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Luscious Notes Deep From The Soul Feb 22, 2008
I have been a fan of Nuevo Flamenco for years; it's great music to have in your life as background or when you want to sit and truly concentrate. That said, it took my ears awhile to mature to the virtuoso qualities of Linstead. Now that I can sense the differences, it takes nothing away from the other masters in this arena who I still listen to daily, it simply means that Linstead is my new favorite. If you're new to this music, I'd say start with Govi, Jesse Cook, and Ottmar Liebert...all very fine guitarists with slightly different styles who will get you thoroughly involved with this wonderful music. Once you're hooked, you'll really love Linstead.
His music seems to stay more true to the heart of this genre' reminding one of the lush gardens of Spain and Mexico or the rain forests of South America. And, while I adore the South Western sounds and influence of the other new flamenco players, the musical direction of this artist is a fabulous addition to your growing library. I have several of Mr. Linstead's works, but I really love the sensual and complex qualities of Mediterranea. He adds instrumentation to his works that is somewhat unexpected and such a pleasant addition. To experience his music in that regard, check out Encanto where you will hear the outstanding blend of guitar with flute. I hope you enjoy him as I do. Gracias, Senor Linstead!
A treat to your ears. Oct 02, 2007
I bought this CD by chance and I have not stop playing it for the past two weeks. Every song is different. The recording, skill, arrangement, fidelity, everything are superbly done. This CD becomes one of my favorite CDs in no time. I highly recommend this CD.
2 of 2 found the following review helpful:
Album unity makes this Johannes' best album Aug 18, 2006
I first heard of Johannes and this album on a streaming radio station. The song "Journey to Alcazaba" was playing, and I was amazed at Johannes' superb techincal mastery of his instrument. I bought a couple more songs off the album from iTunes and eventually wound up buying the CD.
I had already bought "Hour of the Lamps" and "Journey to Alcazaba," so I was expecting more of the same. When I found the other tracks were relatively more restrained, I was initially disappointed. However, the album began to grow on me. I realized that the tracks were not just a random collection of songs; they are integrated as a whole.
The album starts with the laid-back, optimistic tracks "Andalucia" and "Evening Embrace." They are then offset by the fiery and fast "Sangre del Toro," which is tempered by the slow and "sarcastic" (for lack of a better word) "Ambrosia." The album begins to get more serious here. "Adelita" and "Tabú" keep some of the laid-back optimism that the earlier tracks had, but also have more of a bittersweet tone. At "Hour of the Lamps," Johannes starts to unleash his virtuosity as the tracks become more fully developed, longer (6-7 min as opposed to 3-4 at the beginning), and use a penatonic minor key. "Motika" is a fun salsa piece started off by a uniquely recorded piano. This piece is faster and shorter (3:22), bearing more in resemblance to the earlier pieces. If there is one piece that is out of place, it is this one. The entry of "Estrellas Sobre Ella" returns the album to the serious tone of "Hour of the Lamps." The violin and guitar have previously only playfully dueled each other. Now, they are much more restrained and work together to produce a luscious soundscape. Various female vocals are present (not singing - vocal accents) that add to the graveness and beauty of the track. A key change in the middle of the song (2:48) is perfectly executed and left me dazzled and speechless. The album concludes nicely with "Journey To Alcazaba" - an Indian-influenced track with plenty of raw percussion and guitar/sitar virtuosity. Things get very fast at the end - this ends the album on a more upbeat, but still serious, tone.
I now realize that this album is masterfully laid out - the tracks are arranged and composed in such a way that they take you on a musical journey. Listening to the tracks out of order and one at a time will destroy this experience. They are laid out in a way for a reason.
After thoroughly enjoying this album, I proceeded to buy all of Johannes' other albums. It is interesting to see his journey from having just mastered flamenco technique in "Sol Luna Tierra" to getting a more percussive influence in "Zabuca", to finally moving away from studio keyboards to a more percussive style in "Mediterranea." Many of Johannes' other albums do not have the "album unity" that I have described here, though. "Mediterranea" is Johannes at his best.
19 of 19 found the following review helpful:
A GEM of a recording Dec 12, 2005
Let me preface this review by saying that I have been a fan of 'nouveau flamenco'-style guitar music for about 13 years now. It has taken less than TWO of those years for Johannes Linstead to become my FAVORITE flamenco guitar player, HANDS DOWN! Though this is his most recent recording, it is the one I bought first. Boy am I glad I did. ALL the tracks on here are excellent and they each have their own unique flavour, sound and style, so you never feel like you heard 'the same song' twice. Each one is a truly unique and very special treat for the ears, as well as for the heart, of a listener.
1. Andalucia - For me, the best word to describe this opening tune is "joyous". The opening melody is catchy and makes me feel really happy. The rhythm and all the melodies of this tune are exuisitely crafted and go together splendidly. The song in its entirety is filled to the brim with beauty, life, and power... the power to make you smile, and to make you want to get up and dance, and celebrate just being alive. It captures the splendour of the region of Spain that some have called the 'heart'of flamenco music. The 'dance' performed in this song between Johannes' guitar and the violin is especially noteworthy to me.
2. Evening Embrace - This tune is a bit more laid back. It is considerably slower, but it is a GREAT tune nonetheless. Despite the title, this does not put me in the mind of hugging somebody. Instead, it paints pictures in my mind of walking hand in hand with a special someone, taking a romantic stroll under the moonlight and the stars through a setting that is both exotic and picturesque.
3. Sangre Del Toro - Translated as: "Blood Of The Bull", this is an awesome tune. As far as tempo it fluctuates between mid-range and moderately fast. In other songs on this CD, the guitar and the violin do a terrific 'dance' with each other. This time, they 'duel'. This furious 'duel' in my mind perfectly captures the pageantry and spirit of the life-and-death struggle that is a bullfight. Sit back, relax.... and enjoy, but also, be envigorated.
4. Ambrosia - Once again, here we have a 'middle-of-the-road' tempo tune to grace our ears. As always, the guitar and other instrumentation is first rate. The guitar the violin dance again in places, but this one, to my ears, has a seductive and just SLIGHTLY Middle-Eastern sound and flavour. I love it.
5. Adelita - This is another great piece. It was written particularly for Johannes' mother. A mid-tempo but jouyous and buoyant guitar melody is joined by a lovely female voice. It gives me the feel of looking at a beautiful sunrise... or perhaps into the smiling eyes of your mother, seeing her love for you written in them, and smiling because you know you are cherished. This one puts a smile not just on my face, but a smile in my heart too.
6. Tabu - To my ears, this one is just a LITTLE bit faster than "Adelita". It feels like a very happy piece of music, perfectly suitable for putting the top down and 'cruising' down the highway with the wind stirring your hair. It's great and makes me smile on the inside.
7. Hour Of The Lamps - This features heavy interplay between the flamenco guitar and what sounds like a mandolin or perhaps a more Middle-Eastern type of stringed instrument. The Middle-Eastern feel or influence is VERY strong in this song, and it's a very 'danceable' number, switching back and forth in tempo from mid-to-high-range to blazingly fast. The swirling, seductive melody can really pull you into this piece. It's awesome. Don't just take my word for it though. Give this tune a listen for yourself and find out just how good it really is.
8. Motika - This is another great dance number. The tempo is fairly quick. The percussion in this tune is steady, and in my ears it calls a heartbeat to mind. The augmentation by piano is really quite nice. Get on the dance floor. You don't want to miss the fun. That's what this piece is to me... it's fun.
9. Estrellas Sobre Ella - Here it is, ladies and gentlemen. I have ALL of the CD's that Johannes Linstead has put out so far. That's five CD's with more than fifty songs in total, and HERE is my FAVORITE tune of them all. I LOVE this piece. To me, the word "beautiful" just does NOT do this song justice. I prefer to call in "heavenly". Yes, you read that right... heavenly. This song is FILLED with a beauty and with a bliss that will reach straight into your heart, touch it, and break it to pieces, while healing it and 'putting it back together' and soothing it at the same time, making you FEEL it's beauty and its power. The tempo is slow and gracefully sedate. The melodies are absolutely GORGEOUS. This time, the guitar and violin do not 'dance' with each other. This time, they sing beautifully to one another, with a song that will break your heart and yet it will also heal it and lift it up as well. They are accompanied for a little while in places by a hauntingly beautiful female voice. This tune moves me to tears EVERY time I hear it and it makes me THANK GOD for ears that work, so that I might always hear something so lovely as this song.
10. Journey To Alcazaba - This starts off with interplay between guitar and Middle-Eastern stringed instrumentation. Heavy arabesque percussion soon kicks in. This begins slowly but can get fast and FURIOUS before the end. I love the guitar melodies in this. To me, it's a musical drive through a quaint and picturesque desert town.
To close, I won't say much. I'll try to keep it short. If you LOVE flamenco guitar music like I do, you MUST get this CD. You OWE it to yourself to give Johannes Linstead a listen. This music just might captivate you, just like it has done to me. Happpy listening, and God bless you... always.
11 of 11 found the following review helpful:
Utterly Magnificent! Jun 10, 2005
I just returned from the Vancouver area on vacation where my wife and I rented a convertible and drove around the country side. By chance we came across this beautiful CD and played it everywhere we drove. We will never forget the sheer ecstasy created by the combination of the sun, the wind, the trees, the mountains, the water, and Linstead's music. It has that quality of making you remember where you were when you first heard it. I have many of Linstead's CDs, as well as other nouveua flamenco artists' music, playing from my laptop at the office. Often people will stop by and ask what's the beautiful music they're hearing. It's usually Linstead. It has a magnetic quality to it that's so rare in contemporary music. It's therapeutic. Sit and listen and see if you're not changed by it!
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