Translated material
Mysteries of modern times
In the early 90s, composer and producer Michael Cretu found his theme, which turned out to be a golden niche. No matter how the music of the Enigma project changes, the main thing always remains in it: a sluggish beat, on top of which floats a euphonious, unhurried melody. In the new creation of Michael Cretu, an album with the Latin title A posteriori (telling the story of a certain alchemist), this main “enigmatic” feature is preserved. The listener, as in the case of Cretu’s previous albums, falls into a mood of relaxed reverie. At the same time, the actual sound and arrangements have changed. “There is not a single live sound on this album, not a single musical instrument and not a single sample - I played the entire album exclusively on the keys of my computer,” says Michael himself. Even heavenly female voices are a computer; and, by the way, in this case, these tricks of the studio magician are more than justified aesthetically - the result is not just unusual voices, but a real parallel reality. In fact, there are a few bars of live voice - Cretu's own vocals... But not much.
What can I say, a wonderful album for regulating the mood. Whose melodies you happily forget immediately after listening. Why, music without an aftertaste is also needed. And it comes to us from a parallel reality.
Bob Dylan. Modern Times (Sony/BMG)
Bob Dylan's first solo album in God knows how many years immediately shot to the top of the American charts. For some reason. Dylan, of course, is a classic (comparable to the poet Dylan Thomas, whose name Bob Zimmerman borrowed for his pseudonym half a century ago), but “classics” and high sales are still two different things. Nevertheless, Americans truly love Bob Dylan - not for his past achievements and fifty classic hits, not for his stupid films, but in general, for the fact that he is him. This is him - the man who sings in a hoarse, nasal voice over guitar chords and the syncopated drumming of the rhythm section and makes the whole thing sound fresh. The record with the protocol name Modern Times does not contain anything modern in general. This is completely understandable, simple, like seven kopecks (and like the same seven kopecks, unique) music. Classic American genres: from the fairground country of Thunder on the Mountain to the murmured ballad of Spirit on the Water to the rhythm and blues of Someday Baby.
Ignacio Berroa. Codes (Blue Note)
If a drummer has been playing successfully for decades without releasing any solo work, and then suddenly breaks out with a wonderful record, it's amazing. This means he had good reasons for this. The venerable Cuban Ignacio Berroa is known for his work with pianist Gonzalo Rubalcaba (they performed together in Moscow a couple of years ago), his first solo album is a unique look at the Latin American “vibe”, at the works of both Latin American authors and American jazz classics. From Jobim (Inutil Paissagem) and Dizzy Gillespie (Woody'n'You) to Chick Corea (Matrix), and the only original number is Joao su merced by Berroa himself. Just don't think that Codes is a pop-saloon collection of Latin melodies. In fact, this is completely uncompromising jazz with a core, completely acoustic with themes improvised beyond recognition. Thick sound, elastic rhythms, no sentimentality, and all this sparkles with the joy of a ripping jazz “jam”. Recorded by a stellar cast: Rubalcaba, saxophonist David Sanchez, virtuoso bassist John Patitucci.
Pink Floyd. Pulse (EMI)
The only DVD release in our review. But what a one! Nowadays, the most interesting concerts are being re-released on DVD (and even more interesting concerts are being stolen by pirates from television studios), collections of clips and other music lovers' joy, stuffed to the brim with exclusives. But Floyd's video is the king even in this wealthy market. Pulse - the famous live album, one of the most promoted "live" albums of the late Floyd - was released in 1995, at the same time a videotape with a "picture" of the concert appeared. The cassette became a bestseller, and with the advent of the DVD era, no one doubted that one of the first re-releases on the wonderful new format would be Pulse. But due to technical reasons, the wait dragged on for years.
The new Pulse is two discs with a long greatest hits concert program, a complete (!) performance of the album of all times Dark Side of the Moon - of course, without Roger Waters, but with Sam Bryan on backing vocals.
And also bonuses. For example, a duet with Smashing Pumpkins vocalist Billy Corgan. Or about the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame (just don’t ask what this event means: the meaning of turning free and influential rock musicians into a pathetic nomenklatura is not clear not only to us, but also to the Americans).