Synesthesia

Peter Himmelman | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD
• ASIN: B0001NBGMC
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  Vinyl
• Average Customer Review: 4.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (2 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #376,254 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Editorial Reviews

1989 Island Records - Songs Include : Synesthesia / 245 Days / Difficult To Touch / Tug Of War / A Million Sides / Name / Surrender / Dirty Reasons / Babylon / The Sweetest Revenge / I Wouldn't Mind / Speaking Mouth / Brother Joel / Second Chance / Beneath Your Watching Eyes

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars A record that takes time to sink in., December 14, 2010

By 

ScottE (Kansas) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Synesthesia (Audio CD)

Peter Himmelman's 3rd solo release "Synesthesia", (1989) which means, sensation felt in one part of the body when another part is stimulated. This album took longer too get used to, then his classic "Gematria", from 1987. After several years it finally sunk in.
The title track was the first song I heard and I also heard it on the soap "Knots Landing", very Middle Eastern themed music. "245 Days", first single, very upbeat number with some tremendous bass by Al Wolovitch and piano by Jeff Victor. The mid-tempo ballad "Difficult To Touch", followed by the pulsive beat of "Tug Of War", with some excellent sax work of Brian Gallagher. "A Million Sides", is one of those songs Peter can write anytime out of the blue. "Name", is a beautiful song, the upbeat "Surrender", with great piano by Jeff, this is a fantastic Peter Himmelman tune, good harmonica by Peter. "Dirty Reasons", with it's spanish guitar a great song. Peter's "Babylon", is a great little mid-tempo rocker, with Jeff's hammond organ. The rockin' "The Sweetest Revenge", the band is having fun here, Peter's an excellent guitar player. They continue rockin' with "I Wouldn't Mind", "Iwouldn't mind drinking a river of wine". "Speaking Mouth", jas that anthem quality to it, nice guitars on this track. Peter puts it all out there on "Brother Joel", some nice drums by Thad Spencer. "Second Chance", is a nice jazz-rock number, very pleasent sounding with some fine bass by Al. "Beneath Your Watching Eye", closes the album with this fine mid-tempoed piano ballad.
Again a hard album to rate after just one listen, it took me 4 to 5 plays for this to sink in, it's a keeper. And at this price you can listen for yourself.

3.0 out of 5 stars Unique in Himmelman's catalog - explores many styles yet remains consistently poppy, September 1, 2006

By 

Jason Mierek "uniqueness is ubiquitous" (Urbana, IL) - See all my reviews
(REAL NAME)   

This review is from: Synesthesia (Audio CD)

This is Peter Himmelman's third album, and it is unique in that it is significantly more experimental (in terms of styles explored) than his earlier works and poppier than his later works. This is not a bad thing; in fact, many of the songs on this CD stand with the best in his canon. The title track's bubbly, ever-so-slighly North African-tinged percussion provides a great counterpoint to the lyrics about confused senses and emotions. "Dirty Reasons" finds Himmelman accompanied by a Spanish classical guitar, "Babylon" is somehow reminiscent of Elvis Costello's "Watching the Detectives" with its bouncy beat punctuated with the occasional organ riff, and "The Sweetest Revenge" is simply one of the best break-up songs ever set down on tape. Other great tracks include "245 Days," "A Million Sides," and "Brother Joel." Peter Himmmelman is a great musician and songwriter and a singular performer. Although many of his later works display a lyrical maturity and spirituality not found here, this CD is still a great listen for fans of intelligent pop music.