Customer Reviews

On the Third Extreme

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

 

 

From the first time I heard Richard Burmer on "Mosaic" back in the mid-eigties, I've loved his music. Rich, beautifuly haunting and cerebral. I've listened to a lot of "New Age" or as I prefer to say, Electronicaly treated music. I bought this album at a used record store back in the early ninties and it sat in my CD rack for nearly 10 years, as I only bothered to listen to the first couple of tracks, which were fairly unremarkable. One day, around the Y2K, I was listening to a local jazz, new age station on the radio and they played the last portion of this Album, and it was one of the best sequences in electronic music I have ever heard. Little did I know I was listening to an Album I already owned. "On the Third Extreme" is Richard Burmer's best kept secret, and don't just listen to the first 2 tracks and put it aside like I did. If you like R.B., you'll love this album!!

I agree with the other reviewer. The better tracks on this album are on the second half. I've seen a lot of new age music come and go. But, the last track, Waking the Icons, remains of my all-time favourites.

In this writer's opinion, Richard Burmer's works will be seen as an important legacy to esoteric studies. His abilities to produce such beautiful music while battling his own personal demons of depression is perhaps overlooked by some. Nonetheless, I feel his contributions are of lasting importance. On the Third Extreme is still as enjoyable as when it was initially released. Here we feel beautiful, flowing, meditative melodies, enabling us space to lie back and discover the delicate balance of going within for a deeper understanding of self and meeting the challenge of contention in the hectic marketplace all too often considered as "reality". Intrinsically simplistic traveling music designed to allow a freedom previously unknown. Long live Richard Burmer, through his spiritual connection to a plateau overlooking a much larger metaphysical paradigm, a window of sorts of what is yet to come.

The album cover of the CD version I have is different from shown here (which gives it a strange tribal or southwestern Indian feel that doesn't really match the music - go figure). The version I have has basically a black background with a swath of colors.

Anyway, the music is beautiful and visual, similar to Richard Burmer's other albums. Some highlights include "Magellan"; an lively uptempo song with synthesizers and bongo-type percussion, that gives the impression of spirited sailing across the seas, and the adventure and unknown that can accompany it. "Turning to You" is a quieter song that is absolutely beautiful, and about as close as a person could probably get to putting the emotions of 'love' to music. "The Art of Spirit Bending" is a more rock-based song with simulated drums. Other songs have varying moods and feels, giving the album a nice array of visual music.

Buy this, and support the memory of Richard Burmer (a true underappreciated musician and artist)