Customer Reviews

Power Spot (ECM Touchstones)

5 star:		(6)
4 star:		(0)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(1)
1 star:		(1)

 

 

If one were ahead of the pack and twenty years later the pack had caught up and stomped all over one's then newly demarked turf, is one to blame and to be scorned as cliched by "today's standards"? Certainly not.

The problem is, sometimes it happens. Hassell, Riley, Reich et al are usually in this situation. Now that their studies of non-Western music have been exploited and rampantly overused by anyone from hip-hoppers to electronica artist as well as avant-garders, their legacy is muddled by nay-sayers and not very knowledgeable folks. A shame indeed.

Hence, the music of Hassel in Power Spot and Fourth World Music is what the latter day acolytes should be measured against, not viceversa.

That said, the music itself is a thrill to experience for the first time (and well beyond). Its use of microtonics, polyrhythms, etc puts to shame many a contemporary ripper-off, setting a standard that still has to be upped. Pure class!

Jon Hassell was at the top of his form on this landmark CD. You'll never hear anything like it. For the uninitiated, Jon Hassell plays the trumpet and was highly influenced by Brian Eno, Indian music, Miles Davis, and the minimalist school. He made a series of albums, including the landmark collaboration with Brian Eno, Fourth World: Possible Musics Vol I, in which his trumpet was electronically processed, to essentially create an entirely new sound. This CD provides the tightest and most musical setting for this unique approach. It's good it is being re-released. I have a copy of the original CD and it's a fine recording.

Timeless, sublime, beautiful, otherworldly. Forget most of today's derivitive, mixing hip hop, copy cat, [stuff]. This is the real thing. Hassell was there on Terry Riley's original "In C" recording that changed music for all time. He's the first trumpeter with a new sound since Miles. He's deep into it, micro rhythms, polyphony, microtones, electronics everything. THERE IS NO ONE ELSE LIKE HIM. And this is arguably one of the best. Those who think Eno and his ilk invented alternative music should do a little more research, and find out who the real progenitors are.

Could it be that this album was not previously available on CD? Shame on the record company, because this, along with "Dressing For Pleasure," is Hassell's most accessible effort to date. It's got the long, meditative meanderings for which we all love him, it's got the explosive and rhythmic short pieces, and it has a confidence in its mission that is lacking in most "New Age" (sorry to use that term in reference to Hassell) efforts. Its sounds seem deeply rooted in the earth, yet transport the listener to staggering heights. I could rummage my mind for more hyperbolic phrases, but they would fall far short in describing the power of this album.

Jon Hassell is an artist ahead of his time. The music was recorded in '83-'84 but sounds as current and modern as any new music out today. I have a large number of Mr Hassell's CD. Another winner for the collection.

Jon Hassell if I am not wrong was highly influenced by Miles Davis and plays the muted trumpet like him. However he was also a collaborator of Brian Eno and you can really get the feeling of these influences on this spectacular record. An ambient classic!

What are you guys thinking by rating this "Greatest of all time", "essential",etc adnaseum. This music is vapid, hollow, substanceless, meandering dribble going nowhere. And don't think it's just a case where I don't like or understand this style of music. Prospective buyers......pay little or no attention to the glowing 4 or 5 star reviews of this music. Yes I know it seems that this is more of a criticism of the reviewers of this music then me spending time reviewing the music itself but the fact is that there is nothing in the music to review.

I'm no sure of the original release date, but it sure sounds like 1980's style avantgarde stuff. Most of the sounds and "melodies" are virtualy cliche by today's standards. If you like Eno's "music for airports" this album will probably bore you and you'd be better off with other Hassel albums or Harold Bud.