Customer Reviews

Hearing Voices

5 star:		(12)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(3)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

It is an affirmation of my over all opinion of Will Ackerman's work that, after something of an artistic hiatus, he can branch from instrumental music to song writing, and manage to capture a Grammy nomination with his efforts. I only recently realized that Ackerman is recording again, after a period of 10 years that saw only one new album. Now that I've listened to Hearing Voices, I can report that it is surprisingly compelling, while being quite a bit different than what I expected.

Why unexpected? From what I have seen of Ackerman's work I anticipated that the music would have strong folk overtones, similar to what he does as a soloist, and even in an ensemble. What I found is that, while he continues to use melody over a rhythmic chordal architecture, he has reduced the amount of arpegiation that marked his work and turned his focus to the intermingling of thematic voices. The catalog of languages that the performers use is extensive - Luganda, Gaelic, Arabic, Hebrew, Italian, Hindi, Sanscrit, English, and even invented. Obviously the intent isn't to produce an 'international' album, but to emphasize the importance of the sounds of the words aside from lyrics.

The result, however, is quite a bit different thant that of other musicians who have investigated this form (such as Vas and Wim Mertons). The selection presented is self-consistent - they play against each other smoothly, and it is very easy to approach this album as a work in its entirety rather than just a collection of works. As usual, Ackerman demonstrates his ability to get musicions to work together to create something that is more than a brilliant solo performance. That, coupled with the usual perfection we expect from Windham Hill productions, makes this one of the must have albums for those of use who like soft jazz and new age work.

Being a fan of Will Ackerman's music since the early 80's, I have come to know each of his recordings intimately. His latest release "Hearing voices" brings a new light to his signature guitar playing in that you now hear ambient singing throughout 12 of the 15 songs on the CD. I am so used to hearing Ackerman's guitar work on its own that it took a while to get used to the singing. But the singing is so beautiful on its own that after a while the two seem to go together perfectly. As far as Will Ackerman's guitar work on the songs, all I can say is that it is as wonderful and beautiful as ever. "Classic" Will Ackerman is the best way for me to describe it. It reminded me much of the best of his earlier recordings from "Childhood and memory", "Passage", and "Confiring with the moon". I believe that any fan of Will Ackerman's music and the music of the many artists of Windham Hill in general are going to love this new recording.

Unlike most of the reviewers hear, I am new to William Ackerman's music, and this doubtlessly helped me appreciate this album because I didn't have anything to compare it with.

This is uplifting music, suitable for meditation, going to sleep by, or just sitting and imaging. The non-English lyrics serve to let the music and the sound speak for itself.

The voice of the guitar is quite distinguishable here, and is not drowned out or even diminished by the voices. There is a blending.

Nor is the music monotonous. Some is strictly Idyllic, but some has more of an upbeat. This isn't to say that it's envigorating, but it is deep and ultimately satisfying.

There are those who prefer Ackerman without voices, or only his own. But for those who enjoy an Enya type quality with expert guitar blending in, this is for you.

the beauty of william ackerman's work is that it comes straight from the heart. i won't dwell on technical issues here but i love his music for this simple reason: it is beautifully haunting and very emotional. like a previous reviewer, i have found his music inspiring and gratifying. so it only come naturally that he would finally feature vocals on an album. and while his guitar may not be the spotlight of most of the pieces on this album, it is quietly there, not overpowering. i have one word to describe this: breathtaking. buy this album now!!!!

Taken as a whole, I think Hearing Voices is one of the most beautiful pieces of music I've ever heard. I own every Will Ackerman recording ever produced, and this one is my favorite.

I am a long time fan of William Ackerman and purchased this CD the day that I heard that it was out. I am also a big fan of Happy Rhodes and upon finding that they had collaborated I knew that I had to get this CD. While certainly different for both artists I find this a strong addition to their works.

This is strong, quiet and beautiful work, and quoting my daughter, "this music makes me so happy that I cry."

I've come to have great respect for William Ackerman over the years-his music has taken a large place in the life of my family--my children and I have fallen asleep to the sound of his guitar, and have turned to his music for solace and inspiration during times of sadness, contemplation, or robust creativity. I bought this CD because I really enjoyed the vocal contributions of Samite on Ackerman's SOUND OF THE WIND-DRIVEN RAIN (one of my favorite CD's). I have to admit, that like another reviewer here, on first listening I was unused to the major vocals interspersed with Ackerman's instrumentals. But after just a few minutes, my heart and mind were soaring--this is truly a beautiful collection. I have to thank Ackerman for making such a positive contribution to my daily life--it's great to be able to pop a CD in the CD player and come face to face, ear to ear, with beauty that truly soothes and inspires during the quiet or creative moments of the day. I am always looking for his next CD.

"Hearing Voices" may not seem like a William Ackerman record. After all, the guitarist uses vocals on all but three pieces here, having previously only experimented with singing on three songs from 1998's "Sound of Wind Driven Rain." One might expect the singing to overshadow the guitar work, or vice versa, but the result is an absolutely integrated sound that is endlessly fresh. Ackerman chose wonderful singers, not all of them well-known, and most of them get more than one chance to share their gifts. What you hear in most cases is essentially improvisation from the singers, as they were asked to bring words to the studio with no inkling of what Ackerman's compositions sounded like. All but one of the songs are in non-English languages so you get caught up in the sound of the words more than the meaning. (Even the English song has lyrics that don't exactly make sense, again to emphasize the sound.) And the compositions are beautiful. Ackerman is just as recognizable as ever, he doesn't let the singers overpower him, but his compositions are fresh and don't always adhere to his old formulas. Highlights include Noah Chase on "In the Valley of Moses," Jaya Lakshmi on "Briars Above the Well," and Samite on "Fear Not Mary," but the entire album is a joy to listen to. (And extremely well-recorded at Ackerman's home studio.) William Ackerman fans will most definitely be rewarded and intrigued by "Hearing Voices."

Hearing Voices is a CD I now hear inside my head all the time (which is a good thing) since picking it up at my local bookstore a few days ago. It is playing as I write this--for possibly the 5th time today. If my friends and family who are fans don't know about this one yet, I'll make sure that they do. Will Ackerman just keeps getting better with age. Let this review be a public "thank you" to Will for a wonderful CD...it's really beautiful.

This is just a phenomenal album. It reminded in places of Cirque Du Soleil's music, but better. I'm a dancer, and several of the songs make me wish for an empty studio to just move in. As a singer, too, I find myself vocalizing along with what I hear. It's a lovely experience by a very talented artist. Will, you rock!