- Audio CD (7 Sep 1998)
- Number of Discs: 1
- Label: Real World
- ASIN: B00000DCKN
- Other Editions: Audio CD | MP3 Download
- Average Customer Review: 4.3 out of 5 stars See all reviews (3 customer reviews)
- Amazon Bestsellers Rank: 152,243 in Music (See Top 100 in Music)
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Product details |
Track Listings
| 1. To The River |
| 2. Fallen Star |
| 3. Take My Heart |
| 4. Together Forever |
| 5. Freedom |
| 6. Forbidden Love |
| 7. Immigrant's Song |
| 8. Dark Souls |
Product Description
CD Description
With these recordings, Djivan Gasparyan and Michael Brook have fashioned a unique musical hybrid. The duduk is prominently featured, as one might expect, but a surprise is in store for those not yet appraised of Gasparyan's vocal capabilities; his singing is vibrant and assured, its timbral colours neatly dovetailing with the warm, slightly nasal tone of the duduk. Both instruments are displayed to best advantage against the varied arrangements drafted and performed by Brook, with help from the English engineer and multi-instrumentalist Richard Evans.
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Customer Reviews
Most Helpful Customer Reviews
4 of 4 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
Gasparyan is an exponent (perhaps the only one?) of the Armenian duduk, a melancholic and haunting oboe like instrument. He interprets traditional songs with Michael Brook, a canadian ambient musician best known for his brilliant collaborations with Nusrat Fateh Ali Khan on RealWorld (Night Song, Musst Musst). When the pace quickens the distinctive sound of Gasparyan is beautifully embellished and delivers memorable moments. The album is slightly less successful when Gasparyan add his voice and in its slower and less structured moments. Still it is an intriguing listen and has all the quality expected of RealWorld recordings
2 of 2 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
The musical connection of the steel guitar and the Armenian duduk provides rare glimpses into unexplored crevices and caverns of the soul. I was surprised at how the lonely sounds of the duduk could create such exhilaration and exaltation. The sounds of the duduk leave an indelible imprint on the heart and mind. The voice of Djivan Gasparyan adds a rare ethereal dimension to the solitary musical interlude. When I listen to this CD, I am transported to another place in time and space. Djivan's voice is similar to the haunting voices of Yiddish and klezmer singers, expressing passionate emotions like love and sorrow from deeply felt memories. This music is a fusion of the past and present, it is an unexpected tapestry woven from the bass guitar, keyboards, some programming, and the essential master instrument, the duduk. "Black Rock" is named for volcanic landscapes, produced from firey lava, arising from deep within the earth ... so too does this music arise from the internal heat of the the musicians themselves. The old and new instruments blend together creating enchantment and inspiring timeless melodies. Erika Borsos (bakonyvilla)
1 of 1 people found the following review helpful
Format:Audio CD
I'm generally a little wary of cross-cultural hybrids like this because, unless you're already familiar with the work of the artists involved, it's difficult to tell how much the non-Western influences in the music have been watered-down to fit the preconceptions of a Western audience (and Western music fans are inevitably going to be the main consumers of these efforts). The other side of the argument, of course, is that if not for efforts like this, then most of us would probably never become familiar at all with the work of such artists. That would certainly be a shame in the case of Armenian folk singer Djivan Gasparyan, whose warm soulful voice and hauntingly mournful duduk playing are impossible to forget once you've heard them.
I must say that, like a lot of so-called World Music, some of what's on this album really just sounds like fairly conventional Western pop-rock with a bit of 'ethnic' flavouring added. In fairness, though, it is for the most part imaginatively put together; the sort of atmospheric, ambient-friendly pop-rock you'd expect from someone like Michael Brook, who has in the past worked closely with people like Eno, Daniel Lanois, Jon Hassell, and U2's The Edge. There are several tracks (eg 'Fallen Star', 'Immigrant's Song') where Gasparyan's duduk combines beautifully with the sound of Brook's trademark drone-like Infinite Guitar; it's remarkable, really, how complementary the sounds are in spirit.
Generally, then, there is a successful merging of musical styles on this album. It is fascinating that an ancient instrument like the duduk can blend so seamlessly with state-of-the-art Western electronic sound engineering -- and that the two elements, old and new, Western and non-Western, can produce sounds so clearly in sympathy with each other. A great jumping off point for further investigations into the work of this Armenian maestro; and a moving, soulful, collaboration in its own right. Listen, learn, and most of all enjoy.
I must say that, like a lot of so-called World Music, some of what's on this album really just sounds like fairly conventional Western pop-rock with a bit of 'ethnic' flavouring added. In fairness, though, it is for the most part imaginatively put together; the sort of atmospheric, ambient-friendly pop-rock you'd expect from someone like Michael Brook, who has in the past worked closely with people like Eno, Daniel Lanois, Jon Hassell, and U2's The Edge. There are several tracks (eg 'Fallen Star', 'Immigrant's Song') where Gasparyan's duduk combines beautifully with the sound of Brook's trademark drone-like Infinite Guitar; it's remarkable, really, how complementary the sounds are in spirit.
Generally, then, there is a successful merging of musical styles on this album. It is fascinating that an ancient instrument like the duduk can blend so seamlessly with state-of-the-art Western electronic sound engineering -- and that the two elements, old and new, Western and non-Western, can produce sounds so clearly in sympathy with each other. A great jumping off point for further investigations into the work of this Armenian maestro; and a moving, soulful, collaboration in its own right. Listen, learn, and most of all enjoy.
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