Customer Reviews

Spool

5 star:		(7)
4 star:		(1)
3 star:		(0)
2 star:		(0)
1 star:		(0)

 

 

An inventive, intrigueing combination of ambient, space music and jazz that continues to impress me long after my first listen. "Spool" can be listened to intently on headphones, or as backround music while dining, or something contemplative to fall asleep by. It has quickly worked its way into my personal Top 10 albums, and I can't think of an album that I would recommend more highly.

Somewhere between trip-hop, jungle and soul, the first, self-titled record of Spool brings to us breathtaking, involving and emotional sounscapes. Melodies are relaxed, but never boring; dark, but never disturbing. This exquisite album deserves to be one of the best of 1998. The best track is the first one, "Ebo", which contains almost fifteen minutes of misterious music that will make you feel that those minutes were not enough. Highly recommended for fans of trip-hop (specially, groups like Alpha), and electronica.

Spool shapes haunting and lyrical soundscapes out of a shifting pool of funky fusion and crisp drum'n'bass, but they do more than simply drape blankets of moodstuff over a bedrock of beats. Here all the elements flow together into something varied but organic, a stream of sound full of character: snaky dubwise bass lines, thoughtful guitar, afternoon jazz, skittering percussion, eerie warpzones, and enough melodic filigrees to keep the music restless and fresh. At its best, Spool's music is spectral and utterly lovely, another moon of another green world.

Another great recording from Jhno, along with John Ridenour, as Spool. Ambient Jazz Fusion at it's finest!

I purchased my Spool CD over 2 years ago, and I can't stop playing it (had it playing in my car on the way to work this morning..) This music is ethereal, sensual, sexual.. just beautifully done. Don't let the Amazon music clips fool you if you've never heard this cd.. Ebo, the first song on the cd, will absolutely blow you away. It takes almost 2 minutes into the song to get to the heart of it but I will tell you, it doesn't get any better, except for Algo, Yin, etc. It is a must have. It's one of those cd's you want to buy 2 of just in case something happens to one of them.

This music has left me speechless since I first heard it. A vessel to sail your inner ocean. A window to your deepest feelings. Joy, sadness, nostalgia, longing, solitude, rain, letting go, dancing to your own tune...You name it. You will find it here. Spool is a must have, one of the most brilliant records of the past century. Please Jhno, make some more noise.

This CD is absolutely so beautiful you will not believe it. It is sexy, calm, romantic and energizing. I pray that whoever made this CD comes out with more. If they remain true to this flavor they have a fan for life.

Spool is beyond words. There are no words, just music, and there are barely words to describe this album.
I gave my friend a CD Player with Spool in it and she walked around San Luis Obispo recently (we were visiting) and she came back with a look of rapture on her face and told me how she had become COMPLETELY lost in the music, completely. She described Spool as music of the 21st Century, future music, different music, nonstandard music, futuristic music, intelligent music... And I totally agree with her.
This album is an utter keeper. It is a bit rare now, which is too bad, but to be expected... The aliens have been grabbing cases and cases leaving us poor earthlings to struggle over the last copies!

This music sounds "electronic" but I have seen Spool play and it they are amazingly organic/analog. That is why it is soooo over the top good. It is "organic music" posing as electronic music which is just... different! SPOOL is awesome. This is one of the few disks that has been in one or another of my CD players for at least two years now!
You'll never see Spool on MTV... They're too good.
JB