CD Review: Sandy Asirvatham's 'Mobtown Moon'

Sandy Asirvatham
Mobtown Moon
Self-Release

Based in Baltimore, Sandy Asirvatham's skills resound in arranging, singing, songwriting, composing, and playing piano. Trained as a journalist and writer, Sandy takes an eclectic approach to music-making with her latest release, Mobtown Moon, which is a re-imagined tribute to Pink Floyd's Dark Side Of The Moon. Sandy's co-creator and Emmy-nominated singer/songwriter, ellen cherry, provides a soothing vocal presence that is both relaxing and magical. The entire album contains progressive jazz, rock, classical, spoken word, and experimental sounds based on Pink Floyd's aforementioned album. The music hints at the originals, but Sandy, ellen, and company produce such a great album that seems to wander off into its own musical territory. Tom Hall, Cris Jacobs Band, Todd Marcus, Scott Smith, Brian Simms, Bryan Young, and Vincent Dion-Stringer are some of the contributing musicians on this album. "The City Speaks" contains a few voices and industrial, motor sounds with a range of environmental sounds that are arranged in a mish-mash manner. "On The Run" features a folksy sound with an ambulatory jazz beat and an absence of vocals. "Time" is a progressive rock anthem with nostalgic vocals and throbbing keys. "Any Colour You Like" is a progressive jazz winner with swishy cymbals, punchy sax, light drumming, and a jazz vein that hangs on tight without accompanying vocals. "Brain Damage" is more of a gospel-esque and R&B anthem with classic vocals and a soulful piano melody with jazzy accompaniment. The twelve track-release contains most of the songs on Pink Floyd's original release. Obviously, fans of Pink Floyd will like this one and anyone seeking good tribute albums that do not sound cutesy or fake. This one is professionally produced with careful attention to sounds. Sandy knows how to make memorable music and catchy tunes based on a classic album. ~ Matthew Forss      

CD Review: Elsten Torres' 'Waiting For Clouds'

Elsten Torres
Waiting For Clouds
Real/Artificial Music

The Cuban-born and New York-based singer/songwriter, Elsten Torres, is no stranger to creating pop hooks and rootsy, Americana songs wrapped in an alternative and progressive package that is memorable and catchy. The opener, "A Perfect World," is a melancholic and down-tempo guitar tune with earthy vocals. "Bleeding Hearts Club" is a catchy, roots song with a slight nod back to 1960's and 70's folk music from America's heyday. "Closer Tonight" is a soft ballad that is contemplative, melodic, and classy. "Keep Me Waiting" is an uppity guitar tune with some spunk, yet clearly alternative leanings. The punchy chords and earthy vocals are reminiscent of Springsteen and The Devlins. "Sitting On Your Throne" begins with a poppy opener that is reminiscent of a 1960's pop song, yet with a slight reggae beat. Think of The Wonders from Tom Hanks' film, That Thing You Do!, and the symphonic keyboard stylings of Craig Armstrong. The rootsy, "Through Her Window," is a guitar gem and vocal winner that is an appropriate male counterpart to Shawn Colvin. Fans of good folk, alternative, progressive music with a slight throwback to mid-twentieth century song greatness will understand why Elsten Torres comes in way ahead of the pack. Waiting For Clouds is down-to-earth as it gets. ~ Matthew Forss 

CD Review: Nguyen Le's "Saiyuki"

Nguyen Le

Saiyuki

ACT Music

Saiyuki is a transglobal and cross-cultural product of Eastern and Western influences. Vietnam-born Nguyen Le's guitar work is lively, spirited, and rich in rhythm. He is joined by Japan's Mieko Miyazaki on the koto and shamisen. Mieko also provides vocals, along with Prabhu Edouard on tabla and percussion. A special guest star is India's bansuri flute-maestro, Hariprasad Chaurasia. The entire album has an improvisational feel with scatting vocals, ethereal synths, and progressive-jazz undertones. Anyone familiar with the superb guitar playing abilities of the late-Shawn Lane and his work with Jonas Hellborg will find comparisons to Nguyen Le's guitar and Prabhu's tabla playing. "Mina Zaki" is a track evocative of Thomas Newman's 1999 American Beauty film score. In an age when fusion often results in a musical "con-fusion", Saiyuki dispels this connotation and raises far above a typical fusion releases. The subtle nuances, various instrumentation, and haunting, but beautiful, rhythms, encapsulates the essence of the Asian, Indian, and Western-inspired album. ~ Matthew Forss