Most Helpful Customer Reviews
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
whatever you expect, this will exceed it, November 1, 2005
"Ekstasis" puts most aspiring world-funk records to shame. It is bracing and full of swirling intricacies in a gorgeous, clear-eyed mix. A true argument for pan-cultural musical collaboration, ten tracks of utter bliss.
Of all the talent assembled for this disc, it is sometimes a challenge to find Mr. Skopelitis' guitar. He definitely treats this as an ensemble record, taking the backseat thru much of the proceedings and leaving things in the capable hands of Jaki Leibezeit, Zakir Hussain, Bachir Attar, Simon Shaheen and Laswell's sea-anchor bass.
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5 of 5 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
Immaculate, June 25, 2005
It's been more than ten years since I got this one, and I still never tire of hearing it - again and again. This masterpiece is apt to invade the mind and spirit in a big way. Mainly owing to the varied origins and, hence, musical traditions of the musicians, one is tempted to tag it as "world music" or, perhaps worse, due to its lofty mood, as "trance". But fear not, while elements of these genres may make fleeting appearances, what has been produced here transcends perfunctory descriptions.
The excellent skills of the artists involved is amplified by a flawless production that distills a singularity rarely found in any genre. The forces of the likes of Jaki Liebezeit, Zakir Hussain, Jah Wobble, Bachir Attar, Amina Claudine Myers, and Bill Laswell, to name but a few, conspired here mightily to create pieces that make lasting impressions, pure and fresh even after the 100th hearing.
This is music that is rejoicing yet pensive and it's bound to get you by the throat.
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2 of 2 people found the following review helpful:
5.0 out of 5 stars
love it, October 4, 2006
Like the reviewer below I have had my copy for over 10 years. It is more of a jazz album than the oft-compared Hallucination Engine, but also has it's moments of trip-hop and world flavor. It stands up well to repeated playings and never ceases to reveal new textures. The vehemence that some perople have assailed these two albums surprises me. There is nothing 'adult-contemperary/easy-listening' about them except to the unsophisticated. They are quite accessable, but are not 'minimal' (like much of Laswell's ouvre) nor are they an 'easy, mindless' listen (which pretty much removes anything Laswell does right there. If you want pop mindlessness, search elsewhere, you will be disappointed by Laswell)...you have to work a little and have a broad and open mind as concerns music. Every musician I've played this for has loved it, which should say something, I suppose....
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Interact With Your Music: Discover, listen to, and buy new music, all from the pages of SPIN's digital edition, free to Amazon customers.
by Bill Laswell 
