Search - Karl Blau :: Shell Collection

Delicious and enlightening songs by an Amazing 4-tracker.

10/15/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"When I first heard Shell Collection, I was immediately grabbed by the depth and harmony created by this multi-instrumentalist. Everything from beautifully played saxaphone to accordian to homemade instruments make his songs entities in themselves and continual listenings never require any fast forwarding. Songs like "Heaven" and "Blue Street" (as do many others) have a feel good acoutic guitar/sax vibe ala mid-1970's while others are downright funky. Others are electric with fuzzed out guitars and excellently played bass guitar. At moments I'm wisked to far away lands or sitting in a dark jazz hangout listening to Mingus-esque numbers. Karl's voice is the purest instrument on this album with melodies and harmonies pooring from his soul with the last song, "the Big Light", topping Shell Collection off in glorious acappella fashion. This music is for people who appreciate beautiful song writing skills and poetic lyrics that paint picutes of the Sun and Moon, emotions and playfulness. Don't let the fact that most his music is recorded on 4-track fool you, it is beautifully and magnificently engineered and delivers at the depth of a larger studio. Karl Blau needs to be heard by anyone likes beautifully creative and fun music."

Perfect album for cooking, or doing dishes to or painting

09/09/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Intimacy with new flavors, Blau's ideas are familiar and strange. Shell Collection is not five years old, could be 30. Pop hooks catch you off guard. Anyone searching for new songs you've always known?"