Label: Monkey Mind Records

Producer: Andrew Zapanta

Release Date: 2005

Andrew Zapanta has produced the most brilliantly designed and packaged CD I have ever seen from an independent artist. The CD is boxed and includes some CD sized press materials, a copy of his acoustic 4 track EP 'Thieves', and a nice little events list. The artwork is quite phenomenal and after visiting Andrew's website, I can see why.. Andew Zapanta, Ladies and Gentlemen, is a consummate dedicated artist with skills in painting, photography, sculpture and design. The thing is.. what in God's name is his music like?

Andrew's debut album Avocado Pilgrims, features ten self-penned tracks, the first of which just happens to be Find Your Way - a kind of blessed tropical breeze of a thing with some lovely bass and percussion work and the kind of vocals that would make Lenny Kravitz pale in comparison. I love the nice bright melodies, smart arrangements and the pure passion for spirited music strewn across expertly conceived production work. Meanwhile, Serene waits for the chance to be heard and when it is it's the stuff of excelllence! Nice funky infusions of West Coast pop/rock brought right up to date and beyond in a seemingly effortless fashion. Then there's the uniquely flavoured lyrics, superb fretwork and innovative vocal EQ-ing to make you wanna press the Play button a bit more in an effort to accept the enourmity of talent!

Derby Rd is cleverly original in it's slightly Kravitzian arrangement but then Andrew's vocals come along like an invoked spring shower taking everything that was previously black and white and turning it all into a field of technicolor! Excellent backing vocals and exceptionally informaed musicianship make this track one of the best I have heard from the genre in years! No sooner has the track echo'd away from my attention when the magnificanet Orange & Blue arrives.. we're back to the island for this one folks and we're guests to a guy who knows a thing or two about the brighter side of hearts and senses! Thanks Andrew... what a brilliantly performed, composed and produced suite of nourishment for the soul you have given us!

New Boy Racer is so incredibly laid back in it's approach with it's detailed guitar work, Caribbean styled percussion, and beautifully delivered vocals. It's the kind of track you'd want to have slotted at the top of yer iPod at all times.. brilliant! Watch out for the guitar solo at the three minute zone.. with the volume lifted, the notes go up the walls, over the balcony and around your head without waking the cat up! Raton Negro on the other hand, is where the acoustic comes in handy for emphasizing the extremely gifted lyrics and supporting vocals.. how Andrew manages to do this thing with the way he balances diverse and richly versatile is really something!

Birds Oversea is another highly original Zapanta classic among Zapanta classics. I defy anyone with any common sense to listen to this track and not be transported to the other half of the sky.. the part where there sun is! Lovely guitar riffs and a tempo that makes you want to sip instead of drink.. it reminds me of the atmosphere that Eric Clapton captured on much of his 461 Ocean Boulevard album back in the Seventies and that's a compliment rather than a strict comparison!

Last One begins with radio vocals that lead to the pulling back of the curtains on the 'Outkast' styled arrangement that's done to absolute perfection. It's clear confirmation that we have one hell of a recording artist in Andrew Zapanta.. furthermore.. it's confirmation of the stupidity of an industry that let's this kind of artist slip by! My feeling right now is that won't be for very much longer! Keep an eye on the nicely styled vocals and what's happening on the stringed instruments!

For 2013, we have a lovely fingerpicked intro complete with some nice tremelo guitar leading up to one of the best recorded vocal sections I've heard. What an incredibly gifted singer this Mr Zapanta truly is! Watch out also for the Hammond and harmonica inserts ... little speckles of good fortune for this magnificently produced piece of wonderment!

Deyas Lullaby is the last track on this masterpiece of an album and I'm already wondering if Andrew Zapanta has spent alot of time advising the likes of Lenny Kravitz and Usher as well as some of the industry's most innovative and forward thiking record producers! The song itself is a beautiful lullabye-ballad styled offering that makes you feel good just by the sounds and layers coming at ya. Then you have to contend with the superbly adorned vocal work and a delightfully detailed arrangement that appears to be quite simple on first hearing.

Without a doubt, Andrew Zapanta has produced a magnificent set of pearls that the rest of us can only marvel at as we view them in the light that Andrew has spread before us. If it's true what they say about feel-good fruits, then this album truly represents the entire orchard!

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IOM Magazine

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