Whisperings at Nightfall

Robert Linton (Artist) | Format: Audio CD

Product Details

• Audio CD (June 27, 2006)
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: October Moon Records
• ASIN: B000I6BA2I
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 5.0 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
• Amazon Best Sellers Rank: #243,614 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)

Track Listings

1. Candlelight

2. Autumn Moon

3. Whisperings at Nightfall

4. Within the Outline

5. Wait Until When

6. Silent Hollow

7. Field of Lilies

8. Flowing Echo

9. Into the Grove

10. Moonlit Rainfall

Editorial Reviews

Review

Here is yet another fine release produced by Will Ackerman. Even with some of the same outstanding guests, Robert Linton carves out a distinctive sound and his guitar playing fits well practically anywhere. The beginning, middle and ending tracks are each solo pieces, each with its own pensive, fluttering style, but for me it's the tracks that are embellished by some of the best artists in contemporary music that carry the album to stand on its own. For example, Eugene Friesen plays cello on two tracks, and they benefit greatly from his sensitive touch. Tracy Silverman is also heard twice, with stunning violin work, and Noah Wilding, who is also heard on Ackerman's Hearing Voices, adds his voice to two tracks as well. Keeping the Noah's ark theme alive, bassist Michael Manring is also hear on two selections. Fortunately, Will, who serves as co-producer with Corin Nelsen, appears only on one track; otherwise we would predict 40 days of you know what along with the pure joy of fine guitar playing in the company of others. We will definitely be hearing more from Robert Linton, and those who acquire this CD will be hearing plenty of Whisperings at Nightfall through repeated listenings. --- January 2007, Lloyd Barde - Backroads Music.

The moody and atmospheric black and white photography featured throughout the CD booklet should've tipped me off, but even by the usual Will Ackerman-as-producer standards, acoustic guitarist Robert Linton's recording is more subdued, introspective and (pleasantly) somber. Of course, Ackerman doesn t produce "bouncy" music even at his cheeriest. Still, Whisperings at Nightfall earns its title with only one track breaking out of the mood which I refer to as "late autumn music." None of these comments are meant as a criticism; in fact, I love nearly this entire album. I'm just defining the CD's music to distinguish it from Ackerman's ever-growing cannon as producer Note: Ackerman shares producing credits on this album with Corin Nelsen, who engineered and mastered the disc. The usual cast of guest artists is scattered throughout the recording, although Linton offers up three solo guitar songs, too. Eugene Friesen's haunting cello work on Autumn Moon adds the perfect shading to Linton's quietly pensive fingerstyle playing, although why use Friesen so sparingly? More..please! The title track unites Linton's gentle lonely guitar with Noah Wilding's wordless vocals (Wilding's vocals are always so well integrated with the music on Ackerman's productions). The one relatively "boisterous" track is next. Within the Outline starts off quietly but builds by adding O Hearn-esque echoed percussion (Derrik Jordan) and spirited (yet less joyful than the tempo might dictates) violin (Tracy Silverman). While I use the term "boisterous" to describe this track, in all honesty, the "oomph" only stands out in contrast to the overall somberness of everything else here. It's only boisterous by comparison, not objectively so. You d expect songs with titles like Silent Hollow (guitar, violin and Michael Manring s bass), Flowing Echo (guitar and bass) or Field of Lilies (T-Bone Wolk on bass, Jill Haley on English horn, Ackerman on guitar, and Wilding' vocals) to be subdued pieces, but "Field.." is less melancholic than most of the others here (and again, that statement is not judgmental, since I love sad music; it's only meant to describe the mood). The three solo guitar numbers are the equal of those with accompanists. The opening Candlelight is delicate yet with a slight sprightliness and I detect a hint of classical guitar influence as well. Wait Until When has the feel of a sad ballad; in fact, (and I don't recall ever writing this before about any piece of instrumental music), I could see the right lyrics and singer turning this into a tremendous folk song. Closing the album is the ultra-moody (perfect!) Moonlit Rainfall, a song exemplifying the approach Linton (who wrote all ten tracks) and producer Ackerman took on the album, which I would describe as beautifully sad. In some ways, this CD is emotionally similar to the music of Tim Story (circa Beguiled) and (in his earlier days) Mychael Danna (see his album with Paul Clement, North of Niagara), except they are pianists/keyboardists, not guitarists. Note to the artist: When I start comparing you to Story or Danna, to quote the worn-out phrase, it doesn t get any better than that. On second thought, though, maybe who I should compare Linton to is his own producer, hmmm? While most of Will Ackerman's recordings are solo works, Whisperings at Nightfall resonates on the same emotional level with me as did Ackerman's recent career retrospective, Returning. Both are damn near flawless recordings (while I can't fault the more energetic Within the Outline on its own merits, I don't necessarily agree with including it on this release). Despite the tiny nit I'm picking, this is a great recording. Recommended without reservation to all acoustic guitar instrumental lovers provided they like music on the soft, gentle and, particularly, sad side. --New Age Reporter - reviewed by Bill Binkelman on 5/20/2008

Product Description

Whisperings at Nightfall was recorded at Imaginary Road Studio with producer and Grammy award winner Will Ackerman, founder of Windham Hill Records. Guest artists on the CD include Will Ackerman, Eugene Friesen, Michael Manring, Tracy Silverman, T-Bone Wolk, Jill Haley, Derrik Jordan, and Noah Wilding.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

5.0 out of 5 stars Writings by Serge Kozlovsky, July 3, 2010

By 

Serge Kozlovsky (Minsk, Belarus) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Whisperings at Nightfall (Audio CD)

When twilight falls
And you're alone
Just be yourself
Stay naked with your soul
Be real as you are
It's nothing to contrive
It's nothing to pretend
Your love is your true self...

Robert Linton's guitar is entirely meditative. It speaks to your soul directly without any intermediary. And, Robert Linton's music is very expressive. It conveys the smallest details of the artist's feelings and longings. The cello's sound helps the listener to deeper sense the composer's various emotions.

Robert Linton is a great storyteller. The artist isn't afraid to show his innermost emotions and yearnings. Listen to his "Whispering at Nightfall" album attentively and be alone with your desires and most important aspirations. And feel how wonderful and pleasant it is to be with your true self...

Serge Kozlovsky
[...]

5.0 out of 5 stars Love it., April 2, 2010

By 

Wildbound (USA) - See all my reviews

This review is from: Whisperings at Nightfall (MP3 Download)

This is great music for calming, pleasant background. I use it often when I do yoga, or homework, or just reading for fun. I love this album!

5.0 out of 5 stars Whisperings at Nightfall, July 6, 2008

By 

Robert Linton - See all my reviews

This review is from: Whisperings at Nightfall (Audio CD)

- reviewed by Bill Binkelman on 5/20/2008 - NEW AGE REPORTER

The moody and atmospheric black and white photography featured throughout the CD booklet should've tipped me off, but even by the usual Will Ackerman-as-producer standards, acoustic guitarist Robert Linton's recording is more subdued, introspective and (pleasantly) somber. Of course, Ackerman doesn't produce "bouncy" music even at his cheeriest. Still, Whisperings at Nightfall earns its title with only one track breaking out of the mood which I refer to as "late autumn music." None of these comments are meant as a criticism; in fact, I love nearly this entire album. I'm just defining the CD's music to distinguish it from Ackerman's ever-growing cannon as producer Note: Ackerman shares producing credits on this album with Corin Nelsen, who engineered and mastered the disc.

The usual cast of guest artists is scattered throughout the recording, although Linton offers up three solo guitar songs, too. Eugene Friesen's haunting cello work on Autumn Moon adds the perfect shading to Linton's quietly pensive fingerstyle playing, although why use Friesen so sparingly? More..please! The title track unites Linton's gentle lonely guitar with Noah Wilding's wordless vocals (Wilding's vocals are always so well integrated with the music on Ackerman's productions). The one relatively "boisterous" track is next. Within the Outline starts off quietly but builds by adding O'Hearn-esque echoed percussion (Derrik Jordan) and spirited (yet less joyful than the tempo might dictates) violin (Tracy Silverman). While I use the term "boisterous" to describe this track, in all honesty, the "oomph" only stands out in contrast to the overall somberness of everything else here. It's only boisterous by comparison, not objectively so.

You'd expect songs with titles like Silent Hollow (guitar, violin and Michael Manring's bass), Flowing Echo (guitar and bass) or Field of Lilies (T-Bone Wolk on bass, Jill Haley on English horn, Ackerman on guitar, and Wilding' vocals) to be subdued pieces, but "Field.." is less melancholic than most of the others here (and again, that statement is not judgmental, since I love sad music; it's only meant to describe the mood).

The three solo guitar numbers are the equal of those with accompanists. The opening Candlelight is delicate yet with a slight sprightliness and I detect a hint of classical guitar influence as well. Wait Until When has the feel of a sad ballad; in fact, (and I don't recall ever writing this before about any piece of instrumental music), I could see the right lyrics and singer turning this into a tremendous folk song. Closing the album is the ultra-moody (perfect!) Moonlit Rainfall, a song exemplifying the approach Linton (who wrote all ten tracks) and producer Ackerman took on the album, which I would describe as beautifully sad. In some ways, this CD is emotionally similar to the music of Tim Story (circa Beguiled) and (in his earlier days) Mychael Danna (see his album with Paul Clement, North of Niagara), except they are pianists/keyboardists, not guitarists. Note to the artist: When I start comparing you to Story or Danna, to quote the worn-out phrase, it doesn't get any better than that. On second thought, though, maybe who I should compare Linton to is his own producer, hmmm? While most of Will Ackerman's recordings are solo works, Whisperings at Nightfall resonates on the same emotional level with me as did Ackerman's recent career retrospective, Returning. Both are damn near flawless recordings (while I can't fault the more energetic Within the Outline on its own merits, I don't necessarily agree with including it on this release). Despite the tiny nit I'm picking, this is a great recording. Recommended without reservation to all acoustic guitar instrumental lovers provided they like music on the soft, gentle and, particularly, sad side.

Rating: Very Good +