Echoes

California Guitar Trio

Product Details

• Audio CD (May 20, 2008)
• Original Release Date: May 20, 2008
• Number of Discs: 1
• Label: Inner Knot
• ASIN: B00175G6VE
• In-Print Editions: MP3 Download
• Average Customer Review: 4.9 out of 5 stars  See all reviews (7 customer reviews)
• Amazon.com Sales Rank: #63,563 in Music (See Bestsellers in Music)

Editorial Reviews

Amazon.com

The California Guitar Trio have always played cover versions but on Echoes, these graduates of Robert Fripp's League of Crafty Guitarists go over the top in paying homage to their roots. From progressive rock to arena rock, art music to classical music, they bring it all to their 18 strings. Although their primary instruments are acoustic guitars, they aren't averse to a little electric processing and that helps them when they tackle two progressive rock epics, Pink Floyd's "Echoes" and Mike Oldfield's “Tubular Bells.” They compress them both in time, but hit the highlights, exposing new, pastoral nuances in "Echoes" and just ripping into "Tubular Bells" to reveal its minimalist roots. These two tracks alone make Echoes worth it. CGT violate the purity of their trio concept with side musicians on a few tracks, including bassist Tony Levin and stick player Tom Griesgraber, who allow them to plug into the electric energy of some of the music. Although the two vocal tracks at the end, sung by Bonnie "Prince" Billy, a.k.a. Will Oldham, seem out of place in this instrumental setting, the closer makes it worthwhile. CGT responds to that bane of all progressive rock concerts, answering the shouted request for Lynard Skynard's "Freebird" by actually playing it, albeit in a reggae groove. -- John Diliberto

Customer Reviews

Most Helpful Customer Reviews

8 of 8 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Finally! This has been long awaited., July 23, 2008

By	E. Minkovitch (Montreal, Quebec) - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

Another superb album from these guitar maestros. This album is a bit of a breather from their usual mind-boggling complexity and sophistication, but not for the reasons you might think - the arrangements and the music are just as complex as ever, but this time the music is very familiar. Nearly all the pieces are well-known in popular or classical music. Their arrangements are nothing short of spectacular and offer new insights into these time-tested masterpieces. Although very faithful renditions, they are not mere copies, but rather original interpretations. I particularly like Pink Floyd's Echoes, Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells and of course, the showcase - Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody, reproduced note-for-note, solos, choruses and all - without vocals. Bethoven's 5th, first movement is done in a surf-rock style of the Ventures, whose "The Cruel Sea" is also included. There is a Celtic-like footstomper from Penguin Cafe Orchestra, and a movement from Beethoven's Pastorale arranged in a traditional classical manner. A very atmospheric song "And I Know" with vocals (can anyone comment - is it a cover or a new song?) and "Free Bird" conclude the album. The latter is a real surprise, the slide guitar and the fiery dual guitar leads are faithfully Skynyrd-like (I cannot imagine playing those leads on hard acoustic guitar strings), and the exaggerated vocals sound as if the singer downed a bottle of good southern whisky before going to the studio. Someone put in a bit of light percussion to fill out the sound, and the cover version turns out as good as any I've heard of this classic song. For me this is a special album, since I saw them do these songs live at the Montreal Jazz festival in 2007, hoping they would record them, and here we are. This album captures the magic of that concert very well. A must for CGT fans.

3 of 3 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Echoes of a Masterpiece, September 5, 2008

By	Hill and Dale (Atlanta, GA USA) - See all my reviews

The exquisite notes from this project will echo gracefully through your mind and soul long after you take your first listen. California Guitar Trio have surpassed themselves once again on this latest cd. Surprise after surprise comes with some very familiar covers of some of Progressive Rocks greatest songs: Pink Floyd's Echoes and Mike Oldfield's Tubular Bells. Each with a special touch that brands it CGT while remaining incredibly faithful to the original. The classical pieces are also treated with the same panache. Two rock classics are also included that Garth and Wayne would be especially proud of: Queen's Bohemian Rhapsody and Freebird by Lynard Skynard. Get your lighter's out folk, CGT has triumphed again. For fans and newbies this is a must have.

2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:

5.0 out of 5 stars Another quality album, February 10, 2009

By	F. Chapman - See all my reviews (REAL NAME)

I was lucky enough to get my copy of this album signed when I saw the CGT in Quebec (I also got an interview with Tony Levin back stage. I got to hang around for a while before the show--they opened for The Musical Box--and I have to say that these guys are some of the nicest musicians I have ever met. Tony Levin was more than willing to talk to me despite my shoddy press credentials--I am 17 and I cited a local newspaper as my source--and it was a very insightful interview). The album is masterfully done. The mixing is extraordinary and the sound quality itself makes this a great recording (and there is no dynamic range compression--for a band that utilizes the full range of volume, this is very important).

The content itself is wonderful. The CG3 team are perfectionists--inside and outside the studio--and this album only reaffirms that claim. The chops they have developed over their years playing together have redefined modern musicianship; rather than grandiose solos tainted by the likes of modern guitarists like Joe Satriani, The California Guitar Trio treat their instruments in a way often forgotten by the modern music industry. The compositions are impressive and incredibly accurate. I often wonder what CG3 would sound like on electric instruments with lower string tension (playing this stuff on acoustic guitar I'm sure has given them incredible strength) but that thought fades quickly after I realize that would almost bastardize the band.

Buy this album. You're supporting a great band lead by great people. It's good to know that progressive music lives on. Thanks for a wonderful album.

Also: am I the only one who wants to see a CG3 release on Vinyl?