 |
|
|
| October, 2008 | ||
| Return to Index |
|
|
VOZ is the Spanish word for “voice,” and Columbian-born, Montreal-based guitarist Arturo Parra definitely makes his guitar speak on this CD. The CD is conceived as four inter-connected pieces that evoke the elements of earth, fire, air, and water. Each main section is further divided into three parts, representing the edge, the heart, and the deepest recesses of each musical idea. Parra uses his breath and his acoustic classical guitar to create this music. Everything is recorded in real time, which means no overdubbing or multiple tracks. In fact, on one piece Parra plays two guitars at the same time by mounting one on a tripod. This sounds like a lot of “concept,” and it is. But ultimately, it’s the music that matters. And this is very exciting, thought-provoking music. The guitar ranges from frenetic Latin rhythms to weird, compelling combinations of chords to lovely, almost romantic melodies. Parra also strikes the body of the instrument and runs his fingers along the strings. Projects like this can sometimes end up being unique but difficult to listen to, but this is not the case here. Each of the four pieces has a unity of sound and structure. The guitar playing is spectacular. The music is both intellectual and spiritual. Taken as a whole, Voz is sometimes meditative, sometimes driving, but is never boring. • |
||
THE strength of David Howard’s debut CD Spark is his absolute conviction. It’s a fine effort musically, as well, but what elevates it above dozens of other flavorful pop/rock CDs is that you know he deeply believes every word he is singing, and he wants you to believe, too. Spark is an eclectic collection of songs, from Sara Hickman to Cinde Borup to Jackson Browne, which are centered around the idea of living an authentic life and being fully in the world. It’s a thoughtfully chosen collection, and every song has something important to say. The arrangements feature a wide array of instruments, from guitars and strings, percussion and powerful piano playing, to the smooth Hammond B3 jazz organ. Howard’s voice is an interesting cross between Jackson Browne and David Bowie—including a tension between Browne’s uninhibited singing and Bowie’s more controlled style. Howard is a Georgia native, and you can hear a little bit of that Southern rockabilly aching to break free in songs like “One Last Day to Live” and “Reach for the Light.” All the songs move along with lots of energy, and there’s a nice mix of styles and tempos. • |
||
THIS stark and meditative CD features the haunting sounds of handmade wood and clay flutes from a variety of cultural traditions, from Mayan to Hawaiian. In Following the Call, Ann Licater uses these unique instruments to play 16 original compositions. There are somber and introspective melodies, lyrical flights of music, mystical and breathy pieces, and songs that sweep you up in their changing rhythms. A project like this has the potential to become a little tedious, but Licater makes so many smart choices that this never happens. First, the pieces are short—nothing over four minutes—so while some are improvised, none meander. Each follows a logical format, and maintains the listener’s interest. They are all played deftly by Licater, a classically trained flautist. Also, the wide variety of flutes she uses have very different sounds. Some are woody and rich, some reedy and light, some earthy and wistful. There are even some double flutes that sound as if two flutes are playing at once. Licater manages to use each to its very best advantage, seeming to pick just the right music for the timbre, tone, and range of each instrument. This is a very quiet CD, that may require careful listening, but the rewards for doing so are great. • |
||
BORN in Turkey, Mercan Dede now lives in Montreal, where he appears with a band called Secret Tribe that includes a Dervish dancer. Dede works all-night parties as a DJ under the name Arkin Allen, but sometimes he goes into the studio to record driving, mystic, and exhilarating CDs like Breath. Dede’s work is based on the philosophy of Sufism, the mystical branch of Islam. The core of this philosophy is that everything exists with its opposite, and that counterpoint creates perfect unity. In his music, he embodies this idea by combining digital, electronic sounds with handmade, human ones. The result is an exotic array of traditional Turkish instruments, more familiar Western instruments, and haunting Middle Eastern vocals. It’s a sound he calls “electrodervish,” and that’s a pretty good description. There is a quality of electronica dance music to this CD, but also a profoundly reflective and spiritual sense. All the different types of sounds mix seamlessly, which is a credit to Dede’s musical style. And overall, the program is extremely well-crafted. The tracks (all the titles of which mean “breath” in various languages) travel from swooping strings, to crashing. percussion, to undulating vocals to breathy, gentle woodwinds, to breathless silence. In keeping with the idea of the unity of opposites, Breath is both introspective and outgoing at the same time. One could play it at a party or sit and contemplate the rich textures in each track. • |
||
| —Beth Adelman | ||
To
read further, pick up your copy of Science of Mind Magazine
Web Design
and Graphics Copyright © 2003
Marty Bunch Art Originals
|
