Released: 1995
Tracks: Chasms; The Train; We Stand in Sapphire Silence; Smoke; Etude in the Key of Guildford; Espresso & the Bed of Nails; Mingled Roots; Nyatiti; Jewels; Le Tristesse Amoureuse de la Nuit; Heat; I Cry to the Dolphined Sea; The Sound of Goodbye
Best tracks: all
Track to skip: none
This has nothing to do with rock music at all. This album is also not a ‘bass solo-a-thon’. It IS one of the most musical and eclectic things I’ve ever heard. Tony Levin recorded this over a period of a few years in different points around the world. Every song is essentially a duet with Tony and some other person. Most are people he knew from playing with Peter Gabriel, as well as the obligatory King Crimson member (Bill Bruford). Very little of this music was written before the record button was pushed, so most is very spontaneous. Spontaneous Creation by Musical Masters.
Every track has something different to offer. Highlights aren’t easy to pick out; it’s ALL excellent. I’ll often single out the duets with Bruford (Etude & Jewels) as the highlights, but then I’ll hear something like Sapphire Silence or Nyatiti and I’ll have to change my mind. Please, please, please go to Tony’s website and listen to clips of this and buy it. It’s only available there and it’s one of the best things his name has ever appeared on. Beautiful and perfect music.
Rating: 98
