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Sukay Instrumental

Miles Bainbridge | St. Louis, MO USA | 09/28/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"This is a rather interesting album. It was Sukay's last produced with Flying Fish Records. It is comprised entirely of instumental music which was released on the albums "Socavon," "Tutayay," "Mama Luna," or "Huayrasan," in other words, the years during which Quentin Howard, Carlos Crespo, and Omar Sepulveda did most of the recording. I believe that this period (1985 - 1988) was Sukay's best. I am speaking not only as someone who has owned all of Sukay's recordings made prior to 1995, but also as someone who has actually performed on stage with them. I personally feel that "Socavon" (1985) is their best album, followed closely by "Huayrasan" (1988). I don't care for the direction that the group has taken under the leadership of Eddy Navia, as I prefer the more traditional style of their arrangements during the '80's. This album is a good summation of their work from the '80's. I believe it is a bit of a shame, and a public loss that Sukay chose to ignore the songs on "Music of the Andes," and "Pacha Siku," because those first two albums (1977, and 1979, respectively) contain wonderful, purely traditional music. There were also a great many songs which they played at concerts that they never recorded, and I believe that it would have been really nice to have additional, new songs on this album. A little bit of trivia: when this album was first released, it was available only on CD, the first Sukay recording to be so. Sukay has re-released this CD on their own label, but they have changed some of the songs, and I have not yet heard the new version."

Enchanting

Barbara Forgue | Ludington, MI United States | 07/03/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I can listen to this music forever. The pan flute creates a haunting primitive sound I find very appealing. I like this Sukay album best because there are no vocals. Although Quentin Howard has a beautiful voice, I find foreign language lyrics distracting when I don't understand them. The music is very upbeat. I have a large llama herd and watching them romp in the fields while listening to this music is heaven. I even play this in the barn while doing chores and conducting tours! "Cumbre" is also a good album, although there are a few vocal numbers."