Track Listings (13) - Disc #1| All Artists: Constance Demby Title: Light of this World Members Wishing: 4 Total Copies: 0 Label: Sound Currents Original Release Date: 1/1/1988 Re-Release Date: 3/22/1988 Genres: Dance & Electronic, Alternative Rock, New Age, Pop, Rock Styles: Ambient, Healing, Vocal Pop, Progressive, Electronic Number of Discs: 1 SwapaCD Credits: 1 UPC: 015882007221 |
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Search - Constance Demby :: Light of this World
  | Constance Demby Light of this World Genres: Dance & Electronic, Alternative Rock, New Age, Pop, Rock
A "Best Of" Compilation Album, showcasing 13 pieces from albums Demby has recorded since 1978. A great way to sample her incredible range of styles, and her earlier recordings, many of which are classic jewels. "Light of ... more » |
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Album Description A "Best Of" Compilation Album, showcasing 13 pieces from albums Demby has recorded since 1978. A great way to sample her incredible range of styles, and her earlier recordings, many of which are classic jewels. "Light of this World: offers a sampler of the music from Demby's 1978 Skies above Skies through the 1986 masterpiece Novus Magnificat; two bonus tracks were written for this compilation album. The title track opens the album, an inspiring and brash pop vocal piece (Demby sounds remarkably like Bette Midler) with female backup vocals, hot drums, electric guitar emulator,and bass. The title track from Demby's 1980 Sunborne also showcases Demby's voice, but in her more cosmic and chantlike mode. The instrumentation is vast -- organ sounds, trap set, piano -- a sound fit for the birth of galaxies. The exhilarating "Flying Bach" from Novus Magnificat features some fancy organ work with sampled chorus and orchestra. "Radiance" from Sacred Space Music offers an organ drone with the sparkling tones of the hammered dulcimer. Overhead, Demby vocalizes like an angel. " The Dawning" from Sunborne showcases Demby's enormous Sonic Steel Instruments, the Space Bass and the Whale Sail. Demby's 1994 live album, Constance Demby at Alaron, is represented by two pieces, "The Chakoor Bird" (on which Demby plays the resonant Chinese cheng) and "Gurudev Aja," an exotic synthesizer piece with drone. Demby's first album, Skies Above Skies, is represented by two devotional prayers, "OmManiPadmeHum" (radiant piano and organ drone) and "God Is" (a mystical work for organ). "Sanctus" ends the album, a radiant new piece brimming with chimes and gongs. None of the pieces here tops seven minutes (the pieces may last to a half hour in the original versions), but I could not sense any had been cut. A lot of albums claim "best of"; this one delivers. Demby is a visionary musician, and this album should whet your appetite for more." - AMG Similar CDs
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CD ReviewsSerendipity Marc Ruby? | Warren, MI USA | 10/11/2003 (4 out of 5 stars) "The advantage of a collection is that it can focus on a facet of a composer's work rather than the musician's original concepts. Of course, the composer may disagree with this. But in most cases this is a happy marriage, especially in this case.Constance Demby's compositions range from tuneful to aridly mathmatic. Without some form of entrance key, the listener who isn't used to what she is trying to do may get put off. Since much of Demby borders on minimalism, it is not always easy to absorb. By selecting carefully, this album overcomes this hurdle. There is enough here to draw in any listener.There are excerpts from albums as diverse as Novus Magnicat, which has had great critical acclaim, and the far more technically oriented Sunborne, which is every inch a challenge. Since Demby appeals both to the New Age listener and the musical adventurer the albums serendipity assures the widest possibler experience.Often Demby's spiritual leanings put off more catholic listeners, who are afraid that what they are going to get is trance music with pompous titles. And there is, no doubt, some of that here. What is important, is to listen to the music down below the hype. Where you will discover what was at the time a fresh and unique style of musicianship." Saved by The Song Gaile Gamble | Seattle, WA, USA | 10/18/2002 (5 out of 5 stars) "We were on the last leg of a long road trip, headed West in our old gas-guzzling car. We had one more mountain range to go to reach our destination and around mid-afternoon we began climbing rapidly into the higher elevations. After a while the winds picked up and snow started falling heavily. Within a couple of hours, we started to notice that the only other vehicles on the road were big rigs and snow plows. The gas tank was getting low. Every time we took a turn-off, following signs to gas stations, we would drive for several miles to find that the business was closed. We had no choice but to keep going. This went on for miles. Then the gas tank was on empty. We kept driving. Gradually, I became gripped by an almost uncontrollable fear as I realized the actuality of our situation. I started playing "Light of This World" on my cassette player, over and over, blasting the song into my headphones. As the passenger, I felt totally helpless. I noticed that it was about 2 am. We kept driving, and I kept listening and praying that the batteries wouldn't run out. Listening to, and singing along with, the song was the only thing that kept me from going into a state of total, uncontrollable terror.
We continued driving ON EMPTY for 3 hours, until 5 am. When we started to come down out of the mountains, there was no more snow. In the distance, we could see a light. As we got closer, we could see that we were approaching a truck stop. I thought it was a mirage. It was open. We got gas, food and batteries, and were even allowed to use the showers (only truckers were normally allowed to use them). We felt that we had been given a miracle. I believe the music opened the channel for this to take place. This was my most profound experience with music therapy!!! Thank you, Constance!!!" |
