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The pan flute often brings up images of late night commercials flogging hits by Gheorghe Zamfir, whose undeniable virtuosity was too often marred by his taste for kitsch. Judging by his interpretation of a theme from Tchaikovsky¹s
Swan Lake, the Berklee-educated Damian Draghici may have more in common with his predecessor than just nationality (Romanian) and choice of instrument. However, the remaining tracks are extremely varied, ranging from new age pastiches complete with an Enya-esque soprano, to synth-and-beat-laden trance/lounge conceits, to world music-influenced works, one of which sounds like a cross between Pink Floyd and late-career Milton Nascimento. The personnel includes Michael Brook (producer, Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan), Cameroonian bassist/singer Richard Bona, percussionist Louis Conte, and bassist Ibrahim Laborial. These are great talents and interesting ideas do emerge from time to time. But the incessant conceptual flux and lack of unifying chemistry between the selections make for an exhausting listen.
--Christina Roden
