Today is December 7, 2005, the sixty four year anniversary of Pearl Harbor; but this a day that will not live in infamy. In fact, as I sit here in the sunny, warm den of my Huntington Beach home, I am surrounded by two sleeping Soft Coated Wheaton Terriers and my black Terrier/Poodle mix is also resting peacefully. The only sneak attack happening today is my new puppy assaulting a pair of my favorite black loafers as I sit typing. Therefore it is the perfect time to make an ordinary day extraordinary, by reviewing a remarkable new record by Adam Lastiwka, a 19 year old musical prodigy who hails from Lethbridge, Alberta, Canada.
Though Adam’s label, R. Cat Records describes his music as contemporary classical with alternative sensibilities, I would venture to say that his fresh brand of instrumental music defies any classification beyond the word unique. The disc kicks off with Organic, offering the sound of haunting chimes, synthesizers and guitar work reminiscent of Robert Fripp. It is a very dramatic track that stylistically harkens back to the early progressive rock of King Crimson, A band led by the aforementioned guitar legend.
The title track, Obsecurity, is an absolute ice cream sundae for the ears. Beginning with beautifully executed classical guitar work augmented by luscious sounding strings and electric guitars, this melodic composition is on par with Peter Gabriel’s best movie soundtrack work. Prairie Fire demonstrates that young Mr. Lastiwka is not only a fine modern composer but also a remarkably adept electric guitarist dishing out super clean, finely honed licks. At the end of song, some badly played horn added for amusement, aroused my adult Wheaton out of his peaceful repose and caused him to go on a barking jag.
Mr. Le also features some masterfully played guitar of the acoustic variety that shuttles between rolling tribal rock rhythms played at a blistering pace and tasteful lead playing a la Richard Thompson. Clocking in at only 2 minutes and 19 seconds, it is an exciting piece of music that ends all too soon. Taking a mystical journey to what sounds like the musical backdrop of a Moroccan belly dancing competition, Raga Darbari Kanhada holds the listener’s interest with evocative world music effects, pounding Tablas and screaming guitar bits that culminate with an exciting crescendo. Note for note, this is one beautifully played piece of music that I had to replay several times to assess the array of musical nuances.
Incantation begins with a half time Latin rock groove and a guitar solo that would please the ears of the great Carlos Santana, then quickly segues into a Brazilian flavored Carnival feel before settling into another memorable electric guitar section. Speaking of guitar solos, Della Roveres Lament begins with a tasteful chamber music passage and winds up metering out high octane electric lines sounding like they were played full blast on a Marshall stack and accompanying the climax of a Sergio Leone Western.
What does a wet behind the ears, 19 year old Canadian lad know about playing slide guitar? For my money, enough to sound like Ry Cooder on his 43 second musical ditty titled Riverslide This little slice of Americana sounds like something purloined from the soundtrack of Walter Hill’s “Southern Comfort”. Leaving the Deep South behind, Lotus presents a Japanese flavored melody with a combination of dynamic drums intertwined with swirling musical spaces, demonstrating that Lastiwka not only is a fine musician but also an accomplished arranger.
It is with good reason that R. Cat Records is excited about their talented new instrumentalist, who has recorded an outstanding collection of music that showcases an eclectic range of musical influences. It is a record that incorporates dynamic, well thought out arrangements, tasteful soloing and layers of interesting sounds that support the overall quality of the music, while leaving the necessary space to render the compositions pleasing to the ear. There is not one clinker on this CD and I highly recommend it as the mature work of a gifted young composer with a promising future.
