Tony Levin's Waters of Eden is an eclectic, sophisticated instrumental music album. He draws on his personal sense from spending decades inwards the forefront of progressive stone together with fine art stone every bit good every bit the jazz together with classical music inspiration that gave stone such lofty goals. Not alone does this recording expose Tony Levin every bit a cellist, simply it likewise continues to testify he is skillful at together with highly creative inwards exploring the melodic possibilities of the bass guitar, his main instrument. Levin, along amongst other musicians, adds synth to the recording. Often this seems incongruously brilliant inwards the murky, bass-led compositions. Still, this is an first-class album overall.
Tony Levin, the legendary bassist of King Crimson who has likewise anchored such art-rock luminaries every bit Peter Gabriel together with Robert Fripp, offers a human face at his ain complex musical canvases on Waters of Eden (Narada 70876-15224-2-6; 54:37). Not surprisingly, considering the companionship he's kept over the years, composer Levin crafts meticulously layered, complex plant encompassing a arrive at of influences, from the tribal-drum tension of "Pillar of Fire" to the ambient, jarring "Bone & Flesh," which builds together with develops inwards unexpected directions. No 1 quite captures the emotion inherent inwards a singing, resonant bass musical note similar Levin, who utilizes the unique vox every bit the emotional pump of the graceful, hauntingly wistful "Belle," together with the elegant "Boulevard of Dreams," which builds on a straightahead pianoforte figure. Levin's bass tin lav ask disappointment, nostalgia, rhapsody together with mystery inwards a unmarried plough of the phrase. He takes wages of that versatility on pieces ranging from the keyboard pulsing, suspense-filled "Icarus," amount of longing together with foreboding, to the brash, distorted rock-funk hooks of "Gecko Walk." "Utopia" is a full-blown epic-rock charged, constantly evolving together with finally, uplifting-but the album's close telling highlight may live its stirring, awe-struck championship track, amongst a circular pianoforte figure together with long-bowed cello setting upward Levin's deceptively elementary melody. Throughout, Levin chooses his colors carefully together with deliberately, providing immense rewards for the attentive listener.
Over the lastly one-half dozen years, King Crimson bassist Tony Levin has produced a pocket-size simply impressive torso of operate on his ain Papa Bear Records, including World Diary (1995), a collection of collaborations amongst players such every bit Bill Bruford, Jerry Marotta, Shankar, together with many others, together with From the Caves of the Iron Mountain (1997), an atmospheric projection involving Levin amongst drummer Jerry Marotta together with flutist Steve Gorn, recorded inwards the place of the title. Levin's latest endeavor is released non through his ain label, simply New Age independent Narada, known to a greater extent than for meditative acoustic guitar music than progressive rock. But fright not. While Waters of Eden is prettier together with to a greater extent than meditative than King Crimson, it is yesteryear no way lacking fire. The closest comparing is to Levin's operate amongst Peter Gabriel, together with this recording inwards fact reunites the substance of Gabriel's band of the slow 70s together with early on 80s: Levin amongst drummer Jerry Marotta together with synthesist Larry Fast. Influenza A virus subtype H5N1 duet of tracks ("Bone together with Flesh" together with "Pillar of Fire") characteristic Fast's expansive synth pads together with Marotta's throbbing toms. Think of what mightiness cause got happened inwards a rehearsal for Security when Gabriel wasn't around together with Levin decided to accept the lead. This substance trio is augmented yesteryear some particular guests. The California Guitar Trio joins inwards for the championship track; David Sancious provides keyboards together with a credible virtual soprano sax on "Icarus;" guitarist Jeff Pevar soars over many cuts. Throughout, the melodic Pb is centered on Levin's sensitive playing, on fretless electric, electrical upright bass, together with electrical cello. In general, the music is fairly simple, sweeping melodies amongst chordal accompaniment, simply the passion together with arts and crafts of the players lifts it to a higher house mere New Age drivel.
Track listing:
"Bone & Flesh" – 6:46
"Waters of Eden" – 4:50
"Icarus" – 5:35
"Gecko Walk" – 4:58
"Belle" – 4:00
"Pillar of Fire" – 6:44
"Boulevard of Dreams" – 6:47
"Opal Road" – 6:23
"Utopia" – 8:03
The Japanese position out contains a bonus rails entitled "From Here to the Stars" together with features unlike covert artwork.
Personnel:
Tony Levin – Music Man electrical bass (tracks 3, 6), fretless bass, NS electrical upright bass (track 6), NS electrical cello (tracks 1, 2), engineer
Warren Bernhardt – pianoforte on rails 7, engineer
California Guitar Trio – acoustic guitars on rails 2
Larry Fast – synthesizer (tracks 1, 4, 6, 8, 9), engineer
Steve Gorn – bansuri flute (tracks 1, 8), engineer
Pete Levin – synthesizer (track 5)
Jerry Marotta – percussion, drums, Taos drum, engineer
Jeff Pevar – acoustic guitar (tracks 3, 8), electrical guitar (tracks 3, 4, 6, 9), engineer
David Sancious – synthesizer (tracks 2, 3), pianoforte (track 2), virtual soprano saxophone
David Torn – acoustic together with electrical guitars (track 1), electrical oud, loops (track 1), drum processing (track 4)
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