Label: unsigned

Producer:

Release Date: 2004

I am quite familiar with the work of most of the artists on this album, however, there are a few new names that I am anxious to discover. Those artists that I have heard many times before are undoubtedly talented, versatile and a pleasure to hear at any time and in any circumstance. So, when Metricks sent this CD to us.. (actually quite some time ago) I knew one of us at IOM was going to be accompanying these guys on a remarkable journeyon and I hoped it would be me. So here we are... about to set sail on this journey of unity, independence, and artistic integrity.

The opening of this album is brought to you by Caravan a classic track that Jamie Dubberly transforms into his own rendition of excellence. With a welcomed guest appearance from Ed Drury and his right hand didgeridoo he flavors this delicious dish of Dubberly decadence at just the right times, with just the right hint of that extra special je ne say quoi. Jamie and Ed... what a track!     
 
Solar Wind is the next taste of what is farther down this tunnel of explorative exuberance. This wonderful piece of sensualistic majesty is the creation of Soul Summation’s riveting compositional capabilities. It takes you in to the far reaches of an imaginative adventure that leaves you with a feeling of satisfactional bliss.
    
Soundfreak’s Riviera emanates a tale of mysticism and a surrounding feel of a ancient ritualistic medicine practice. It’s like the head elder of a tribe is practicing his calls inside of your head. After the reminiscence of the story told there is a quick turn of events.. a higher form of pianistic artistry is brought forth and slowly added to this brew of a concoction creating an atmosphere of 'ambientristic delight'.        

This Brutal Faith is Barry Durdant-Hollamby and Mike Milillo in the first of three collaborative efforts to make this album that much more of what its listener will soon develop a thirst for. This track is one of the many examples of what can be achieved when two individuals who have never met each other and live on either side of an immense pond can do with the magic of technology and communication. They can take the beauty that they each possess, forge it together, mold it into a sculpture that speaks for itself, and cast it out amongst its worldly listeners so that they may enjoy and appreciate its every aspect. 

Reflections thrusts Evan Paul Kosaris into the light of sunshine that adorns his fingertips when he picks at those golden strings. When listening to this track It is quite apparent that Evan thoroughly enjoys what he does and that enjoyment radiates a wonderful shine on what he has put into this truly beautiful creation.     

Nature Boy is a 1947 Eden Ahbez track that Barry Durdant-Hollamby and Jamie Dubberly have decided to shape and mold into their own fashionable endeavor. The two of them have indeed created a fit for the runway model of melodic manipulation that can spellbind any poor and unsuspecting listener into a somberly limber-like existence.  

Forbidden Desire is a classic example of what makes Josiah Barlow’s music what I consider to be a cordial invitation into his realm of compositional excellence. His graceful agility maps out a trail of adventure into the unknown and leads the way to a cure for the soul’s many ailments. He can always manage to amaze me with every new and magnificent piece of his expressional statements of feeling. 

Metricks and Stuart Elliot’s Abrigo Das Almas forces me to imagine a circle of torches surrounding a circle of masked men with black paint strewn across their chests and a amour of small stringed shells draped across their bodies. I can imagine these men turning and stamping while dancing around an immense fire in the center of the moonlit circle for the purpose of blessing a good season for their culture. You can count on being delivered the very best from these magnificent artists every time!  

Visions Mr. Durrdant-Hollamby? Mr. Milillo? Are you paying any attention to this lesson… or are the two of you just drifters? It seems to me that even though to the naked eye you might seem to be paying attention…your not! You’re farther away from reality than any sane thinking human beings can be… I bet your both going to tell me that you have experienced visions of things that would blow my mind!!! Well tell me about them boys because I’m looking for a very good excuse for your blatant disregard for the rules in this epitaphical anthem of instrumental superbment!

Guitar Study in B minor by Rob Blaikie has an old ancient Celtic sort of sound while at the same time ringing true to the need for an unforgettable easy listening experience. I wouldn’t doubt that by this example of his music Rob has the power and ability to serenade a stone goddess out of her spell with his guitar ballads, causing her fall in love with him and happily ever after….till the end of time!  

Imaginary Landscape II is one of Joaquin Taboada’s most widely received and showcased pieces of music. It’s a grade A goodness wrapped in platinum inflections of worldly experimentational splendor. Having been bestowed such a remarkable career certainly seems to have heightened the level of musicianship Joaquin possesses more and more with each of his passing notes.

Into the Myst is a track composed by Age of Echoes. It is an affirmation of sheer vertualistic experimentation into the far reaches of the sky’s vast immensity. It stretches the senses into a sort of spaghetti string essence. Imagine what happens when a strand of the cooked pasta gets thrown afar… it doesn’t just fly through the air like just any object, it ripples, waves and spins in a buoyant fashion like that of this songs effect on its listener.      

Spirit of the Spring Wind! A Scott Hill creation that will be sure to play with emotions. It is one of those tracks that cause a “life’s reflection on past present and future” kind of moment. Where an awareness of reality sets in to the depths of what you feel for the next few hours. Regardless of weather the track is still playing or not it’s still powerful enough to stoke emotional fibers in the cranial passages.     

Tears for Madrid. With this track Evan Paul Kozaris & Barry Durdant-Hollamby bring a humble Beauty to listening ears, a quivering lip to any with emotion, and tears to the eyes of those who can see past life’s distractions. The musicianship in this wonderful piece is adorned with a graceful agility that surpasses the height of the silver lined clouds that make for a good feeling all around. 

Barry Durdant-Hollamby and Mike Milillo draw down the red velvet curtains with Beyond Time. It begins with the type of sound that strokes those receptors located underneath the skin on the face, the back of the head and neck, and behind the shoulder blades. As it forces its listener to be acutely aware that the tears are in fact there, waiting, and that at any moment regardless of intent, could come flooding out with intensity. After that it is a graceful ride along the shorelines of a sunset in progress, a warm and inviting sea breeze, and a sailboat ride off into the distance of time.

Congratulations gentleman - as individuals you have managed to impact the lives of your listeners with your skill, feeling, and abilities as superb musicians and composers. But then we've been telling you this kind of thing for the past three years! As a whole - you have managed to amalgamate the very best of what you do into the largest type of a cherry cheesecake-like creation I have ever seen in my life. Now cherry cheesecake is nothing to take for granted especially one of this immense a proportion. Because it’s that big there is enough of those red succulent cherries, the hinted with toasted cocoanut graham cracker crust, and that not too rich creamery of delightfulness, to go around the whole earth a million times over! Do it guys... we're all drooling at the thought!            

CD Reviews

IOM Magazine

Related