Customer Reviews

By Way of the World / High Tech Jazz

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

 

 

This is the second "Spies" recording from Telarc.The recordings take on a sort of "around the world" arrangement in modern jazz form. The digital sound is virtually harsh free and in fact quite smooth. A pleasing surround effect can be heard on most selections which was recorded in Shure Stereosurround Full Logic on Dolby Surround and Dolby Pro-Logic processors. This is a disc whose selections are a pleasure to listen too. It is a reference quality disc for any stereo and/or stereo surround system one might own. One of my most listened too disc.

This is, quite simply, one of my two favorite albums. If you like Rippington, flim and the BB's acoutic planet, or Fresh Aire, you'll like both of the SPIES albums

one of my favourite jazz albums, I was really plased to be able to buy it online at Amazon, as someone stole my previous copy - nice to know somebody else loved it too! A really easy listening album, well produced, a good variety of musical styles on the one album, full of detail - seem to find something else each time I listen to it. - a worthwhile addition to anyone's collection!

Be Aware that this CD does not Play on my Toshiba A205-S5843 Laptop which is No Fault to the Distributor, they offered to takes it back with shipment on them but it Still Plays on my Sony, Pioneer and LG and it Sounds Awesome, for you Jazz lovers you will Appreciate the Dynamics of the Sound when Played on just a Decent Pair of Speakers provided you have a Sub to take Advantage of the Deep Lows, Highly Recommended! :)

Spies is a good record! It's easy and fun listening. Very rythmically oriented (nice!) and creative instrumentation (good sounds!) and above all, it is a wonderful Dolby surround CD.

Why then, am I not entusiastic about it? First, some tracks are in my opinion too obvious or even boring (that goes for "By way of the world", [track 2] and may be [4]. Furthermore, I don't find the sax playing very expressive. And, the very nice made riffs (programmed mostly, I think) are suggestive, at their best hypnotic and polyrythmically [3], but a bit overstated in lengthy tracks. There could have been more variation to it. Then, the world-music-like "A day in Tunisia" and the hymn "One for Tutu" as well as the last track ("Rite of passage" that is a poem with background music ?), all border with the fashionable and did not convince me really.

Now, having said that, the Spies are certainly very interesting. The funny and entertaing rythm of "Times change" [3], [6] and [9] are very much worth listening to. The funky and cool "Now and then" [6] is a killer, so is "One tale of an arc" [9]. A pity that this disc is of so variable quality.

With the whole disc and the full length of the tracks beeing as inventive and rythmically funny as the highlights, it would indisputably be a great disc. Not to forget the superb sound quality and effective use of surround.