Offramp

Pat Metheny & Lyle Mays, Pat Metheny

Product Details

• Audio CD (November 16, 1999)
• Original Release Date: October 1981
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Ecm Records
• ASIN: B0000262LA
• Also Available in: Audio CD  |  Audio Cassette  |  MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.6 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (46 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #4,722 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

  Popular in these categories: (What's this?)

  #40 in	Music > Jazz > Jazz Fusion
  #55 in	Music > Jazz > Modern Postbebop
  #55 in	Music > Jazz > Smooth Jazz

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

This 1982 recording by the Pat Metheny Group represented a crossroads for the guitarist, a creative expansion from his original concept in terms of acoustic and electric instrumentation, folksy roots material and modern jazz influences, American and third world sources. Having thus marked out the territory for a decade's worth of experimentation and growth, the Metheny Group cemented its standing on the cutting edge of contemporary jazz with Offramp. Lyle Mays' harmonica-like synth theme, Metheny's soaring, vocalized synth-guitar lead, some rich orchestral touches, and an easygoing blend of backbeat and chord changes made "Are You Going with Me?" one of Metheny's most enduring arrangements. Still, for every gentle, alluring set piece, such as the tangolike "Au Lait" or the rural vistas of "James," there was a visceral, emotive free-for-all like the title track, where Metheny unleashed wild, wailing synth guitar elisions over a loose, abstract pulse--anticipating the energy of the guitarist's collaboration with free jazz guru Ornette Coleman some four years hence on Song X. --Chip Stern

Product Description

Japanese only SHM-CD (Super High Material CD - playable on all CD players) pressing. Universal. 2008. --This text refers to an alternate Audio CD edition.

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

44 of 45 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars One of the Top 10 albums of all time, August 16, 2000

By	Gavin Wilson - See all my reviews (TOP 500 REVIEWER)    (REAL NAME)

I have to admit to a bias: I have been listening to Pat Metheny albums since 1977, and I sincerely believe him to be the most important composer/musician in the field of intelligent popular music in the period 1977-2000. For me, this is the PMG's finest album yet, and so it ranks in my all-time Top 10.

This was the album on which Metheny and Mays showcased the Synclavier for the first time. A synthesizer developed by New England Digital, it could be driven by either a guitar or a keyboard controller. From this point onwards, it has often been near-impossible to discern whether it is Lyle or Pat who is playing any particular phrase. On this album, Pat chose to generate trumpet-like sounds, particularly for the opening 'Barcarole' and the anthemic 'Are You Going With Me?'. A friend at the time asked me, "Why didn't he just use a real trumpet?". That friend just didn't understand the flexibility of the synclavier.

For me, the whole album is magnificent. 'James' is a wonderfully uplifting, perfect composition, in which not a note is wasted. But the two absolute stand-out tracks are 'Are You Going With Me?' and the under-rated 'Au Lait'.

'Are You Going With Me?' was a concert highlight for years, and would not be out of place on a rock album. Or a slow latin dance album. There is some wonderful wailing guitar towards the end of the tune, and I've often thought that this is the track I'd want played at my funeral. The downside of this idea is that I wouldn't want my partner to be thinking 'Am I going with him?' as my coffin glided past on the conveyor belt towards the flames.

I read in a Metheny interview around the release of the next live album ('Travels'), that Pat felt the live version of this song was very special indeed, implying that it was better than the studio version. I don't feel one is better than the other -- they have very different guitar solos, but they are both exceptional.

I simply adore 'Au Lait' because it instantly puts images in my mind of lazy summer days. I also somehow associate the tune with the music that Bacharach composed for the Bolivian bank-raid interludes in 'Butch Cassidy'. Vasconcelos brought an ethnic integrity to the PMG that his replacements have never been able to touch. His vocal and percussive contributions particularly on this track are outstanding.

This is an album that no lover of intelligent, optimistic, modern music should be without.

17 of 17 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars AN EVOCATIVE JOURNEY BY NIGHT, October 6, 2002

By	"earthvolunteer" (Atlanta, Ga. USA) - See all my reviews

The exotic, African-flavored "Barcarolle" kicks off this hauntingly beautiful collection of compositions penned alone by Pat Metheny or with keyboardist Lyle Mays. This is the album which first introduced me to Metheny's and the Group's incomparable and distinctive sound. It still remains my very favorite Metheny recording and the one album I believe is his most consistently prolific work. Other listeners throughout the years have certainly agreed that "Offramp" is the album that began this artist's large following. Having been awarded his first Grammy for "Offramp", Metheny alone or with the Group over the next 20 years picked up over a dozen more Grammy's to add to his collection.

With the prominent influence of instrumentalist/percussionist Nana Vasconcelos, the Metheny Group on "Offramp" takes the listener through darkly evocative realms. The studio version of Metheny's now signature concert piece "Are You Going With Me?" is unarguably one of the finest performances of his career. It is almost breathtaking to hear this piece build and build from its simple rhythmic foundations to a seemingly unending series of climaxes. The ethereal "Au Lait" follows and the leads the listener perhaps along a quiet Paris avenue on a sultry summer evening.

The second half of "Offramp" continues the journey at a more structural and upbeat pace. "Eighteen" and "James" are certainly the most mainstream and clearly melodic tracks on the album. Still they do not detract from "Offramp"s very distinctive and textural sound. The album concludes with one of the softest and most haunting pieces Metheny and Mays have ever performed together (again with Nana Vasconcelos). "The Bat Part II" is a reflective and spiritual work, concluding the album literally with the musical equivalent of "amen."

This is a stunningly prolific work...eccentric but still very accessible. It is unfortunate that much of Metheny's later works (produced after his fascinating "Secret Story") did not continue in this adventurous vein.

7 of 7 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Pat Metheny's "Dark Side of the Moon", March 23, 2006

By	Rothko70 (Newmarket,Auckland,New Zealand) - See all my reviews

My cousin has recently brought this album on vinyl,and him and I have spent this evening listening to it,and although I've had this album for nearly 20yrs, on either tape or cd,to hear it on vinyl confirms more than ever what a startling,and indeed truly staggering piece of work this album is...it was like hearing it for the first time....from the pulsing psychedelic beats of the opening track,to the dreamy synth solo in track two,to the techno- wizardry "Ornette Coleman" free -jazz of the title track,Metheny takes you into realms of Jazz not previously witnessed in his music....clearly a foretaste of what was to come with albums like Song X,and Zero Tolerance for Silence.....but it could well be arqued that in light of the album 80/81,Offramp wasn't that much of a suprise.
This album is regarded as one of his very best ,if not THE best Metheny's ever done,and rightly so...and bought to the fore the use of the guitar synth with its very unique sound,and range of possibilities.
There's not a lot I can say that hasn't already been said about this album,so here's a few thoughts.....
For me this album is at once dark,brooding,driven,other-worldly,almost psychedelic, yet gentle,light,sane,and utterly romantic..."Are you going with Me" contains the most rivetting, sensual, synth solo from Metheny,oozing a sense of space and time,with notes that are left hanging mid -air,the relentless build up to the musical climax....one almost gets the feeling that God has taken over...
"Au Lait" I find to be absolutely intriquing,I haven't quite made up my mind wether its haunting or romantic in its mood....but the opening few minutes or so remind me of a Priest giving a service in Latin,the last rites at a funeral,and as for the music,well I regard it as among the most brilliant examples yet of taking a simple phrase and spinning it out, but each time making it unique and with a depth of feeling.Pat and Lyle's playing is beautifully understated,and Nana's vocal effects reaches into your soul."Au Lait" makes me cry...
As for the title track...well... it cracks me up every time I hear it,its so wild and wacky....Metheny basicly goes awol with the synth guitar,a high octane Ornette Coleman inspired musical roller coaster that almost leaves you breathless at the end,but underpinning it all is a profound sense of structure, direction,and overall concept- it is truly amazing,and has to be heard to be believed.
Other reviewers have said more and said it much better than I have here,but be in no doubt Offramp is a truly mind blowing album,and is THE place to start if you are new to Metheny's music,and want a recommendation......if,on the otherhand, your a longtime fan,and if, for some unfathomable reason, you've NOT got this album,what the heck are you waiting for?....go and get it,light some candles,get a glass of wine and brace yourself for one hell of a trip!
Rating:10/10