Customer Reviews

Emerald Aether: Shape Shifting - Reconstructions

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

 

 

... excellent for the Laswell-noobs as well.

There were years during which I was picking up Laswell's many discs of ambient/world fusion, and especially at first, there were some releases which were breaking ground and getting a lot of play on my stereo. But over time, it began to seem as if Laswell was re-hashing much of the same territory in his spate of releases... it seemed like there was a new one every other month!

Recently however, I dove back into his recent attempts, and this was one of the ones I liked most. It's Laswell doing some of his finest balance-work between traditional and electronic music; you can find Laswell albums in which the traditional/world music being appropriated is lost in an ambient mix; and you can find Laswell albums that are barely electronic at all (and actually, though I'm a huge elecronic fan, I think that these albums are usually a safer bet).

But here on Emerald Aether - for the most part, it seems like Laswell is walking with confidence on a musical tightrope. The traditional Irish music leads often, and becomes a flavor for the electronic music (not all of which is ambient - some tracks can easily find a home in a hip-hop set) when it doesn't. And with an exception or two (as the two other reviewers here have mentioned, actually), the electronic music doesn't overwhelm what are some excellent performances by the Irish artists named in the track listing.

A note on the first Karen Casey song (track 3) - I first listened to it on headphones, and felt that the beats were simply going against the grain of the melody and mood of Casey's singing. But when I heard it again on my stereo, it sounded a bit more in synch... I'm not sure what to make of that, I'll just need to listen to it some more.

Amazon has a snippet from the 2nd track up there... definitely give it a listen. When that track hit me for the first time (and it hit me alright... like a big green train, that turns out to be made of leaves (uhm, yeah, it's time for bed for me)), on my headphones, I was amazed. And as I said, refreshed. I've generally had some trepidation about Laswell's many many releases, and this one (and Hashisheen, actually) have completely restored my faith in the man. I figured this album would be a 4 or 4.5 star release (to get nitpicky on it all), but I guess because of its impact on me, and for its sheer accessability for any listener, I'll crank it up to 11 (er, 5).

Furthermore, if you've heard little or no Laswell, this is a pretty safe place to begin. As I said, I think it's a very accessable album, regardless of your usual interests, and it doesn't fall prey to the appropriation of a certain style of music as simple gimmickry. People who chanced on this page looking for traditional Irish music might well want to give this a try.

I like a lot of the Laswell library but certainly not everything. As an Irishman I've got to say that Bill has hit the nail on the head here. This is a stunning work but be prepared for something "more" than your standard Irish ditties performed by an Irish ensemble. This is Irish music thrown head-over-heals into the 21st Century. Scary.....but worthy. An essential CD for anyone who wishes to explore the melding of Irish and Dub.

After famously reconstructing Davis and Marley, Laswell turns his attention towards more traditional music with a host of well qualified musicians at his side.

Karan Casey proves herself to be a very talented singer, although Laswell may have drowned her tones under heavy beats during track 3, she returns with the outstanding track 9 (One, I Love).

Track 5, (Wendel's Wedding) is beautiful. Not overly produced or remixed, simple yet effective. Hearing a musician breathe on a trance recording is a rare treat, and Laswell doesn't intefere with the simple yet enchanting melody that flows like the Corrib River through so many different turns, and even manages to finally arrive at a soundscape similar to my memory of Galway Bay.

Solas put in an astonishing performance for track 10 (La Bruxa) which Laswell then joins with brilliance to track 10 (The Hare in the Heather), another track where his mastery of the studio is demonstrated, as is Cathie Ryan on track 12 (Coaineadh Na Dtri Muire).

The rhythms Laswell composes around the music may be intrusive to some, but I feel he's really trying to marry the contemporary with traditional, not an easy task and one which could be quite badly done. His talent prevents him from doing a very poor job, and although some may disagree with a thumping bass in parts, it all works very well. Sleeve notes by William Murphy also make for very interesting thoughts about western music in general.

I mainly purchased this album because I had moved to Ireland for work, and I was eager to see whether Laswell had been enchanted by the charm of the place, as it is so easy to do. Obviously, this man's deep musical understanding has allowed him to appreciate Irish-Celtic music for what it is, and in the process shows him to be one of the true musical geniuses of our time.

Of course, you cannot talk of Irish music without thinking of dancing, spontenaity and Guinness. This has it all - apart from the black nectar, so I'm taking one star from the rating.

I'm a Laswell freak, he occupies most of the right side of my CD rack.

This disc is pretty good. There's some trancendental moments indeed. I admit I'm not really an Irish music fan to start... but I definitely appreciate this disc.

One thing though Bill, the two Karan Casey tracks.. I'm sorry, but I didn't dig em. Like the reviewer up top said, it sounds more like a collision than a collusion. I still love you though!