Customer Reviews

Philip Glass: Aguas Da Amazonia

5 star:		(21)
4 star:		(9)
3 star:		(2)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

Imagine you're in a small boat drifting down a river flanked on both sides by giant trees. Their leafy branches extend out across the river and are left dangling just metres above the water. You close your eyes and hear the music.

Well, that's what this music is. It evokes the feel of being there, under the leaves on the river. The first track, 'Tiquie River,' is a simple organ/pizzicato affair, and at under two minutes long, it instills an initial sense of calm, before drifting into 'Japura River'.

Japura is darker, and the piece is much more rhythmic. Glass marimba floats over the underlying xylophone texture, and pan-pipes emerge from the shadows from time to time. The piece builds up and generally gives off the mood of travelling down a darkened river, shaded by thick jungle. It's mysterious, but it's not scary.

'Purus River' is a happier piece with a mixture of marimba/xylophone/piano/panpipes and native Amazonian percussion.

'Negro River' has a more tribal feel, and also debuts a rather unique Amazonian string instrument that sounds rather like the Turkish 'saz'.

'Madeira River' starts off with a rather atonal string instrument, but eventually builds up into a fast flurry of xylophones and marimba creating a waterfall-style effect.

If Koyaanisqatsi had scenes from the jungle, 'Tapajos River' is the ideal tune. There are similarities to Koyaanisqatsi tunes and themes here, but with the jungle edge.

'Amazon River' finds us reaching the end of our river cruise in a fast flurry of trees, water, waterfalls, and fast percussion pushing us along. The piece becomes flurried towards the end, and then leaves us, waking up from our dream.

'Metamorphosis I' seems to be a bit of an 'add-on' to the album, simply being a 'cover version' of Metamorphosis I by Uakti. It's good, and their instrumentation makes it feel like yet another journey through the jungle, but it's tighter and more restrained than the other pieces, so we're not on the river, we're on foot. The piece moves well, and ends with us running through the jungle through to the climax.

A delightful album with EXCELLENT instrumentation. It's a great listen, but it's also delightful to fall asleep to too. An album for any occasion.. active listening, or just in the background at an outdoor summer barbecue.

I bought this disc because I had heard one or two tracks and really liked them. How fantastic to find out the entire thing is so pleasantly interesting. What hooked me at first was the candy-like sounds of the marimbas. But what made me listen again and again was figuring out the many musical puzzles. Uakati plays with speed and precision, but also with real warmth, not at all cold and mechanical. Plus, the unique instruments guarantee you've never heard anything like this (they don't SOUND home-made). If only I enjoyed all my CD's this much.

I used to be a Glass fan, eagerly awaiting each new release. Then I discovered that Glass, like any other composer, can produce mediocre music as well - something I believe Glass is especially prone to given his style. However, this recording shows what Glass can be, not so much that the composition is inspired as that the instrumentation is inspired; instrumentation is based on instruments constructed by Uakti and traditional instruments - glass marimba, pan pipes, xylophone, flute, tabla, keyboards ...

This particular work is intended as the score for a ballet company; it certainly would work in the intended context but it also works as a piece in it's own right. If you don't listen carefully, it may fade into the background as what I think of as "generic new age" - however, if you truly listen to the work, the changes in instrumentation and tempos will convince you this is not generic anything but an innovative rendition well worth your full attention.

If you believe that Glass can be lovely, then this is one of the loveliest pieces ever written. I hope the composer is aware of how much sheer joy he can bring to people. Here is music as sultry, dusky, liquid magic.

Uakti playing Philip Glass. What a Dream! After going to seven or eight Uakti Shows and seeing the Ballet Seven or Eight Pieces for a Ballet with "Grupo Corpo" Dance Company in Sao Paulo, I've waited six years for this album release. Well, it worth waiting, because the music of Philip Glass performed by Uakti has gained a new life. Listen to this and the other Uakti's albums is always a pleasure that everyone must experience.

This is a great cd from one of the most innovative and brilliant ensembles I've ever heard. I listen to a lot of music and this group is so original and listenable. Glass' repetition of musical phrases played in the beautiful timbres of Uakti's unique instruments ( self-invented) is a joy - as are other Uakti records.

One reviewer wrote that the first track is boring. The first track does seem a bit simple at first listen. Taking the time to really listen reveals the complimentary descending layers of lines that will ground you and get you prepared for the journey ahead. This recording really is world music. Uakti use their virtuosic abilities on their respective instruments to give a fresh perspective to Glass' compositions. Uakti mesh homemade (the term "homemade" should not be read "cheap" or "less than perfect". They are, in fact, what gives this cd its fresh quality) instruments and traditional instruments to the point that it is almost impossible to tell which instruments are homemade. If you are a Philip Glass fan, by all means add this to your collection. If you are wanting to explore Glass as a novice, this cd is a fantastic starting point.Aguas da Amazonia will definitely make you a Uakti fan!

Aguas Da Amazonia is very difficult to find, being listed, after much searching, under Philip Glass. I wish that Uaktl (Wah-ke-chee)would get credit for their performances! Yes, the music is written by Philip Glass but performed by Uaktl, a modern Brazilian group the likes of which I'd never heard, that fuses a wide range of "musical styles, from Classical to New Age to World Music." Hold on before you dismiss it as New Age; this is very different and has a depth to it that you won't find in most of what is labeled New Age. This is one of my over 350 cds I wouldn't want to part with. Their subsequent cd, Trylobyte, written by the group, is as good if not better. Their music somehow manages to be simultaneously playful, sweet, adult, complex, soft, compelling, urgent, melodic, percussive, animal --- sensual.

Uaktl makes many of their own instruments (using glass, rubber, rocks, water, etc.) as well as using traditional instruments like flutes and pianos, and almost creates its own genre. It's very different, you have to listen to it to understand. It takes you along for a ride. And somehow it seems to correspond to the beating of your heart. These guys are serious, and having a good time at it.
Check out Trylobyte, their aforementiioned other cd. They've been around for years and I wish I could get hold of other recordings they've made. Rats.

Quite marvelous. Certainly Phillip Glass, but at the same time a completly different feeling then his prevous works. Easy to listen to as one sits back and day dreams. And then too, both my wife and I find ourselves dancing and moving to it's rhythms. If you're a Glass fan, add it to your collection. Do.

I was once a huge Glass-fan, but most af his later stuff has seemed dull and uninspired to me. The music here may not be much in itself, either, but UAKTI turn it into a thing of wonder and crystalline magic. When this soft, liquid, immensely benevolent music streamed out of my speakers it was a totally unexpected blessing that recalled the excitement of hearing Glassworks and Songs From Liquid Days for the first time, ages ago. Wonderful.