Customer Reviews

In The Garden

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

 

 

This is Eric and Nancy's big "production" album, with a full band on almost every song. Once you get past the surprise of hearing a drum kit in a T&R tune, there's lots to appreciate. Eric and Nancy, both enthusiastic gardeners, evoke sumptuous garden atmospheres with their customary clarity.

As usual, there's a wide range of musical styles, from the mid-eastern "Hanging in Babylon" to the a raucous, bluesy "Big Weather". "Iris in Moonlight" is an ethereal delight, and "Roses for Jessie" is achingly lovely. "Medicine Tree" is another magnificent native American-style tune, and "Bonsai Picnic" returns us to the Orient. Paul Speer crisply produces it all.

For those used to T&R's less-is-more chamber sound, this album may sound over-produced, with lots of keyboard sequences and drums. I think it still works as identifiable Tingstad & Rumbel music; most of the songs could be arranged for due performance, but Eric and Nancy wanted the fun of having a band for a change. Another avenue to explore.

Tingstad & Rumbel's music is always sunlit and upbeat, but you'll tap your toes more with this album. Thoroughly enjoyable, as ever.

I'm a serious fan of Eric Tingstad and Nancy Rumbel, either together or separately. It's what I expect from this duo: intriguing and evocative melodies superbly executed. This is not background music. It demands your attention. Tags often label their music soothing and relaxing, and that's true, but there's also enough lively energy and complexity to be stimulating. I've never been disappointed in any of Eric and Nancy's albums, and I doubt you will be either. It gets 4 instead of 5 stars only because it has no true standout tracks and isn't quite as good as my two favorites: Paradise and Acoustic Garden. *Addition: Leap of Faith is a new one from this "dynamic duo" which is as good as anything they've done.

This is my favorite of the single Tingstad & Rumbel recordings. Medicine Tree in particular is intriguing and different, very eerie and evocative. Hanging in Babylon is also very memorable. So many acoustic new age compositions sound remarkably alike, but T&R compose very unique, individual music. Every piece has its own voice. All the pieces on this recording were inspired by some type of garden, and the music definitely projects the right images. I had never thought of ocarina as a particularly attractive musical instrument, but in Rumbel's hands, it goes right to the soul, as does her use of oboe. Tingstad is one of the best new age guitarists, if not the best, and between the two of them, Tingstad and Rumbel always pick the best voice for the musical image they want to project. Highly recommended for lovers of instrumental music.

Imagine each note as an element of your garden garden. Imagine each season, each sunny day, and each rain drop falling off a flower petal. As a gardener, but not a muscian, I appreciate the memory of my garden as I sit on my office cubicle.I listen with anticipation of being out in the garden.