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This month's column is dedicated to music for love, love of all types: youthful affection, instant infatuation, ecstatic eroticism and even the love between friends and family members. As always, if you have trouble finding these or any music recording reviewed in The Monthly Aspectarian at your local retailer, please call 847-966-1110 and ask for the record company's phone number for the title(s) you desire. |
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THINKING OF YOU (Domo) In a welcome reassessment of his image, Kitaro moves away from the borderline bombast that characterized his most recent works and returns to the beautifully structured, impeccably produced instrumentals that thrust him initially to the forefront of the new age movement. Quietly beautiful melodies like "Estrella" and "Harmony of the Forest" remind us what a talented arranger Kitaro is, how well he can use silent spaces to heighten the translucent shimmer of his music. His stark, crystalline "Stream" is a masterpiece of the art of sound/silence balance, with its slow build and ever-denser instrumental layers. Simply put, it's one of the best tracks Kitaro has ever written! On the more experimental end is the eerie blend of birdsong, low whistle and swathes of sheer synth that introduce "Spirit of Water," a tune that magically conveys both the awe and gob-smacked terror one would feel when facing such a disincarnate entity. Always a fascinating conceptualist, Kitaro's long overdue return to non-symphonic styles is a revitalizing expression of creativity in one of our most treasured artists. INSTRUMENTATION: piano, keyboards, classical guitar, Latin percussion.
Michael Hoppe, Martin Tillman, Tim Wheater Feeling frazzled, stressed or tired? Then let this beautiful blend of music and nature sounds create a haven of warmth, beauty and comfort. AFTERGLOW brings together two of the finest soloists in instrumental music - cellist Martin Tillman and flautist Tim Wheater - with acclaimed composer-keyboardist Michael Hoppé on a series of sublime and sweetly sentimental selections that magically melt away tension while soothing the soul. The premise of this recording was one of complete musical freedom, where deeply felt performances were the highest priority. The music was not written down, but spontaneously created between the players on the spot, resulting in unrestricted flights of imagination and emotion. The result is an album of rare artistry and loveliness made with complete enjoyment and meant to be heard in quiet, gentle surroundings. INSTRUMENTATION: cello, flutes, keyboards.
Absolutely incendiary world rhythms are ignited by Dargan's awesome didgeridoo pyrotechnics for a sizzling soundscape guaranteed to boogie your body all night long. A member of the Larrikia tribe, Dargan is a multi-instrumentalist who integrates the timeless music of his native heritage into cutting edge electronic percolations for a completely captivating sound. "Karumbas Freedom Dance" is irresistible with its complex didj patterns layered into an intricate blend of electric guitar and chant-like vocalization over a consistently groove-laden rhythm section. The funkier "Trancendance of the Karakarock" is a bit slower paced so that listeners can appreciate the sheer number of unusual sounds Dargan manifests with his didgeridoo. It's truly mind-boggling how contemporary this ancient instrument sounds in the hands of an inspired player like Dargan! This entire album is perfect party fare, suitable for aerobic workouts as well as running, step-dance and other sweat-drenched physical activities. INSTRUMENTATION: didgeridoo, wooden flute, guitar, bass, percussion, vocals, electronics.
John Boswell This celebrated pianist moves beyond his usual instrumental milieu to welcome soulful vocalist Julie Last on two tracks, enhancing his romantic interpretations of this column's theme. "Whispers" is a quiet yet deeply moving duet that finds Boswell and Last trading passionate but wordless vocalizations over a well-nuanced solo piano melody. It's amazing how much these two can communicate in this unusual manner. Their beautiful conversation manages to speak volumes without uttering a single actual word. "When Will You Take My Hand" is an ensemble piece that finds Last's lyrics supported by noted players like cellist Martin Tillman and Randy Tico on bass. The remaining tracks comprise nine piano tunes and three gorgeous chamber pieces, of which "Heart Dance" and "Bliss" are most notable as their soothing melodies are utterly lovely and beautifully arranged. INSTRUMENTATION: piano, guitar, bass, cello, English horn, drums, vocals.
Fifteen of the world's most beautiful love songs are brought together for the first time on this wonderful tribute to unending affection. From Celtic singer Loreena McKennitt's "The Mystic's Dream" to legendary Milton Nascimento's Brazilian "Offertory" (a passionate hymn to the Divine), this eclectic yet smoothly paced recording offers many high points. A particular favorite is Songhai's captivating blend of sultry jazz, spicy Spanish salsa and mellifluous West African vocals accompanied by the kora, an indigenous stringed gourd instrument with a remarkably liquid tone. Another exceptional outing is "Adarini" by classical Indian player Ravi Shankar; if you equate this living treasure only with breathtaking instrumental raga performances, you're in for a marvelous surprise! Sung by the master to his beloved daughter (who accompanies him on sitar) and supported by the equally renowned tabla player Zakir Hussain, this uptempo tune is completely contemporary, phenomenally intense and utterly moving. While each track on this admirable collection is a gem, the crown jewel must be Shankar's rare recording; familial love was never expressed so eloquently! INSTRUMENTATION: vocals, strings, woodwinds, percussion/drums, ethnic instruments.
With soft, flowing waves of melody, this elegant recording may give you a whole new appreciation for saxophone music. In the talented hands of Lee Mayall, the brass instrument becomes fluid, spacious and deeply resonant. His solos are so relaxing that they liberate the listener from the bounds of time, freeing one to float along effortlessly. Andy Mock's compositions were specifically written for Mayall's unusual style of playing, emphasizing his ability to convey broad sweeps of emotion within a single tune. Ably supported by a stellar ensemble, the duo's melodies range from poignant to sweetly yearning, from deliciously dream-like to positively passionate. With no vocals to interrupt the sonic stream, these ten tunes make the perfect backdrop for intimate dinners a deux. INSTRUMENTATION: sax, keyboards, piano, guitars, flute, violin, bass, drums,
Ekstasis is a supergroup comprised of the world's best and brightest trance
Clara Ponty Pianist Ponty happily espouses love in all its shiny facets, from the maternal ("Les Berceaux/The Cradles") and divine ("Spirit Dancer") to the esoteric, such as the ecstasy of finally discovering one's soulmate ("Bridge of Clear Light"). While "Rapture" finds her performing in her trademark lyrical solo piano style, the remaining tracks highlight her inspired instrumentals in exquisite ensemble form. Unusual instrumentation enhances these group efforts, such as the use of wine glasses on "Crystalline" and cloud organ on "The Embrace." This latter is an especially refined selection that moves in perfect stillness within floating spaciousness; its dreaminess of sound is heightened by the ambient improvisation of Ponty's piano theme. INSTRUMENTATION: piano, flutes, guitars, cello, keyboards, string zither, bouzouki, gamelons, percussion, vocals and children's choir.
) Feeding the senses in holophonic 3-D sound, these dozen aural excursions into deep sexuality meld scintillating rhythms with ethereal textures. Striking just the right tone between darkness and light, each could be the bedroom soundtrack for a liberated private dancer. "Majorca" features breathy male vocals punctuating the sounds of panflute, piano and Latin guitar as electronic shimmers add a celestial glow. Gregorian chant-like choir introduces the quirky "She Walks in Beauty," which blends a snazzy tribal rhythm with velvety smooth grooves; "The Moment Eternal" take a more ambient turn with nature sounds, whispered words and log drum rhythms melding into a slow orgy of the senses. A little on the wild side for casual listening, this album will find fans behind closed doors. INSTRUMENTATION: keyboards, flamenco guitar.
The Coolidge clan's highly anticipated follow-up to their stunning debut boasts plenty of brilliant slide guitar solos, tasty bass lines and indescribably lush vocal harmonies that straddle pop and gospel styles with aplomb. Kicking off with the tuneful a capella ballad "Gathering of Eagles," the group builds up speed slowly with the laid-back groove of "The Sequence" before hitting its stride with the Spanish rhythms and intricate songlines of "Cherokee Rose." The latter's attractive Tex-Mex style is as catchy as any Marty Robbins ode, but the disc's stand-out track has to be the deep soul infusion of "I Know I Don't Walk on Water," a powerful solo vocal piece replete with tambourine timekeeping. "I Have No Indian Name" and "Tell Them They Lie" finds the trio paying homage to their Native roots with traditional drum patterns overlaid with electric guitar and rich multi-part vocalizations. This blending of diverse styles keeps Walela's music both fresh-sounding and interesting, as well as a welcome change of pace. INSTRUMENTATION: vocals, guitars, bass, keyboards, percussion, drums.
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