Sonic Language of Myth: Believing, Learning, Knowing

Artist: Steve Coleman & Five Elements
Label: Bmg Int'l
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Format: Import
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 743216412327
EAN: 0743216412327
ASIN: B00000IOOK

Release Date: 1999-05-18

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Tracks:

Precession
Maat
The Twelve Powers
The Gate
Seth
Ausar (Reincarnation)
Heru (Redemption)

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Customer Reviews:

Deep - almost too deep........2003-03-28

A musician friend of mine recommended I check out Steve Coleman. He said he was very unique, so I did. After going through this cd quite a bit (I've had it for more than a year now), I must say he was right. In fact, too right. I do not know a whole lot about Steve Coleman or about the M-BASE movement he has been associated with. The thing is, I am not absolutely sure what to think of him. The music itself is, for the most part, very good. Why is it good? Because it does sound adventurous - chances are being taken, new sounds and textures are being explored. Funk rythms provide a foundation over which free-jazz-like explorations take place. Human voices are used in new and interesting ways that I had never heard as such in a Jazz context. All this makes me a fan of Steve Coleman's music. I like to be challenged, and he definitely does that. But, if you go over the long liner notes, you might get a slight aftertaste of pretentiousness. I mean, he goes into the philosphical, metaphysical, you-name-it-ysical concepts behind every piece. Well, most of it goes over my head, and I've been a musician for 11 years. Like I said earlier, I don't know what to think. The philosophical part could be pretentious gibberish, or it could be that he is really deep into mystic/religious practices, and it could be true. I don't know. I chose to basically ignore his intellectual musings, and just enjoy the music. I do not need an explanatory philosphical essay for every piece of music. Forget about that. I gave it 4 stars not because of that. I am reviewing the music only. I took out one star because the music is a tad too cerebral/mystic for my taste. On "Seth" there is a long, long intro where there is this woman sort of chanting and speaking rather loudly, with sparse phrases from Steve's sax, a male baritone voice, and some very outside sounding string/brass background. That lasts for quite a bit, as the song exceeds the 12 min. mark. Then a funk groove gradually takes over at last. Well, to me, that's a bit much. It's ok for a minute, but this eerie intro goes on for more than five. Innovative? You bet. But after a while it drags a bit. Other than that, I do think Steve Coleman is a breath of fresh air in Jazz. We do need experiments, even if sometimes they are not 100% great. If it were not for musical experimentation, where would music be? So keep it coming. But, with these kinds of things we do have to be careful. There are some musicians out there that think they are geniuses because they are "original." And what do they do? They have "songs" that are 45 mins. long and all you have is droning, going-nowhere noodling on their instruments, with no tonal center or melody or harmony. Thankfully, on this album there are only slight, brief traces of this. The rest is genuine creativity, genuine musical explorations that while pushing the envelope quite a bit, still are very enjoyable and make sense.

the coleman concept.......2002-08-26

here is the modern day ellington,basie,coltrane,davis
colemans writing and use of rhythms of the worlds great cultures represents for me the ongoing development of music as an artform this album like his others before keeps pushing the envelope and makes me realize how interactive different styles of musical rhythms of the globe react with one another
for me there is no finer album to show this
complex yes initially but further listens show the simplicity,but genius of the material
if you want to have youre senses pushed try this album of knowledge and enlightenment

the coleman concept.......2002-08-26

New Vistas in Jazz.......2000-04-22

Steve Coleman's best album yet opens new vistas in jazz. Complex, syncopated rhythms alternate with haunting, moody tonal constructions to produce music that is exciting, listenable and otherworldly. Highly recommended.

His best album yet.......2000-03-08

Steve Coleman is definitely a force in the world of modern jazz, and that fact is confirmed with this CD. The relationships between the use of rhythm and melodic content creates some beautiful and haunting textures. This is a must have for any Steve Coleman fan

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