Music Matters
Music reviews by Bill Binkelman
Unseen
Lori Cunningham
Strophic Records
www.loricmusic.com
Electronica succeeds most when it’s loaded with great hooks, infectious beats and sensual vocals, all of which are present in abundance on Unseen, the debut release from singer/electronic music artist Lori Cunningham. Destined to be one of the better releases in the genre for 2009, the album features 13 tracks brimming with excellent electronica elements. Cunningham’s forte is her vocal versatility, as her singing blends raw sensuality with a powerful pop sensibility. Whether displaying her talents on synth-pop (“Silver Threads [Falling Down]”), somber down tempo (“Everytime”) or chill-out ballad (“Without You”), she is up to the task.
Celtic Grace
Various artists
North Star Music
www.northstarmusic.com
When it’s done right, Celtic music maintains its appeal no matter whether it’s currently in vogue or not. With its mixture of traditional and more contemporary offerings, Celtic Grace is one such album. As timeless as the appeal of the Emerald Isle itself, these 13 songs evoke the spirit, landscape, and culture of Ireland through the ages. Despite the presence of a few classics, such as “Londonderry Air” and “Amazing Grace,” the music never descends into cliché, instead finding a way to sound fresh and alive at every turn. Special note: the company behind North Star Music also produces Orla soy candles (www.orlasoycandle.com) with scents and packaging specially designed to coordinate with many of its CDs.
Best of Hearts of Space: First Flight
Various artists
Valley Entertainment
www.valley-entertainment.com
Some albums don’t just make history, but reflect it as well—this is one such CD. “Hearts of Space,” one of the most ground-breaking shows on the radio, has been in national syndication for 25 years. To celebrate this feat, show producer Stephen Hill has announced a reference series of albums, culled from the rich traditions of all those years. Best of Hearts of Space: First Flight is the first in that series, a remastered version of the very first broadcast, featuring such luminary artists as Kitaro, Vangelis, and spacemusic pioneer Michael Stearns. Tell your customers this is their chance to own a little bit of history.
Energy
Fourplay
Heads Up International
www.headsup.com
Fronted by smooth jazz legend keyboardist Bob James, who is joined by his three world class collaborators (guitarist Larry Carlton, drummer Harvey Mason, and bassist Nathan East), Energy is Fourplay’s ninth release. If you have any previous acquaintance with these gents, you can well imagine how tasty the CD’s 10 selections are. From the opening laid-back funk of “Fortune Teller” to the closing breezy romanticism of “Sebastian,” you’re in for a sweet ride throughout this album. A dead-on recommendation for those who need some lively party music, the CD is a flat-out blast from start to finish.
Detour
Laura Berman
Eighty Minute Music
www.laurabermanmusic.com
Detour from singer Laura Berman should find favor with fans of artists such as Beth Nielsen-Chapman, Mary Chapin Carpenter, Shawn Colvin, and other intimate folk/pop rockers. Berman’s voice is impressive and expressive, whether she’s rocking out or playing it soft, and her accompanists (chief among them being guitarist Craig Benelli who wrote the songs) offer able support. The music blends folk/pop rock with a subtle hint of contemporary country, and there is an undeniable spiritual element at work, too. The chief selling point, though, is Berman’s voice which compares favorably to those artists mentioned above.
Zen Connection 4
Various artists
New World Music
www.newworldmusic.com
Zen Connection 4 is a two-disc set (compiled by Leigh Wood) chock full of world fusion electronica culled from some of the best artists on the planet in this currently hot genre. Omnimotion, Banco de Gaia, Bombay Dub Orchestra, and Tribe 2 are just a few who appear on this excellent compilation. Subgenres featured include dub, chill-out, glitch, lounge, and other electronic twists on world beat music. Since electronics dominate this CD, make sure to steer your more progressive customers toward it. The CD would serve as superb background to a late night party where the mellow vibe and insistent, but never oppressive, rhythms would keep things lively but not too much so.
Sacred Place
Mary Youngblood
Silver Wave Records
www.silverwave.com
Native American flutist Mary Youngblood has selected some of the most relaxing and serene songs from her extensive discography for this collection, which showcases her unique musical vision of Native fusion music. Youngblood integrates her expressive, haunting Native flute with folk-like acoustic ensemble music, frequently featuring guitarist Tom Wasinger as chief accompanist. The result is music of special warmth and engaging accessibility, comparing favorably with the best of contemporary acoustic instrumental music.
Meridians
Valerie Mih
Circular Dreaming
www.circulardreaming.com
The debut CD from pianist Valerie Mih will almost surely earn her recognition as one of the rising stars of contemporary piano music. In a genre marked by many albums that, while artistically worthy, start to all sound somewhat the same, hers is a unique “voice,” not just for the occasional inclusion of the nontraditional accordion, but also for her unconventional yet accessible way with melodies. Mih’s technique is masterful, rich with nuance and delicate shading regardless of a song’s tempo. Even when the music is fast-paced, it is colored with sepia-toned texture, making this a particularly emotive and fulfilling listening experience.
Bill Binkelman has been reviewing instrumental, ambient, and world-beat music since 1997, previously for his own magazine/webzine Wind and Wire (www.windandwire.com), and now for Inspired Retailer.