of a mountain's invitation to pass over its lofty snow-capped peaks to the pastoral splendor of dreams. Reclining in the "Winter Temple," tranquil tones warmly seep into one's very bones during a sacred vigil while "Waiting for the New Dawn." At the luminous "Awakening Hour," the listener's senses explode with "All the Flowering!" as a carpet of color beckons one outdoors to embrace all of nature at its most glorious.
Submissions for review consideration may be sent to: PJ Birosik, MUSIK INTERNATIONAL CORP., 154 Betasso Road, Boulder, CO 80302-9606. Since 1977, Birosik has been a music industry consultant specializing in marketing, promotion, publicity and A&R/foreign licensing; she is a member of NARAS, NARM, NAIRD, CMC, IMA, and a past Board of Director of Los Angeles Women In Music who has been profiled in 11 international editions of Who's Who. Calls may be placed to her at (303) 444-9575 between 9:30am - 5pm MST regarding review criteria, consulting services for signed & unsigned musicians, and data list rentals.
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