Waves 10 begins with "Poseidon," its opening moments expressing a sense of magic, of the unknown. There is something childlike about its sense of wonder. And then it begins to grow from there, but does not lose that feeling of taking place in an otherworldly, magical location. The song is named after the Greek god of the sea, and the strange world the song conjures is that of the unknown depths of our oceans, a place where there are still discoveries to be made. This track is a striking opening to the album. It is followed by "Golden Glow." Here the bass creates a steady motion, over which the guitar is able to soar. Yet the guitar here generally moves forward, rather than up too high. The crash of the cymbal feels like each wave hitting the shore, one after another. There is something we feel we can trust here, something reassuring, even as we drive forward with a certain determination. This track has a long, slow fade-out.
"Keeping The Stone Warm" has a sweeter vibe, a song with a gentle and loving disposition. But that doesn't mean it is without energy, without purpose or drive. The guitar finds some interesting places to go, things to say, before returning to its main thrust. I also love the bass line to this track. This track leaves us feeling good, feeling safe, and, yes, feeling loved. Then "Sun Be Gone" is delivered on guitar and keyboard, those instruments feeling like rays of light themselves, though perhaps heavier than the bright light of the early afternoon. This is more like the last dance of the late afternoon when you try to stretch out the day into night, though you know you'll be unable to do it. At a certain point darkness overtakes us, and then the music is like the memory of light which carries us through. And maybe then the guitar feels even freer, unrestrained by the reality of day. This track has an unusual, unexpected final moment.
Fernando Perdomo then takes us back into the depths of the ocean for some exploration on "Ms. Diver," and that exploration can be inward as well as outward. What is it of ourselves that we discover in the deep blue when we are cut off from normal communication? We allow ourselves to slow down. Even our breath slows. Our needs diminish. Our curiosity increases. Forms emerge from the darkness, slide by, unbothered by our presence. There is beauty here, but not exactly as we'd expected it. And our pulse quickens just before the end. That's followed by "Abandoned Mansion In Decay." I love how there is a slight pause after that initial strum on the guitar, giving us the opportunity to shift into this new realm, to emerge from the depths into a lighter space. This song is delivered on acoustic guitar. There is a different sort of exploration here. Now it feels mainly external. The guitar takes on a great energy halfway through, before relaxing again, breathing. The guitar work here is exciting and beautiful.
We are then in more familiar territory with "Bustelo For Blood," which has some pop elements and a good groove. There is something catchy about this one, something inviting. I don't care for coffee at all, but coffee is very important to my girlfriend, who usually buys Bustelo, and so I must remember to play this track for her, see if there are some things within it that she finds that elude me. I love the vibrant guitar work to this track, which carries us along. This track also has a strong climax. Then with "Koi" we find ourselves again beneath the waves, in that incredible, magical realm, moving almost effortlessly among the fish and whatever sunlight is able to penetrate the surface of the water. There is the strong sense that everything around us is engaged in a dance without knowing it, but we can see it all perfectly. The beauty, the movement.
On the ninth installment of this series there is a song titled "Desolation Desperation," and this one contains a track titled "Illusion Delusion." And yes, I find titles like that appealing, in part because they are fun to say aloud. Go ahead, try it. See? Anyway, this one begins with an interesting dialogue on guitar, taking breaths between lines. Then approximately halfway through, it changes directions, if only slightly, opening up to embrace more of the world. And as it does, we feel we can let go. A great feeling. The album concludes with an interesting track, "The Caress," the keyboard and bass involved in their own dance, one of exploration and romance, two voices looking for the same thing, and not only that, but finding it. Ah yes, and in that there is such great hope. Hope for all of us. What a wonderful way to wrap things up.
CD Track List
- Poseidon
- Golden Glow
- Keeping The Stone Warm
- Sun Be Gone
- Ms. Diver
- Abandoned Mansion In Decay
- Bustelo For Blood
- Koi
- Illusion Delusion
- The Caress
No comments:
Post a Comment