An Aural Experience not to be missed!
William A. Moses | Phoenix, AZ USA | 05/18/2002
(5 out of 5 stars)
"Matthew G. Davidson brings together a group of talented artists to produce one of the best World Fusion albums to be released yet. Bringing the analog and digital together in a tapestry of intrigue and adventure, Archetibe has produced an aural imagery that allows one to travel the world through sound. Anyone who appreciates the melding of many cultures will understand how this becomes a unique sound that transcends the boarders not only in country, but indeed the imagination. Not the sum of all the pieces, but an alchemy of something much greater. This is a sound you will want others to hear and will most certainly be an experience you'll want over and over. From the introduction of "Cycle of Dust" to "Solace," this is an experience of movement, rhythm and a melody that weaves through your mind and brings your thoughts to a higher plane. This is not music to "play" or even to be used as a "background," but an aural experience of knowledge best experienced with headphones while physically relaxed in a favorite chair. Cleanse your mind of the cares and worries and experience the tantalizing sounds of Earthtones.Highly recommended. If you haven't experienced Matthew G. Davidson's "Blue Forest Mass," you'll definitely want to get that one as well."
Yummy!
Columbine Phoenix | Somerville, MA United States | 12/30/2001
(5 out of 5 stars)
"This is a Heath Bar of a CD, smooth buttery crunchy sweet indulgence all the way through. Jamal Mohamed is a butterfly on the doumbek, and Ken Field's flute is probably what's making my three favorite tracks stand out the way they do. The synths dance respectful slithery echoes around the analog instruments, and anyone else who likes to slither will dance too. Five stars, three snakes, and a whole bunch of little twinkly green bugs!"
Tasty rhythmic groove; deep and mysterious.
spiral_mind | Pennsylvania | 08/23/2005
(4 out of 5 stars)
"Archetype: original pattern or model; a (collective) unconscious pattern of thought. Tribe: group, family, community. Archetribe: an instrumental project that blends numerous universal world-beat/ambient elements to produce an accessible fusion of sounds & influences.
I'll admit I have no clue whether the name is meant to represent anything like that, but it's exactly what Archetribe's first album does. There's a refreshing disregard for boundaries, a beautiful ear for textures and a meticulous attention to detail (the production & engineering are superb). Imagine David Sylvian with a tribal edge. Better yet, imagine a future where all the world's tribes have become one collective that still remembers all the worldly parts of its makeup, and you've got the basic idea of Earthtones. The sound basically consists of simple exotic percussion and dreamy synth work, spiced up with breathy flute melodies and the odd tasty guitar/bass line. There are some characteristics of ambient music, but it's not just wallpaper. This disc can serve as background if you want a quiet trance to unwind to, but put on the headphones to actively listen and you'll be amazed at the wealth of sounds and colors on offer.
Everything's a tad on the short side, which has its own pros and cons - it feels like some pieces don't always get a chance to stretch out, but it also means a good amount of ground is covered in 43 minutes without anything overstaying its welcome. "The Lattice" layers chants and vocal samples into something hypnotic, while the ethereal "Conversation with the Other" makes the intangible voices ghostly and surreal. "Half Life" runs on sinuously weaving guitar lines; "Machine Messiah" and "Abyss Crossed" have shadings of electronic percussion loops in the background, subdued enough to enhance the rhythm without dominating. The disc may be mostly low-key hypnotic grooves, but the danger of repetition or boredom is nonexistent.
Earthtones comes highly recommended for Peter Gabriel fans and the like (particularly anyone who likes Passion), world-beat/dub lovers, or anyone with an ear for jungle rhythms and sweet aural textures. This one's a keeper."
Track Listings (14) - Disc #1