Fascinoma

Even though this disc was released some time ago, I have just come to it. I recall reading a piece about it in a music industry magazine at one point. As it turned out that written piece was really more about the actual recording process and the Waterlily Acoustics label's approach to sound than anything else. Still, I was intrigued as to what it would sound like (as an "ambient recording" process captured in a church with all tube analog stuff). I should mention that I know of Mssr. Jon Hassell's work from 'back in the day' --- as a soloist on the classic beautiful albums "Remain in Light" by Talking Heads and "Brilliant Trees" by David Sylvian. Sometime during the 1990's I was able to track down a couple of his solo records. I must say that he is unique in the world of music. Of course this is no newz to those who know, and I am most likely preaching to the choir already with this, nevertheless, Jon Hassell knows about transcendance and how "that" relates to what we tend to call -- Music. Mssr. Hassell is actually well beyond The Trumpet. The fact that his chosen instrument happens to BE The Trumpet is both lucky for us, the listeners, and meaningless to everyone concerned, because in the end His Heart and His Mind are coming from a place of Tone, of Frequency, and of Vibration. These "things" are certainly not contingent upon blowing The Trumpet. You see? One could choose to play the zither or the udu or the mouth organ, no matter in the hands of one who knows to reach Beyond (where the Music dwells). And once one would reach that "place" and to then share THAT, well now we're talking. And we ARE talking about Jon Hassell here for the moment (and in fact most of the folks involved with this particular CD). Kind of. OK, so speaking of that place.......the last track on Fascinoma.......Estate (Summer).......is truly.......it is truly.......well.......there are no words. No words at all. Just listen for a while. You'll know.

Arrived in perfect condition, no scratches, nice jewel box with original cover.

Moody, meditative, simultaneously simple and complex, dreamy but precise, cannot ignore or remember, subtle and rich and deep and... oh just enjoy it and stop thinking!

Very intimate portrait of Jon Hassell.

The opening amazingly beautiful reading of "Nature Boy" is so stunning when Ronu Majumdar's flute begins it's circling run around Hassell's solo trumpet. wow. we know we are in for something unique and amazing. This is Hassell's first CD to include covers and as a fan, I welcome this as a trend. This CD is at once beautiful, odd, provocative, and occasionally challenging. I suppose you could expect that with a meeting of Hassell, Cooder, Majumdar, and Terrasson. Like most Water Lily cds, it's Recorded live to stereo master in that Santa Barbara seminary with all that fetishist tube gear as usual. Music like this sums up the underlying vibe of Santa Barbara.

This is a great record. Engineer Kavi Alexander and his tube equipment captures Hassell's harmonic trumpet like nobody else has before, and pianist Jacky Terrasson sounds stunning, full, vigorous. As compared to, say, "Fourth World Volume 1; Possible Music," or "Aka Darbari Java" "Fascinoma" is relatively tame, and perhaps more jazz then ambient, but the lines blur and categories demonstrate their uselessness with an artist like Jon Hassell. My question is this: Since Water Lily made another album from the same session into an SACD ("Hollow Bamboo by Ronu Majundar,) then why not the increased realism afforded by the SACD for "Fascinoma"? We need some ambient SACDs

I just heard this CD a few nights ago at a friends dinner party and it grabbed my attention right away...(in a subtle way, that is). It is a strange sonic mix of electronics, primitivism and jazz. The mood is predominately VERY subtle and hypnotic; if I remember correctly, there is not a bar faster than andante on the entire CD. But trust me, this is a good thing. And so is the fact that Ry Cooder produced it...

Sure. The quality of the recording is top notch. If you are testing the $20,000 sound system in front of you. But, I also like to listen to MUSIC. The material on this disc is like a sound track to episodes of 1960s Star Trek. Its like a child learning to speak. A bunch of gibberish with the occasional noise that makes a little sense. The last track has a bit of musicality to it. Sad I spent way to much for it.

I enjoyed the chill vibe of this recording. Jon Hassel chose to cover a variety of songs on this CD.

Quiconque connaît et suit le parcours de Jon Hassell depuis de longues années pourra immédiatement apprécier la rareté; de cet enregistrement : c'est en effet la première fois que l'on peut entendre le musicien interpréter des standards jazz, en plus de compositions originales et de créations sonores dont il est familier. Ce qui peut paraître comme une curiosité; (surtout si depuis toujours on se demandait ce que donnerait une interprétation de standards par ce musicien si inclassable et original) devient à; l'écoute un plaisir extatique: non seulement Jon Hassell évoque (ou appelle ?) l'âme de Chet Baker mais, en ramenant ces titres aux sonorités et à l'approche musicale qui caractérisent son style depuis tant d'années, il livre ici une interprétation quasi mystique de classiques comme Caravan, estate ou nature boy. Concernant Nature boy, il va jusqu'à renouer avec le sens originel du thème, renvoyant à la vie quasi mystique de son compositeur, Eden Ahbez, poète qui avait un jour façonné une flûte qu'il faisait jouer au gré du vent, laissant entendre la voix de la nature. Est-ce pour cette raison que le thème est partagé ici entre trompette et flûte indienne ? Disque rare autant par son approche et son répertoire que par sa difficulté d'approvisionnement: on le trouve difficilement ce qui peut expliquer son prix un peu élevé. Mais cet enregistrement (qui inclut d'ailleurs le musicien Jacky Terrasson) effectué sur deux pistes dans une cathédrale sans ajout d'effets vaut largement qu'on s'y intéresse, même au prix de la rareté.

Continuo ad acquistare dischi di Jon Hassell e non ne sono mai stato deluso, ogni disco ha la sua personalità mantenendo comunque un alta qualità compositiva ma anche di registrazione, brani sempre da ascoltare attentamente, sicuramente non può essere musica da sottofondo.

Brilliant recording by Water Lily's Kavi Alexander. I listen to this on long trips in my car. Very relaxing sound. Cool!

amazing musical and audio experience!