Prophesy [Explicit Lyrics]

Amazon.com
With Beyond Skin, Nitin Sawhney set a high bar for global fusion music. Now he's raised it with Prophesy, taking advantage of a larger budget to bring in Indian strings, a South African choir, a Chicago cabbie, soul singer Terry Callier, and Nelson Mandela, among many other things. But what could have been an awkward grab bag of sound comes together under Sawhney's sure hands and inspired songwriting. He makes the unusual work. On "Sunset," for instance, flamenco and rai meet Brazil, and the vocals of Cheb Mami and Nina Miranda work to glorious effect. Trilok Gurtu contributes some stunning kannakol (vocal percussion) to "Breathing Light," while Natacha Atlas beguiles with her singing on "Acquired Dreams." But this is more than a collection of great tunes--it's an album that ponders the way our world and civilization is developing, asking questions and challenging assumptions while still delivering some sumptuous grooves and melodies. It all culminates with the title track, on which Sawhney's acoustic guitar and the vocals of the London Community Gospel Choir provide a piece of quiet, hypnotic intensity. Thought provoking, intelligent, and mature, Prophesy is the work of someone who deserves to be called an artist. --Chris Nickson

Tracks:

Sunset
Nothing
Acquired Dreams
Nothing More
Moonrise
Street Guru (Part One)
The Preacher
Breathing Light
Developed
Footsteps
Walk Away
Cold And Intimate
Street Guru (Part Two)
Ripping Out Tears
Prophesy

Amazon.com

With Beyond Skin, Nitin Sawhney set a high bar for global fusion music. Now he's raised it with Prophesy, taking advantage of a larger budget to bring in Indian strings, a South African choir, a Chicago cabbie, soul singer Terry Callier, and Nelson Mandela, among many other things. But what could have been an awkward grab bag of sound comes together under Sawhney's sure hands and inspired songwriting. He makes the unusual work. On "Sunset," for instance, flamenco and rai meet Brazil, and the vocals of Cheb Mami and Nina Miranda work to glorious effect. Trilok Gurtu contributes some stunning kannakol (vocal percussion) to "Breathing Light," while Natacha Atlas beguiles with her singing on "Acquired Dreams." But this is more than a collection of great tunes--it's an album that ponders the way our world and civilization is developing, asking questions and challenging assumptions while still delivering some sumptuous grooves and melodies. It all culminates with the title track, on which Sawhney's acoustic guitar and the vocals of the London Community Gospel Choir provide a piece of quiet, hypnotic intensity. Thought provoking, intelligent, and mature, Prophesy is the work of someone who deserves to be called an artist. --Chris Nickson

Customer Reviews:

If you're looking for emotive music..........2006-04-10

I was introduced to Nitin through my cousin who lives in England. She saw him live in London and raved about it...so off I went in search of this artist. He was difficult to find; nonetheless I was determined. I am one of those people who love music from almost all genres, cultures and corners of the globe. In other words, I am not a radio-pop saccharine sweet loving music listener. I look for music that proposes thought (although I do believe even top 40 has its place) If you are looking for an album/artist that resonates emotion, along with a powerful subtlety check Nitin Sawhney out. You won't be disappointed.

Beautifully serene...........2005-11-09

Ive recently purchased this album and at first found it to be pretty good,but after a few listens (as with all good albums) it seems to grow stronger and stronger. Amazingly beautifull. His music is delicatly crafted using digital and acoustic sounds,it has an almost timeless feel to it and strong but subtle messages. Nitin Sawney also stands out due to his amazing instrumental abiltys. Although hard to define as is a mix of many styles this could be classed as world music, electronic and ethnic. Very modern. Similar vibes to Thievery Corporation, Free Souls and Boozoo Bajou but definatly has a sound of its own, very original.

Chilled, but no background music.......2003-11-22

This disc is a prime piece of musicianship. None of the music is very aggressive, so you'd almost call it chill-out music. There's too much variation for that, though. The music ranges from simple guitar ballad to almost electronic violence, so it's not as ignorable as your average chill-disc-of-the-month. What keeps the album from becoming a bunch of world music gimmicks is Sawhney's overall vision. He is a great composer, and while the songs are very differently instrumented, they all share the same spirit. I'd give the music 5 stars.

What makes this disc annoying is that Sawhney clearly has some socio-political statements to make. If he'd only contain that in the song lyrics I'd have no problems with it. However, he intersperses the songs with little bits of spoken (quoted) text, and after you've heard them twice you can do without them. Increasing the irritation factor is that the BBC news bit is ungrammatical, and the "street gutu" goes on for more than a minute. I'm subtracting a point from my rating.

A great album, a great artist, great feelings.......2003-04-14

When I first listenned to a Nitin Shawney's album, I though it was the best music ever made, in terms of electronic music. It takes us to a different state, our emotions flow and, for me, it is really calming.
The way Nitin Shawney mixes sounds from different worlds is really special and harmonious. It's a supreme way to fly to distant places that we can't visit otherwise...

Incredible introduction to fusion/world music.......2003-04-14

Except for a few tracks, this album is pure genius. Nitin Sawhney really put some good thought into this album, and it shows.

The first track, Sunset, is a good introduction to the kind of music you'll be hearing in the rest of the CD. A mixture of English and Hindi-dialect vocals, it is both beautiful, relaxing, and thought-provoking.

Track 8, Breathing Light is my favorite track (actually my favorite song, period) mixing together violins, piano and fast-paced rhythms, giving the listener to what I like to call "a musical orgasm". Despite lacking vocals, this song is extremely moving. The tone is hopeful, yet reflective. I haven't met anyone who did not like this song. That says a lot.

Track 15, Prophesy is a pseudo-tribal rhythm that starts slow and picks up speed until it's just pounding away. It closes with a sudden stop. The beauty of this song is in the intricate, detailed vocals that accompany the even-more-detailed instruments. The pace at which the background singers chant at the end is incredible, almost too fast too pick up. Listen carefully.

Tracks:

Sunset
Nothing
Aquired Dreams
Nothing More
Moonrise
Street Guru, Pt. 1
Preacher
Breathing Light
Developed
Footsteps
Walk Away
Cold and Intimate
Street Guru, Pt. 2
Ripping Out Tears
Prophesy

Album Description

UK edition of his followup to the critically acclaimed 1999 album, 'Beyond Skin'. Recorded around the world between November 2000 & February 2001 it features more than 2000 musicians including Natacha Atlas, Cheb Mami, Trilok Gurtu, Terry Callier & many more. 15 tracks including the first single, 'Sunset'. V2.

Customer Reviews:

old favorite.......2007-05-07

love this album ...meant to be listened to all the way through and I love every track ...reminds me of Moby though Sawhneys sound is his own

What can't Nitin Sawhney do?.......2004-11-14

It's hard to figure out what British actor and musician Nitin Sawhney can't do. This accomplished artist has produced an album that is both thought-provoking and technically flawless. He combines various flavors of electronica with eastern chant and flamenco guitar. It is a brilliant and effective combination.

I'm embarrassed to admit how I found out about this guy, but I'll write about it anyway. Two weeks ago, on a flight from Cincinnati to Portland, I listened to a "Delta Radio" show called Asian Travels. The host played Sawhney's piece "Acquired Dreams." It left such an impression on me that I knew I had to have it on CD. I Googled the show name upon getting home and figured out which track had so captivated me. In the process, I made my best acquisition in at least two or three years.

The opening track, "Sunset," is one of the more "pop" sounding tracks, even as it combines an acid jazz beat with an eastern chant and a soul hook. But "Acquired Minds" is a huge highlight. This third track starts with a beautiful, airy chant, then adds a flat trip hop beat and an accompanying guitar loop, among other elements. The middle third of "Acquired" is a drum and bass explosion that somehow combines all of the before listed elements with strings and pan flute. The track closes with an acid jazz improvisation over the original trip hop beat. It's truly a brilliant effort.

A later track, "Developed," features the voice of Nelson Mandela, saying "we are free to be free." The track before has the distant voice of Martin Luther King delivering his famous line "I have seen the promised land." These are wonderful moments.

An amazing aspect of the album is Sawhney's courage in putting so many diverse styles on one record. He is so successful with the drum and bass sounds on a couple of tracks that he could have stuck to that style for the entire album. Instead, he gives us a taste of his virtuoso guitar on "Moonrise." He also gives us a lovely rendition of what sounds like an African chant on the ambient goody "Footsteps." "Ripping Out Tears" is a great rap about the fulfillment of destiny.

Some of the criticism I have read of the album slams Sawhney for his "preachy" liner notes, which rail against the worship of technology. This is a ridiculous assertion. The liner notes are not a long screed, rather they take up all of one page. While it is true that the artist has benefited greatly from technology, his complaint is about the over reliance on it, not the technology itself.

Sawhney sees technology as a way to bring people and culture together, but he worries about the disconnected nature of some technologies, such as television: "Someone will tell you 50,000 people died in India. Two seconds later you're watching a comedy," he writes.

Nitin Sawhney is hardly the first to write and worry about the "desensitization" and the "simulated realities" brought on by technology, but unlike others, he has an answer: a thoughtful expression of sound that brings people together. On several levels Prophecy is a fascinating and important - - and highly underrated - - album for our time.

Excellent.......2002-07-02

tremendously varied music, beautifully arranged songs and top grade production. Probably Nitin's finest hour, though the mellow jazz fusion of "Migration" remains hard to beat.

A very enjoyable score of international music.......2002-02-02

This CD contains some of the most unique eclectic variations of music from all around the world that I've heard in a long time. The album is a must have for those looking at innovational sounds ranging from India to Brazil, not to mention having the signature Nitin Sawhney feel to them. The songs all have a lot of passion and there's a good balance between electronic and others. All in all, this is a great buy for those into international music with a flair for light electronic.

Moody Masterpiece!.......2001-11-03

One British newspaper described this album by Nitin Sawhney as being "the work of a genius."Amazing praise for any album and after giving it many listens I now begin to concur with this theory.At first I wasn't overly impressed by this album,but given time I think it's one of the most amazing albums I've ever heard.Not only is the music simply astounding but it's quite rare to listen to an album that really gets you thinking about it's core message.It just works on so many levels and it uses so many different types of music as a backdrop to the theme which seems to question the world's complete fixation with technology.He describes technology as the new drug in the world and the prophecies are connected with where our dependence on technology will lead us.

Musically there are so many influences on this album-trance and ambient groups like Enigma,Air and Zero 7 certainly spring to mind on many tracks.Every type of world music you can think of all get mixed in together.It is no surprise to see that this c.d. was recorded in London,Rio,Madrid,Chicago,France,South Africa and Australia-not to mention the Indian influence of Sawhney's own background gives this music a very exotic flavour.The way he manages to connect them together is so amazing.For instance on track 5 Moonrise it starts of with Arabic singing and then goes into a very rhythmic and gentle Latino groove.On other songs there's a hip-hop feel which develops into full on blues.Then there's a track which starts off with Aboriginal music and concludes with the beautiful harmonious voices of a children's choir from Soweto.Some traks have drum and bass mixed with a very Indian sound quite similar to what Talvin Singh does.Some of the ambient tracks have an almost spiritual feel to them like groups such as Enigma may have.Then he also uses guest female vocalists to give the album an lounge feel that remind me of Groove Armada or the first Air album.There is just so much going on here but it never gets to feel too cluttered or messy.The only way to listen to this album is in one go-there are a few stand out tracks but this album works best when listened from start to finish.I would recommend this album to any fans of artists as diverse as Faithless,BT,Paul Oakenfold,Enigma and Talvin Singh to name but a few.It may take a while to get used to-but believe me patience is really well rewarded.

Visionary Path: Guided Journeys for the Mind and Spirit
Average customer rating:

Stunning, colorful, energetic and yet relaxing visualizations

The best guided imagery program I've ever found!

Absolutely Relaxing!!!

Visionary Path: Guided Journeys for the Mind and Spirit
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Prophesy
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | New Age | Styles | Music
Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music
General | Compilations | New Age | Styles | Music
General | R&B | Styles | Music
ASIN: B000001C12
Release Date: 1997-08-19

Tracks:

Rainforest - Diana Krall/Jason Miles
Desert Nights - Nona Hendryx/Jason Miles
Solar System - F. Murray Abraham/Jason Miles
Mountains - Lucinda Bassett/Jason Miles
Oceans - Roberta Flack/Jason Miles

Customer Reviews:

Stunning, colorful, energetic and yet relaxing visualizations.......2005-11-13

If you are looking for evocative, vivid, fresh visualizations and like journeying to beautiful exotic places, this CD is for you. I've only listened a few times so far and am still stunned at how much better (better written, more fully imagined, beautifully executed) this is than most such CDs I've tried. Many are either skimpy and uninvolving, or detailed in a didactic way that makes you all too aware of the author/narrator rather than putting you inside the visualization. By contrast, these visualizations are imaginative and abundant, with sights, sounds, touch, even smells vividly evoked, transitions gracefully made, and the words perfectly counterpointed by the music to give a sensation of flowing or rushing or floating through these fantastic journeys. (I normally dislike electronic music, but this music is well-done and really carries the imagery along; also, it is interesting to have the music in the foreground and the interspersed natural sounds in the background, almost subliminal.)

The visualizations have relaxation and affirmation components, but these are so well integrated with the journeys that they aren't obtrusive (nor are the occasional gentle and hopeful environmental messages). My two favorite visualizations are Rainforest, with Diana Krall, and Solar System, with F. Murray Abraham. I particularly enjoyed the enthusiasm of Krall's and Murray's deliveries of these especially captivating journeys, although all the narrations are well written and well executed.

In Rainforest, we travel to the vibrant, fragrant and well-oxgenated rainforest. The fertile cascade of imagery, the bright music, and Diana Krall's dynamic reading are invigorating and calming, and I actually see brilliant colors whenever I listen to this one. It's like being inside a Rousseau painting!

In Solar System, Abraham's voice sounds just like the mysterious, somewhat dramatic narrations I remember as a child from planeterium shows--and with that same magical feeling, we move from a gentle, glowing sunset up into the night sky, and are launched into a voyage in space, traveling as a comet to the outer reaches of the solar system, before returning to earth.

Let's have another CD like this, please! Note: Longer sound clips are available at CD Baby.

The best guided imagery program I've ever found!.......2002-09-27

This is an awesome CD that is incredibly relaxing and soothing. It contains five guided meditations. The meditations are as follows:

TRACK ONE: "Rainforest" - narrated by Diana Krall, the Jazz singer. Diana takes us through the Rain Forest. The writing is so wonderful, and the music so perfectly suited for the location, that you really feel like you are there in the Rain Forest (presumably, the Brazilian rain forest).

TRACK TWO: "Desert Nights" - narrated by Nona Hendryx, takes you through the desert at night. As Nona's narration points out, the desert is thought of as being barren, but there is a lot of life in the desert. The particular desert seems to be a composite, because there is reference to the Egyptian Pyramids, but that motif is not elaborated on.

TRACK THREE: "Solar System" - narrated by F. Murray Abraham, the famous character actor and alumni of the Actor's Studio in New York. We are taken into the solar system, and we take the form of a comet. This is perhaps my favorite meditation of the entire program. I love the sense of mystery attached to this particular meditation, and F. Murray Abraham's deep and theatrical voice is perfect for this meditation. The lonely sound effects fit this space exporation very well.

TRACK FOUR: "Mountains" - narrated by Lucinda Bassett. Lucinda is the creator of the famous "Attacking Anxiety and Depression" program, the founder of the Midwest Center for Stress and Anxiety, and the author of the books FROM PANIC TO POWER and LIFE WITHOUT LIMITS. Again, this is a "composite" meditation, in that Lucinda takes us to a symbolic ice capped mountian that seems to symbolize all the famous mountains of the world, the Alps, the Himilayas, Mt. Fuji, etc. The musical accompaniment is energized and motivating. You can almost feel that crisp, cold mountain air. . . .

TRACK FIVE: "Oceans" - narrated by singer Roberta Flack. This meditation is the most relaxing on the entire CD. It takes you into the ocean, and we interact with different sea animals. We hear ocean waves and a few dolphin sounds interspersed with Roberta Flack's soothing voice.

Each meditation is about 10 minutes long. I would highly recommend this CD to anyone looking for a guided program. The production value is excellent! As I mention in the beginning of this review, this is the best guided imagery CD I have ever found.

Absolutely Relaxing!!!.......2001-11-10

This album is terrific. Great voices by popular artist leads you to wonderful places to relax; go to the Rain Forest, be a comet or relax in an underwater getaway. As a beginner in this relaxation business it was a real treat to be taken so completely. I want more!

Average customer rating:

Still Crucial!
Just because its 80s doesn't mean its mediocre

History, Mystery and Prophesy
Lee "Scratch" Perry
Manufacturer: Mango
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Dub | Reggae | International | Styles | Music

General | Reggae | International | Styles | Music

Tracks:

Mr. Music
The Ganja Man
Nice Time
Tiger Lion
Funky Joe
Heads Of Government
Daniel
Bed Jamming

Customer Reviews:

Still Crucial!.......2007-06-30

Although Lee "Scratch" Perry's heyday is considered to be the early 70's, this offering is typical of the move of many Founding Fathers of Reggae to re-tool themselves in the 1980's. "Mr. Music", the seductive and raunchy "Bed Jamming", and the blistering "Heads of Government" are the high points here and make this album a must have for the reggae historian.

Just because its 80s doesn't mean its mediocre.......2007-04-18

This not a classic serving of endless dub jams. If you're looking for an abrupt change from the heavy stuff this is a surpisingly decent, if goofy variety pack. Maybe I'm crazy but the crisp, tight 80s sound has its appeal. Playing is solid, synths are well used and he's even got some nice call and response going on. Okay the songs get a little boring and run-on a while (see:"Ganja Man"), but "Mr Music" and "Funky Joe" are not unbearable as some reviewers say - the digital/synth sound may throw you off but the grooves work. "Funky Joe" has some gems of nutty lyrics. How can you go wrong rappin' about "Super Bees" and "Super Trees"? "Heads of Government", "Nice Time" (cover) are great as well. "Bed Jamming" is the most memorable track but when Perry makes reference to your "daughta" we're hoping he's talking about one that's old enough....
In short, this album works well enough to keep around for the occassional spin. Just don't dwell on how it compares to the classics.

Average customer rating:

light relief with Hammill & Co.
I need to know
Great Inroduction Disc to Great and Original Prog Band
An excellent compilation from VDGG first era, plus more...

I Prophesy Disaster
Van Der Graaf Generator
Manufacturer: Alex
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music

Progressive Rock | Progressive | Rock | Styles | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B0000074Q7
Release Date: 1993-09-20

Tracks:

Afterwards
Necromancer
Refugees
The Boat Of Millions Of Years
Lemmings (Including Cog)
W
Arrow
La Rossa
Ship Of Fools
Medley (Parts Of 'A Plague Of Lighthouse Keepers' And 'The Sleepwalkers')

Customer Reviews:

light relief with Hammill & Co........2003-12-18

Yes, the version of Ship of Fools on here is the studio cut from '77 (quiet zone outtake) which was the flip of the French 45 of Cat's Eye. Similarly, the version of Refugees is the 45 version, more brief, though infinitely more lush and beautiful than the lp cut. "w" is otherwise unavailable (except for The Box), and the Lighthouse/Sleepwalkers medley is straight off of Vital. A bizarre though highly enjoyable collection. Also worth it for Mark Paytresses' affectionate liner notes and some really good photos of the 78 and 72 line-ups.

I'm listening to it now - come back VDGG, all is forgiven. Ya, I guess if you don't like them, this won't help much, though this is totally worth getting even if you bought all the regular albums already. Crank it up! guaranteed to drive your neighbors into fits of rage at ten paces :)

I need to know.......2002-10-13

Is the version of Ship of Fools studio or live? I have Vitol
and the vynal 45 of "Fools" and would like a cd studio take.
Help an old VDGG fan complete his collection,thanks.

Great Inroduction Disc to Great and Original Prog Band.......2002-05-08

I am a complete VDGG fanatic and I would use this disc as an intro to those who are seeking to hear what one of the greatest bands of the progressive rock era sound like. And for the other VDGG nuts out there, this (as far as I know) is the only CD release that contains the b-side "Boats of millions of years." It wasn't included on the otherwise superb 4-cd box set.

An excellent compilation from VDGG first era, plus more..........1999-11-01

I cannot recommend enough this progressive group. This compilation is an excellent overview of their early recordings plus some other gems that you cannot get anywhere else, excpt THE BOX .

Average customer rating:

History Mystery & Prophesy

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Reggae | International | Styles | Music

Average customer rating:

Prophesy
Nitin Sawhney
Manufacturer: V2 Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

World Dance | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Trip-Hop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

House | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

World Dance | New Age | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Dance & DJ | Imports | Stores | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00005Y7ON
Release Date: 2001-10-09

Tracks:

Sunset
Nothing
Acquired Dreams
Nothing More
Moonrise
Street Guru, Pt. 1
Preacher
Breathing Light
Developed
Footsteps
Walk Away
Cold and Intimate
Street Guru, Pt. 2
Ripping Out Tears
Prophesy

Tracks:

Sunset [DJ Cole Remix]
Sunset [London Elektricity Remix]

Average customer rating:

The Prophesy Of Oddyssey
Oddyssey
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
ASIN: B000SOBR4Q

Product Description

1 Intro 2 Right On The Conner 3 Whats The Deal 4 Interlude 5 Strike A Pose {Ft. beneficial} 6 Think About It {Ft. DRC (187 Boyz) } 7 Everything Gonna Be Ok {Ft. Tania Grant} 8 Interlude 9 Dirty Dirty 10 What It Is 11 SXM 12 Island Boy {Ft. Parris} 13 Interlude 14 Pure Water {Ft. Dutty Sham & Archer} 15 We Keep It Crunk {Ft. Mazia} 16 Wine With Me {Ft. Angelic & Tish} 17 Never Be The Same {Ft. Diamond} 18 Interlude 19 Dutty Work Up 20 Wuk It Up 21 Outro {Ft. Shoco G.}

Average customer rating:

Prophesy
Nitin Sawhney
Manufacturer: Msi Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

Trip-Hop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

House | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

General | Rock | Box Sets | Stores | Music

Dance & DJ | Imports | Stores | Music

Rock | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00005QE0X
Release Date: 2002-08-29

Tracks:

Sunset
Nothing
Acquired Dreams
Nothing More
Moonrise
Street Guru, Pt. 1
Preacher
Breathing Light
Developed
Footsteps
Walk Away
Cold and Intimate
Street Guru, Pt. 2
Ripping Out Tears
Prophesy

Tracks:

Sunset [DJ Cole Remix]
Sunset [London Elektricity Remix]

Album Description

Asian edition of the eagerly anticipated follow up to the critically acclaimed 1999 album, 'Beyond Skin'. Recorded around the world between November 2000 & February 2001 it features more than 2000 musicians including Natacha Atlas, Cheb Mami, Trilok Gurtu, Terry Callier & many more. 17 tracks including the first single, 'Sunset' & a 2 track bonus cd which features the same bonus tracks as the much more expensive Japanese version, 'Sunset (MJ Cole Remix)' & 'Sunset (London Elektrcity Remix)'.

Album Details

Asian Exclusive Version featuring a Bonus CD with Two Remixes of 'sunset'

Average customer rating:

New Spin on Eighties Space Rock
Be Wary of Resellers!

Roadstar

Manufacturer: Aquariphone
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

Pop Rock | Pop | Styles | Music

General | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music

Rock | Alternative Rock | Indie Music | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00005T5U9
Release Date: 2001-11-06

Tracks:

Ashland
Roadstar
Grow Crazy
Healing No. 4
Traci Seems
City of Heroes
Diabetic
World's Tallest Building
Tread
Snowangels
Roadstar [endsong]

Album Description

ROADSTAR celebrates the ascent of life from the sea and explores the currently emerging spiritual movement as the next stage in the evolution of our own species.

Customer Reviews:

New Spin on Eighties Space Rock .......2006-11-25

A Pretty Decent album for a guy thats playing everything.
I will watch for other albums and like to see where he goes with this. I like the music side of the equation the best. It has a modern feel to with it's sublineal jazz lines and chords layerd into the guitar and drum machine. Often the Lyrics seem spacer sounding than a lot of the music I think. The Songs are never brash or reckless. Yet still far enough away from easy-listening genre. At times nicley Avant-Garde. Lots of sustained power chords here...not that there's anything wrong w/that };-)

I Liked the 1st Cut "Ashland" (about a Long N.& S. St.in Chgo.) the Best. (I Think he's a Chicago boy) I really like the way he handles the synths. They are varried with lots of layered and rich sond parts. At times this L.P. reminds me of Prefab Spout, or Tears for Fears.

Contrast: The vocals sound like straight-up college radio... not bad really, at times they remind me of the beach boys meets Thomas Dolby maybe. Yet singing style dosn't seem to be able to fully deliver electic and delicate lyrics that wax poetic. Poetic they may be, they tend to sound a little contrived and wordy. (Sorry) It's just that they seem to slow down the speed of the music as they get worked around it. I Do like the spoken word parts they seem to work well, reminesent of trance music which tends to embrace the space-rock themes as well.

I like the that he's trying to elevate this space-rock genre, as he explors new themes and new ways to express them. Though the lyrics often leaves the listener wondering and/or spending to much time trying to get a handle on whats he singing about. There's enough sonicly happening I can let go and ride the contour of the pieces.

But if you have a fair size collection I'm sure you have several L.P.s that you like the sound-groove and never really payed to much attention to the words anyway lest the few phrases that manage to be in the songs hook.
A lot of Talking heads music/lryics were like that for me. David Byrne (on the Stop making sense dvd) admits "Burning Down the House" was put together from a long list of non-related sayings he just liked and strung together, that and the title came from a crowd chant at a P-Funk concert.

Also I really liked the albums by the canandian group F.M. they did some really cool space rock albums (late 70's early 80's) with some good futureisic themes/lyrics but anything by them is hard to find nowdays.

Do Keep and Eye out for William Steffey

Be Wary of Resellers!.......2003-12-12

Baught album thru resellers and twice recived pirated versions. Finnaly baught thru amazon itself and got the real deal. It was worth the time it took to get the goods. A rare album, a real treat.

Album Review:

Album Review

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