Customer Reviews

Nicky Skopelitis/Ekstasis

5 star:		(8)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

It's been more than ten years since I got this one, and I still never tire of hearing it - again and again. This masterpiece is apt to invade the mind and spirit in a big way. Mainly owing to the varied origins and, hence, musical traditions of the musicians, one is tempted to tag it as "world music" or, perhaps worse, due to its lofty mood, as "trance". But fear not, while elements of these genres may make fleeting appearances, what has been produced here transcends perfunctory descriptions.

The excellent skills of the artists involved is amplified by a flawless production that distills a singularity rarely found in any genre. The forces of the likes of Jaki Liebezeit, Zakir Hussain, Jah Wobble, Bachir Attar, Amina Claudine Myers, and Bill Laswell, to name but a few, conspired here mightily to create pieces that make lasting impressions, pure and fresh even after the 100th hearing.

This is music that is rejoicing yet pensive and it's bound to get you by the throat.

"Ekstasis" puts most aspiring world-funk records to shame. It is bracing and full of swirling intricacies in a gorgeous, clear-eyed mix. A true argument for pan-cultural musical collaboration, ten tracks of utter bliss.

Of all the talent assembled for this disc, it is sometimes a challenge to find Mr. Skopelitis' guitar. He definitely treats this as an ensemble record, taking the backseat thru much of the proceedings and leaving things in the capable hands of Jaki Leibezeit, Zakir Hussain, Bachir Attar, Simon Shaheen and Laswell's sea-anchor bass.

only one review, can't just leave it here like this. This album is incredible. I like it because of the wide spectrum of music that is played by the best musicicians around. Smooth, perfect, dragging, chasing, dancing. Even my kids like to dance with me to Witness with Jaki Liebezeit on the drums, although my wife doesn't think it's dancing. It's more like ekstasy...

Like the reviewer below I have had my copy for over 10 years. It is more of a jazz album than the oft-compared Hallucination Engine, but also has it's moments of trip-hop and world flavor. It stands up well to repeated playings and never ceases to reveal new textures. The vehemence that some perople have assailed these two albums surprises me. There is nothing 'adult-contemperary/easy-listening' about them except to the unsophisticated. They are quite accessable, but are not 'minimal' (like much of Laswell's ouvre) nor are they an 'easy, mindless' listen (which pretty much removes anything Laswell does right there. If you want pop mindlessness, search elsewhere, you will be disappointed by Laswell)...you have to work a little and have a broad and open mind as concerns music. Every musician I've played this for has loved it, which should say something, I suppose....

This is certainly one of the best albums to come out of the Bill Laswell camp. The intricate weave of sounds and feels on this album can only be compared to dancing flame through its stages of life. This is a great album to listen to with headphones on. Or even off! Nicky Skopelitis has long been an underground legend, and you can hear why on this album. There is such a huge collection of grooves and beats on this album, yet Skopelitis is able to guide us through the beats of different worlds with his hypnotic solos. A definite buy!

This album stands out as being enjoyable to more people than anything else I have encountered. The album does not just cross bounderies; it is a holistic masterpiece. I've seen dead heads, head bangers and jazz fanatics all react with similar joy to the sounds of this magical adventure. It is a highpoint of the Bill Laswell production magic. The stitching together of such diverese musicians in a manner which produced these amazing songs was groundbreaking to my ears when I first heard it nearly 20 years ago. Jaki Liebezeit, Jah Wobble, Bill Laswell, Zakir Hussain, Bachir Attar.... It's worldbeat at its absolute best. It reminds me of Ginger Baker's Middle Passage and Horses and Trees, which should be no surprise since the albums share many of the same musicians, but it is even a step above.

Like the other reviewers that rate this 5 stars, this is one of my favorite discs out of 1,000s that I own. Without doubt it is a 5-star album. Period. It's jazz, it's rock, it's fusion, it's all of them, it's just plain cool. Instrumental, powerful, delicate, intricate, distinctive. It's wonderful for just listening or wafting through your home. After I play it for them, people buy it all the time. It's clever w/o falling into the jazz/dead noodling trap (here and there, maybe). Laswell/Axiom projects have much in common; if you like the other stuff then you will love this. The reviewer that gave this a 1 shouldn't have bought it to begin with.

Killer grooves, modern guitar playing, great percussion work. I'm listening to it now and soaking it in. An all time great album that deserves wider recognition.

Another example of self-indulgent, easy-listening, adult contemporary junk, along with Material's Hallucination Engine. Bought them through Amazon and traded them the same day I got them in the mail. Abismally dissapointed, 'nuff said . . .