Ole Lukkoye – Petroglyphs
This album starts off with the eastern desert, caravan sounding, “Zapara”, the best song on the album. The
synths, drums, snake flute and trumpet sounds will take you away if you let your mind wander. This is excellent and
the vocals and eastern lyrics help take you to far off lands.
The caravan journey then moves on to “Ankara Karachi”. This is not as powerful as the last song, but you need balance.
The music begins to change to more Western influenced jazz, fusion, ambient music but the eastern influences remain. Great combination of the best of all worlds. “Became a Sky” has a very Talking Heads/David Byrne sound to it.
There is a great blending of east and west throughout this album with the western synths and guitars mixed so well with eastern traditional instruments and sounds.
“Melting” and “White Stone” with its sitar – like sound are also stand outs on this album.
All of the songs are at least five minutes in length and allow the listener to slump down in that easy chair, kick up the feet and dream you are off on some far desert wandering and exploring. Some of the longer pieces allow even more time for reflection.
“Horse Tiger”, with its opening didgeridoo sound and full on percussion and synthesizer ambush, is excellent.
This is a great change of pace from some of the music I have been listening to and is by far one of the better albums I have heard from last year. This would have made my top 50 list from 2010, but is a wonderful surprise to receive early this new year.
Excellent music despite the need for translations. The fullness of the music is wonderful to appreciate. This music leaves you with the impression that you have journeyed to far off lands without leaving your seat. Great escape from the doldrums of winter. Perfect timing for this album.
Highly recommended if you are looking for something completely different with a great mix of east and west.
See of Tranquility, January 17th 2011
Reviewer: Mark Johnson