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AMAZING SOUNDS No.85 / December 27, 1999
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PROGRAM@ AND HIS CD "ASHES" REPRESENTS THE RETURN OF THE LEGENDARY
BAND, A PREDECESSOR TO ELECTRONIC MUSIC WITH SYNTHESIZERS.

AVAILABLE IN AMAZING SOUNDS MAILORDER SERVICE:

http://www.amazings.com/mailorder.html

AND IN AT-MOOSS RECORDS:

http://www.arrakis.es/~at-mooss

====================

CONTENTS:

NEWS

REVIEWS:
CUSCO: "APURIMAC II" BSC/Prudence
CUSCO: "A CUSCO CHRISTMAS" BSC/Prudence
PHIL COULTER: "HIGHLAND CATHEDRAL" RCA Victor/BMG
STEVE ROACH: "LIGHT FANTASTIC" Fathom Music
2002: "RIVER OF STARS" Real Music
PROLE:: "SLUGWRENCH" Intolerance Communications
SiCk0: "BADACID" Intolerance Communications
GEORGE CARTWRIGHT: "THE MEMPHIS YEARS" Cuneiform Records
SCHIZOTROPE: "THE LIFE & DEATH OF MARIE ZORN" Cuneiform Records
CEREDWEN: "THE GOLDEN LAND" Real Music
BLUE AUDIO: "TO ANOTHER DAY" Border Blue
REBRO: "INSANE"
DJAM KARET: "SUSPENSION & DISPLACEMENT" Cuneiform Records
JEAN-PIERRE SACCOMANI: "THE FOUR SEASONS" MCP Productions

====================

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==================== NEWS

"SILENT MARS", available in March.

VAGERN RECORDS announces the upcoming release of "Silent Mars",
the project by Dom F. Scab and John Lakveet.

Besides their solo projects, those two electronic musicians will
release under the name of Silent Mars a series of collaborations
under a sequential, atmospheric style, near to the kind of music
known as the "Berlin School".

Ask for information at vagern@...

You can already reserve your copy at the virtual shop of AMAZING
SOUNDS

====================

NEW RELEASES / RE-RELEASES / DISTRIBUTIONS
(For more information and sound clips, use the links)

"Herding Cats" by Gaelic Storm

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00001IVKC/thesciencebookbo

"Northern Nights" by Various Artists

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000JLJB/thesciencebookbo

"Voices Across The Canyon, Vol. 4" by Various Artists

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000JNKN/thesciencebookbo

Jarana is a band devoted to Latin Rock & Folk. Jarana's music is
an imaginative fusion of folklores, shaped by the artistic
personality of the ten musicians that form this band. Two
important elements in their first CD ("Lagarto, lagarto") are the
warm Latin melodies and the rhythms elaborated with percussion
instruments from Africa and other countries. Also there are some
traits from Jazz and other varied elements that contribute to
enrich these compositions.

The new release by Michael Berkley will be a follow-up album to
his debut release, "Images from Earth". This second album,
entitled "Arctic", is similar to "Images from Earth" in its wide-
screen, cinematic spaciousness and epic scope. It is a musical
exploration of the frozen, polar deserts of Ellesmere Island, the
most northern land mass on the planet.

KITARO ON TOUR (EUROPE) (March 2000)
11 Barcelona, Spain
14 Zurich, Switzerland
15 Milan, Italy
16 Genova, Italy
18 Brussels, Belgium
19 Amsterdam, Holland
20 Wuppertal, Germany
22 Muenchen (Munich), Germany
23 Berlin, Germany
24 Hamburg, Germany
25 Copenhagen, Denmark
27 London, England

====================

REVIEWS:

CUSCO:
"APURIMAC II"
BSC/Prudence
"Apurimac II" is the second work of a trilogy where the German
group Cusco blend native American folk and modern/electronic
instrumental music. This album follows "Apurimac", a best-seller
(more than 300.000 copies in the USA alone) released about ten
years before. Mike Holm and Kristian Schultze produced, composed
(with inputs from the excellent Stemmann) and published the new
work in 1994. It is now available in the Prudence catalogue and it
sounds as fresh and dynamic as it was the first day. Technology
and flute sounds are the main traits of an album with deep roots
in the South American folk (Apurimac is a river in the Andes
mountains). The rhythm reigns supreme in almost all the tracks
(there are 10 in this CD). You will specially like the virtuosity
of the musicians and the great melodies they offer us.
MANUEL MONTES

If you wish to purchase this recording you only have to use this
link:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B000003Z0S/thesciencebookbo

CUSCO:
"A CUSCO CHRISTMAS"
BSC/Prudence
"A Cusco Christmas" was released in 1995 and contains nine
traditional and classic Christmas themes. In fact, this is the
answer to many requests, specially from America. The fans wanted a
Cusco-christmas album, and here it is. The songs have been
carefully arranged. The CD has a second title: "Chanting & Flute",
and we will hear chants and flutes, indeed. The Munich Opera Choir
is one of the best choirs available, and they are here. The
selection contains the famous "Canon" (Pachebel), "Silent Night"
(Gruber/Moor), a couple of pieces by Johann Sebastian Bach, and
several traditional songs. Soft and magic melodies: this is a
perfect gift in Christmas time.
MANUEL MONTES

CUSCO
German band Cusco consists basically in Michael Holm and Kristian
Schultze, although both have often enjoyed the participation of
several collaborators. Their music is mainly concentrated on
synthesized sounds, even though in their career they have
navigated through several styles, sometimes near to ethnic music,
at other times to techno, to new age and even to ambient music.
Most remarkable is their particular rhythmic treatment as well as
their use of electronic sounds.
Essential recordings:
Desert Island
Cusco II
Cool Island
Planet Voyage
Island Cruise
Virgin Island
Concierto de aranjuez
Tales From A Distant Land
Apurimac
Mystic Island
Ring Der Delphine
Sielmann 2000
Water Stories
Australia
Apurimac II
Magic Sound of Cusco
Cusco Christmas
Apurimac III

If you wish to purchase any recordings by Cusco you only have to
use this link:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ts/artistglance/94094/thesciencebookbo

PHIL COULTER:
"HIGHLAND CATHEDRAL"
RCA Victor/BMG
They call him the king of Celtic music and they are probably
right. Phil Coulter is immensely popular in Ireland and in many
other places all over the world. He is the biggest selling
instrumental recording artist in Ireland’s history and he has sold
close to a million units in the US alone. "Highland Cathedral" is
the newest work from this talented songwriter/pianist, a musician
with a career that extends back to the mid-sixties and a person
who enjoys many friends in the recording industry, including
people like Sinead O’Connor, Elvis Costello and Van Morrison. This
CD has been 12 years in the making, so it’s a complex blend of
many influences and sounds. In fact, this album isn’t completely
Celtic but it contains beautiful melodies with a clear Celtic
background.
MANUEL MONTES

If you wish to purchase this recording you only have to use this
link:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00004KD0S/thesciencebookbo

If you wish to purchase any recordings by this artist you only
have to use this link:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ts/artistglance/40144/thesciencebookbo

STEVE ROACH:
"LIGHT FANTASTIC"
Fathom Music
Steve Roach approaches us with a new ambient work of the best
quality. The six electronic pieces that integrate this CD are each
one a journey towards the unknown. Roach achieves in them a very
effective, attractive and even meditative atmosphere. The
synthesizers create a mystic environment, whereas other
instruments contribute certain ancient touches. The percussion is
present in most of the themes, although there are others with long
static passages. In the most perfect Ambient vein, "Light
Fantastic" will delight the lovers of this kind of music.
JORGE MUNNSHE

If you wish to purchase this recording you only have to use this
link:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000K2BM/thesciencebookbo

STEVE ROACH
Steve Roach was born in the USA, 1955.He founded the synthesizer
group Moebius at the beginning of his career and in 1978 began
performing numerous solo synthesizer concerts. His first solo
album was released in 1982. He has collaborated with many
electronic musicians also.
Essential works:
Now
Traveler
Structures from Silence
Quiet Music 1
Quiet Music 2
Quiet Music 3
Empetus
Quiet Music
Dreamtime Return
Stormwarning: Live in Concert
Now / Traveler
World's Edge
The Lost Pieces
Origins
Artifacts
The Dream Circle
The Dreamer Descends
The Magnificent Void
The Leaving Time ( & Michael Shrieve)
Australia: Sound of the Earth (& David Hudson, Sarah Hopkins)
Strata (& Robert Rich)
Soma (& Robert Rich)
Suspended Memories: Forgotten Gods (with Jorge Reyes, Suso Saiz)
Suspended Memories: Earth Island (with Jorge Reyes, Suso Saiz)
Solitaire: Ritual Ground (with Elmar Schulte
Well of Souls (& Vidna Obmana)
Cavern of Sirens (& Vidna Obmana)
Kiva (& Michael Stearns, Ron Sunsinger)
On this planet
The Ambient Expanse (& Vidna Obmana, Patrick O'Hearn, Stephen
Bacchus, Vir Unis)
Light Fantastic

If you wish to purchase any recordings by Roach you only have to
use this link:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ts/artist-glance/37247/thesciencebookbo

2002:
"RIVER OF STARS"
Real Music
Pamela and Randy Copus are 2002, a duo with a special taste for
ethereal songs and melodies. "River of Stars" is their fifth
album, 10 beautiful pieces where keyboards, flutes, guitars, harp
and voices are the main traits. This is exquisite atmospheric
music, deeply influenced by Enya but with special and unique
touches. Each and every track transpires peace and emotion, a
serenity that we don’t find in many works of this kind. The
previous album by 2002, "Land of Forever", remained on Billboard’s
New Age chart for 34 weeks. "River" will probably follow the same
path.
MANUEL MONTES

If you wish to purchase this recording you only have to use this
link:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00003OP7R/thesciencebookbo

If you wish to purchase any recordings by this duo you only have
to use this link:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ts/artistglance/59025/thesciencebookbo

PROLE::
"SLUGWRENCH"
Intolerance Communications
The music of this CD can be placed between Industrial and Trance.
There are some pieces in a Space key, and others that enter the
field of Synth-Pop. Most of the 20 themes have upbeat rhythms,
except for some where there are slow passages in an experimental
key. The music suggests the audible content of a hallucination on
unearthly experiences. The use of electronics enhances the oneiric
atmospheres, and is likewise useful as a vehicle for innovative
ideas. All music is composed by Jason Shepherd. D.J. Gagball and
Mistress Heather have collaborated with him.
ALEJANDRO HINOJOSA

SiCk0:
"BADACID"
Intolerance Communications
This album includes one only 74-minute piece created by SiCk0 on
September 5, 1998. "Badacid" can be placed between electronic
Trance-rave and Psychedelic Techno. The music is basically upbeat,
with cybernetic rhythms, percussion, sonic collages of voices and
unreal environments. More than concrete melodies in the
traditional sense, there are effects and atmospheres that come and
go. The whole album has a strong oneiric air, as if taken from a
hallucination or a dream.
ALEJANDRO HINOJOSA

GEORGE CARTWRIGHT:
"THE MEMPHIS YEARS"
Cuneiform Records
This album is the second solo release by George Cartwright. It
contains the valuable contribution of poet Paul Haines and singer
Amy Denio. Cartwright, the leader of Curlew, offers us 12 songs
and instrumental pieces which we can file more or less under the
jazz label. The composer and experienced saxophonist pays tribute
with this work to five excellent years in the Memphis’ music
scene, where he has worked with several well known musicians and
artists. "The Memphis Years" contains many of his new and old non-
Curlew compositions, pieces that are the result of many styles and
a fusion of Northern and Southern influences.
VICTOR ARENAS

If you wish to purchase this recording you only have to use this
link:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000488SF/thesciencebookbo

If you wish to purchase any recordings by this artist you only
have to use this link:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ts/artistglance/167448/thesciencebookbo

SCHIZOTROPE:
"THE LIFE & DEATH OF MARIE ZORN"
Cuneiform Records
Richard Pinhas, one of the fathers of the French electronic music,
and Maurice Dauntec, the cyberpunk author, performed in several
live concerts in 1999. This album contains the music of their
successful North American tour, and it’s the second release by
this duo (called Schizotrope) in a few months. "The Life and Death
of Marie Zorn" is mainly devoted to the heroine of one of the
Dantec novels. In it, Pinhas plays his powerful guitar and Dantec
reads from his own works and from the texts of another French
author, Gilles Deleuze. Pinhas, founder of band Heldon, offers us
a very special blend of styles, including experimental, electronic
and rock. Dantec uses vocal processors and his voice is the
perfect final touch for the music.
VICTOR ARENAS

If you wish to purchase this recording you only have to use this
link:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000488SB/thesciencebookbo

CEREDWEN:
"THE GOLDEN LAND"
Real Music
Ceredwen is the Celtic Goddess of inspiration, but also the name
of this fantastic duo. Ceredwen are Renee Gray and Andrew Fyer,
two musicians who have already enjoyed success with their debut
album, "O’r Mabinogi, Legends of the Celts". The main traits of
this work are the angelic female voice and an atmospheric music
with Celtic and tribal roots. The melodies are particularly
effective, with an extraordinarily evocative power. They use
traditional instruments, but also electronic keyboards and
percussion. This way, the music and the sounds enchant you with a
rare beauty. The album contains 10 songs. The lyrics (very poetic)
are available in the booklet.
MANUEL MONTES

If you wish to purchase this recording you only have to use this
link:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00001SIA2/thesciencebookbo

If you wish to purchase any recordings by this duo you only have
to use this link:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ts/artistglance/59027/thesciencebookbo

BLUE AUDIO:
"TO ANOTHER DAY"
Border Blue
Blue Audio is a very talented Asian American composer. This album
clearly proves that we are dealing with an experienced musician
with excellent skills, not only as a performer but also in the
creative arena. Blue Audio provides us with a beautiful collection
of electronic Pop pieces in this album. This release will surely
be liked by a wide range of listeners.
DEREK DOARN

If you wish to purchase this recording you only have to use this
link:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B00000JQRR/thesciencebookbo

REBRO:
"INSANE"
It’s not easy to describe the music composed and performed by
Rebro for this album. It contains several and much different
elements from many fields. Don’t look for a style, you’ll find
instead a concept, and a solid one. With titles like "Insane",
"Laser in my Veins" or "Never say Never (Deadly MX)", and with
music with traits from trance, industrial, progressive and other
alternative currents, Rebro offers us a sonic shock for the
listener. This is certainly original and innovative music in an
album where electronic sounds and effects, and also acoustic and
electric guitars (played by Orlando Vitto) are the stars. The
texts have been provided by H. George and Patricia Lopez.
MANUEL MONTES

REBRO
Rebro is basically FeelX, an electronic composer who is
accompanied by other musicians. The musicians who participated in
the album No One gets Out Of This Trip 'Alive' were: Alvaro Vitto
(guitars) and Ed Rosado (World percussion) They recorded this
album at the Crescent Moon Studios, Miami,
FL, USA.
Essential recordings:
NO ONE GETS OUT OF THIS TRIP "ALIVE"
INSANE

DJAM KARET:
"SUSPENSION & DISPLACEMENT"
Cuneiform Records
Djam Karet is an American electronic band not very known outside
the country. It was founded in 1984 by Gayle Ellett, Mike
Henderson, Chuck Oken Jr., and Henry J. Osborne. The music they
perform is often improvised and always electronic, with guitars
and a few keyboards as the main instruments. "Suspension &
Displacement" was recorded in 1991 and now is re-released thanks
to Cuneiform. After that time, the band has suffered several
changes but has released a few more CDs. This album is perhaps the
most atmospheric. The music is slow and original. You could
classify it as ambient/rock. If you like this work, you can listen
to "Burning the Hard City" (1991), "Collaborator" (1994), "The
Devouring" (1997) and "Live at Orion" (1999).
VICTOR ARENAS

If you wish to purchase this recording you only have to use this
link:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ASIN/B0000488SD/thesciencebookbo

If you wish to purchase any recordings by this band you only have
to use this link:

http://www.amazon.com/exec/obidos/ts/artistglance/155538/thesciencebookbo

JEAN-PIERRE SACCOMANI:
"THE FOUR SEASONS"
MCP Productions
Jean-Pierre Saccomani is a french electronic musician. "The Four
Seasons" contains four long pieces (one for every season) and a
fifth very short ("Ballad"). All of them are complex electronic
tracks that evolve slowly, growing organically and changing all
the time. The music has classical influences but you can also find
dark, more experimental passages. It’s not difficult to think in
alien atmospheres when listening to this music. The meditative
flow on "The Four Seasons" can be compared with the works by some
members of the electronic scene of the 80s and it radiates a
profound effect on the listener. The serene ambient textures will
introduce you in a new world of introspection.
VICTOR ARENAS

====================

We are preparing an international directory of record companies,
artists, festivals, radio shows, zines, webs, journalists,
associations, and other organizations & people working in the
field of electronic music, Ambient, New Instrumental,
Experimental, World Music, and so on. The inserts are free. The
persons or firms wishing to be included can send us a file of no
more than 600 words with the data they consider as being of
interest (contact addresses - snail mail, telephone number, fax,
email, URL... -) and an explanatory text on their activities in
English) to: amazings@...

We are also preparing an encyclopaedia of composers of electronic
music. The artists wishing to be included can send us a biography
(with a list of works and contact address if they wish to) of no
more than 900 words, in English, to amazings@.... Inserts
are free.

The persons or firms having a page in internet related in some way
to the alternative musics can communicate the URL, as well as a
brief description of its contents, to webmaster@..., and
we will set a link from our web to theirs (The insert of a link in
our web is free whenever it is corresponded with a similar link
from their web to our web)

====================

Our warmest greetings for our readers and until the next edition
of Amazing Sounds.

====================

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