Search - Martin Tillman :: Eastern Twin

Entrancing - liberating!

Shadowfire | College Park, MD | 12/09/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"To Black Cat and like-minded listeners: I am sincerely sorry if you were under the impression that this was a collection of instrumental pieces. If I had to identify the dominant character of "Eastern Twin," I would call it a fusion showcase. Styles melt and run together, wave after wave of percussive synthesizer effects assault the listener, until there are no individual instruments or even sounds - there is only a raging river of music. Tillman's arrangements are heavy yet bouyant (the pounding rhythms of "Nothing on My Mind" resolving into lilting radiance come to mind), massive yet pliant (the turbulent, obsessive parts of "TransMojave" float up from memory), breathy and rasping (like the windy acoustics of the intro to the title piece), but also languid and melodious (as, for example, the fantastic vocals in "7 Saris"). Acoustic cello and electric guitar monodies are driven and jagged, the piano in "Amadeus on the Nile" and elsewhere is pure noir, while the percussion - instrumental and otherwise - summons up imagery that is ominous, phantasmagorical, and yet liberating. Simultaneously reading a dark urban fantasy, I found many similarities - also, this is absolutely the one CD one cannot fall asleep to, so I finished the book quicker than usual! One of the very few critical comments I feel qualified to make is that at times pieces lack individuality. Nonetheless, I sat spellbound from start to finish. A fantastic way to clear the mind."

The first solo release from Martin Tillman

John Meadows | Venice Beach, CA | 10/02/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

""Basically, it's all about communication" Martin Tillman says, describing his Unitone Recordings debut solo album. "My goal for Eastern Twin is to take the listener on a journey through yet uncharted musical landscapes, by combining different musical styles from a palette of different cultures." Born in Zurich and trained at the prestigious Bern Conservatory in Switzerland, Tillman has surely confounded the purists who expected him to pursue a brilliant Classical career. Instead, the young virtuoso opted to compose perform or record with the renegade likes of B.B. King, Beck, Indigo Girls and others. He has also performed on film and television projects like Mission Impossible II (co-writer of score), Armageddon, The Replacement Killers, Face Off, Kiss The Girls, The Fan, Ally McBeal, Chicago Hope, The Sopranos (featuring a piece from The Poet: Romances For Cello), and others Tillman's improvisational skills on albums like "Slowdiver" and "Sutra Spin" were acclaimed throughout Europe and Australia, while his collaborative recording "Afterglow" with Michael Hoppe and Tim Wheater earned stateside raves. As Billboard magazine effused: "Tillman, in particular, carves (an) emotional arc ... his cello echoing in curvaceous melodies." Considering his maverick reputation, it's not surprising that Tillman pushes the limits even further on his auspicious Unitone Recordings debut. Produced by soundscapist and co-composer Tom Vedvik, Eastern Twin is what results when exotic World melodies and Ambient grooves mingle with Classical improvisations and Pop sensibilities. Vedvik's unique sonic canvas provides the album's sensual, multi-layered rhythms and shimmering atmospherics, which suggests a union between earth and the cosmos. For Tillman, the album's spaced-out rhythms and Ethno-Ambient sounds reflect his unique musical philosophy. "I am very drawn to Middle Eastern sounds, I love its freedom and unpredictability," the cellist says. "But I also love the possibilities of Electronica - the ability to process and manipulate the cello where it almost sounds like something else. The album is all about floating between those worlds." It's appropriate that Tillman would employ the term "floating" to describe his composing and recording approach. After all, Eastern Twin is such a phantasmic recording; it veritably wafts from the speakers. The album opens with "Odessa," a mysterious track that blurs the distinction between Sub-Saharan Pop and Zero-Gravity Funk. "It's structured like a Pop song, which was a challenge for Tom and I," Tillman explains. "The idea was to place a Classical cello in a Pop context by approaching the instrument like a lead vocal." As it stands, "Odessa" is an auspicious harbinger of things to come. On "Nothing On My Mind" and "Close To Water," Tillman's languid cello is offset by soulful Funk rhythms and Pop-inflected vocals. "Amadeus On The Nile" finds the cellist coaxing serpentine Middle Eastern melodies from his instrument, while the album's mysterious title track "Eastern Twin" pits pattering Indian percussion against soaring string improvisations. According to Tillman, "Tom and I don't have a preconceived approach to writing. For instance, 'Nothing On My Mind' was sort of a yin-yang production for us. It was the one song where the entire process was undertaken as a team. But other songs were composed individually and collaborated on subsequently. I can't stress Tom's involvement enough, he's a great collaborator.""

How about take my advice instead! Buy it!!

amberose | FL USA | 03/13/2001

(5 out of 5 stars)

"How could someone possibly think they can tell everyone to pass up on a album and give it such a low review just because it doesn't adhire the standard, typical kind of music they assumed it would be? No disrespect to Black Cat, but this is "ambient" music not "cello" music, that's why if you are looking for a cello only album, sure this isn't it. But that doesn't make it bad. In fact, on the contrary it's quite beautiful, lush, exotic, full, deep and wonderful. If you feel the need to only listen to music that is serious, structured and plays by the rules all the time, then maybe you will be dissapointed. But I highley doubt the majority of people are like that. This album is full of deep ambient rhythms, layered electronics and synthesizers, eastern influences and a cello that wonderfully glides along the tracks adding even more depth and sensuality to the disc. Overall, it's unique, innovative and progressive in style and I'm sure you will LOVE it! This cd is also produced by Tom Vedvik btw, and you should check out his albums "Sutra Spin" and "Slowdiver". Also, for more interesting cello/electronic hybrid music try Caroline Lavelle's "Spirit" cd produced by William Orbit."