Customer Reviews

City: Works of Fiction

5 star:		(2)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

Remains a standout in my experience. It is all of the above plus danceable [in its own way], ready for active listening [though much more textural than melodic]. Also, sonically this recording is stunning. I bought one for someone I know who has a studio who said it opened him up to a lot of new ideas. But listen, City: Works of Fiction is very approachable, too. Not cold and intellectual. It's his own brand of electro/acoustic world music. It's a *great* CD, IMHO. Did that help?

I just heard this CD a few nights ago at a friends dinner party and it grabbed my attention right away...(in a subtle way, that is).

It is a strange sonic mix of electronics, primitivism and jazz. The mood is predominately VERY subtle and hypnotic; if I remember correctly, there is not a bar faster than andante on the entire CD. But trust me, this is a good thing.

And so is the fact that Ry Cooder produced it...

Very minimalist. Extremely pared back to nearly pure abstraction.

This along with Power Spot are the ones to own. I love Hassell but find his recorded out put very inconsistant. Generally there are some good pieces on each CD but a lot of filler. These two are pretty consistant.

There is no one else like Jon Hassell. Hassell played trumpet on Terry Riley's "In C" which changed music. He's not really a minimalist. He adores Miles Davis and has the most original trumpet sound since Miles. He's into micro-poly rhythms but his music is very listenable and sophisticated 3rd world.