This was my Sunday mo(u)rning listen today.
@J. PUPSTER asked me how the mix is, so I took that as an invitation to write a review. And you know me, Al--I'm a long-winded son of a biscuit eater, so if you looking for something pithy, check out the
@bugdaddy post (and dig that emoji!). It's spot on for me.
Let me start by addressing the "religious" aspect of the content. I suppose I might classify it as "spiritual" rather than religious. As noted above, some of the content of the disc addresses the way organized religion has funked up the cryptic rabbi's simple message. And as far as Christianity goes, I would say the orientation of this disc is to take the message heard by first century Christians and deliver it to a twenty-first century audience. Take a look at gnostic texts: the historical Jesus, whose wife was Mary Magdalene, seems to be saying he is not THE Son of God, but A Son of God--We are all God. I mean, the Bible tells us we are all temples of the Holy Spirit. If you into that triune God stuff, there's only 1 H.S. Maybe there's only 1 of us; maybe the East has it right: we just dreaming. Plus the Gospels have the rabbi say he's not leaving his mother and his brothers to go out and meet his biological moms and bros--whoever does the will of God is my brother and sister and mother. And he tells his disciples they will do what he did and GREATER! How in the funk we not ALL God in that scenario? So, if you are still reading and were worried that this is a Christian album, be not afraid. Actually, this paragraph may be the scary one! So let's hit the return key, shall We:
Loving the V.U. Patti Smith garage punk references in the reviews above. Love Rickie's seemingly stream of consciousness flow over the sick minimalistic propulsive beats/grooves. Meditations on the interconnectedness of Us all; the apparent pull of darkness and light in the material world; the pain of recognizing the responsibility to love the least among Us because together We are the Christ; the recognition that We're falling up; the need to pray quietly and alone to connect to Our Source (Heavenly Father AND Heavenly Mother) to understand the hip-hopcrisy and suffering all around; the conflicts of being a spiritual being having a human experience; the laser focus of Loving with all of one's heart and soul and mind; the mysteries and manners of it all.
And (finally
@J. PUPSTER !) the mix: I'm surrounded by Rickie and the band. Her voice comes out of the front and rear speakers and is sometimes in the center. She envelops me. The mix makes hip use of the surrounds, sometimes sparkling surprises pop out behind and all around me (toy xylophones, finger cymbals, tambourines, funky percussion, dancing dulcimers, moody moogs, mysterious murmurings, chilling chants, ethereal sighs, multi-tracked vocals, lone voices crying out in the wilderness, even a little odd oud)--it's a superb sonic joy ride. The mix really opens up the album, placing me smack dab in the middle of it all, emphasizing individual instruments, helping me to feel the flow, revealing the layers and textures of each track.
Because of all of the above, the inclusion of a DVD-V shot in hi def about the making of the album, and the fact that I picked this up for less than eight bucks makes this a straight up TEN for Clement . . . which means Forgiveness which is another message of the beautiful fidelity found on this SACD.
