Search - Jon Hassell :: Fascinoma

It's True.

Khonsu | The Pacific Northwest | 04/05/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."

Best of Outside Ambient

A Music Lover | the seaside | 11/02/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"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."

Ethereal wonder...music from a dreamscape

A Music Lover | 09/02/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"As a Jon Hassell fan, I either enjoy or devour his music. But this latest release is a real tour-de-force, an absolutely beautiful and stunning CD. If you're familiar with Hassell's work, try to imagine an acoustic-edged version of his "Fourth World" musics...not quite 'Jon Hassell Unplugged', but more of a earthy and less-processed version of his earlier style.If you haven't heard his work before, this CD reminds me a lot of "Bitches Brew" by Miles Davis...superb trumpet work with insidious rhythms in the background. This is Hassell's first work in 20 years that features tunes by others...but with his interpretation, you might not even recognize some of them. This is a beautiful CD, hat's off to Jon Hassell and Ry Cooder (producer/player of/on the CD)"