Salt

Arto Lindsay | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 11, 2004)
• Original Release Date: 2004
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Righteous Babe
• ASIN: B0001Z4PK0
• In-Print Editions: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.8 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (4 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #285,505 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

Arto Lindsay has gone from arty new wave icon (in seminal bands DNA and Ambitious Lovers) who sometimes focused on such sins as envy to genre-breaking solo artist who wants to talk about sex. His sixth solo effort, Salt, has sex on the album's artwork and in such half-whispered lyrics as "She covers herself in honey/Stretches but won't succumb." But what redeems this budding pervert is Lindsay's continued melding of global pop melodies, electronic beats and samba groove into an urban soul music appropriate for New York, Sao Paulo or anywhere else. A half step back from 2002's more abstract Invoke, Salt still eschews the near-shocking balladry of earlier solo efforts---it was during this period that he proved himself to be a first-rate crooner---but Lindsay has pulled the extremes toward the center for a more cohesive overall sound, never better illustrated than on "Into Shade." The results on this one are no less ambitious, but more consistently musical. --Tad Hendrickson

Product Description

When it comes to unleashing the cultural and sonic clashes between the streets of Rio and New York, no artist has been more proficient than songwriter/producer/guitarist Arto Lindsay. On Salt, his sixth solo album and third on Righteous Babe Records, Lindsay continues to offer an uncanny meld of earthy Bahian grooves and in-your-face electronic textures, exploring the outskirts of both forms and returning with some fantastic melodies.

Taking inspiration from Carnaval, Brazil’s yearly celebration of the tawdry and sinful, Salt is both musical celebration and lyrical steam bath. From the opening "Habite Em Mim" (translated "Inhabit Me") to the closing title track (which contains the lines "She covers herself in honey/Stretches but won’t succumb"), this is a visceral, sexually-charged piece of work.

Produced by the usual team of bassist Melvin Gibbs, electronic wizards Kassin and Berna Ceppas, and Lindsay, Salt contains an intoxicating blend of harmony and instrumentation. "Into Shade" may be the richest, most elegant song in Lindsay’s catalog, full of lush string arrangements and guitar flutters. "Habite Em Mim" and "Personagem" will likely be mined by hip-hop producers for their stark, throbbing beats. "Kamo (Dark Stripe)" is a sleepy, undulating mix of multi-cultural pop. As usual, Lindsay’s voice is soft and seductive, beckoning listeners in both English and Portuguese, with little more than a reedy whisper.

It’s altogether fitting that Arto Lindsay has titled his record after one of the most basic and organic substances in Mother Nature’s spice rack. Salt is a wild and surprising ingredient, examining the mysticism of human desire without ever losing sight of the hook. Add a pinch to your daily listening; your senses will be thankful.

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Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Seductive, August 25, 2004

By 

M. Pantalone (Knoxville, TN USA) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Salt (Audio CD)

I can't add substance to the reviews above, but I would like to note that this album is magical and transforming -- as in, I listened to it this morning during drive time and floated through the traffic, scarcely noticing it and not being bothered by it. And as in, I've been playing it continuously now for about five days. It's that good.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

4.0 out of 5 stars Best Since Mundo Civilizado, July 20, 2005

By 

WrtnWrd "Hankman" (Northridge, CA USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Salt (Audio CD)

Though he can probably put out a relatively good CD every year for the next decade or so, the recent output of Arto Lindsay has been solid but disappointing. So it's a pleasure to report that Salt is his best work since Mundo Civilizado. It helps that he has his metaphysical lyrical bent under control, and concentrates on the body. Eroticism never seems to fail him; nor do his eccentric rhythms and innovations on the Brazilian sounds of the day.

3 of 4 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another step forward in the evolution of Arto Lindsay, June 4, 2004

By 

Matt M. Bryant (Chicago, Illinois) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Salt (Audio CD)

Arto Lindsay is not afraid of challenging his listeners, as has been evident in all his work. Though this album is probably the least challenging of his catalog, at least in terms of the atonal, terse (and wonderfully composed) skronk that finds its way into all his recordings, "Salt" is easily his most cohesive work to date. As always, the seamless mixture of electronic beats and soundscapes with lilting tropicalia and samba riffs is present here, but on this album, some may say it is even danceable. Though American xenophobes will probably write this album off as just another world beat disc, if it wasn't so labled by msucial ignoramuses, I could easily see many of its tracks finding its way into hipster lounge/clubs across the country. As always, Lindsay's feathery, well anunciated lyrics float above the textured percussion and a trebble clef populated by guitars, synthesizer and a string section. I would definitely recommend this to those who appreciate inventive truly inventive music-making. This is one of those CDs you'll play while driving with a friend, and they will inevitably turn to you and ask, "Who is this? This is great."