Search - U. Srinivas & Michael Br :: Dream

Darkness and dreams

William Wood | Sydney, New South Wales Australia | 01/07/2003

(3 out of 5 stars)

"This is a disc that has to be taken on it's own terms.If you are looking for a place to start with the work of U Srinivas I would reccomend "Rama Sreerama" ( which was produced by Michael Brook just before these sessions took place)this is where you will here some of the most beautiful traditional indian music you will ever hear.This disc also contains some of the most delicate virtuosity and passionate group playing you are ever likely to hear.
I know almost nothing about Michael Brook( Canadian ,guitarist and composer) ,but I do know that he seems to have detractors and admirers in equal numbers ( usually a good sign).
Unlike other recordings of U Srinivas this is very dark and at times almost sombre music.Brook has added some overdubs( including the infinite guitar that seems to have so annoyed at least one other reviewer) but is based on some improvising between the musicians who were around the studio for Realworld's annual fiesta.These include Nigel Kennedy on Violin and Trey Gunn( of King Crimson) on stick .
Although on the surface this is very calming music I am still unsure if I like the dark edginess to some of this disc but I feel that as an experiment it was worth doing and to a large degree it works.
I would also reccomend "Remember Shakti-The Believer" which features U srinivas with John McLaughlin for those who find pure Indian Classical music too much ."

Unique, dark and accessible

Clayton W. Hibbert | Seattle, WA, USA | 08/18/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Michael Brook works his magic again, this time with Indian prodigy, U. Srinivas. "Dream" is an incredible exploration of fusion and improvisation that feels (suitably) dreamy but never loses its focus. A pulsing dark undertone persists throughout the disc. Fantastic."

Pure Imagination

Shad Nunemaker | Denver, Colorado | 01/04/2007

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I love to read the reviews of critics. You can learn a lot from critics, just by their ignorance, which they so ignorantly (and eagerly) display.



This album is a masterpiece. I admit to my shame that I have only heard half the album. I heard it on HOS 12 years ago and have never gotten it out of my head. It seems to have been the inspiration behind the movie LawnMower Man, whether anyone will admit it I couldn't care less.



The folks who give this less than a four, or even a five for that matter, are suffering from an over-inflated ego, and an excessive desire to hear themselves speak.



If the purpose of new age music is to help transport you into new worlds of thought and reality, then this album has succeeded beyond my hopes and DREAMS. If New age music is something to be criticized, just for the sake of it, then I guess everything is doomed to failure.



For God's sake, I almost vomit when I listen to critics. Walt Disney is famous for asking a room full of "critics" what they think. When they gave their opinions, he would instantly do the exact opposite of their advice. And who do we remember? Walt Disney, or his Critics?



Some times I think the sole purpose of Critics is to ruin the beauty that has been created by artists. I witnessed it with the Titanic, on the first day of it's opening. Critics pounded it. But they were so far from the truth, I was left wondering what their purpose actually was.



Same with this album. If you have a creative sense in your bones, this might be for you. If you like to b..ch about things, then nothing will ever please you."