COSMIC SURFER - SOME REVIEWS

 

4.0 von 5 Sternen ambitioniertes Werk..., 15. April 2007

 Von Daraeius "music&movies"

 Diese Rezension stammt von: Cosmic Surfer (Audio CD)

...des Ex-Quintessence Sängers Shiva (Jones) in Kollaboration mit dem Schweizer Multiinstrumentalisten Rudra Beauvert, das zweite nach Shiva Shakti.

Mit Mitteln der World Music, Electronic gimmicks, der Verbindung von Moderne und Tradition (verkörpert durch das hier verwendete, von australischen Aboriginees 'erfundene' Didgeroo) und z.T. recht politischen Texten, die in der typischen, dramatischen Singweise Shaktis dargeboten werden, hebt sich dieses Werk von der Masse deutlich ab. Teils funky, teils folkloristisch, teil ambient - sehr eigener Stil, der durchaus mitreissend ist.

Wie schon erwähnt, lässt sich die Doppel-CD in zwei Abschnitte unterteilen: CD 1 mit neuen, meist von Shiva alleine komponierten Stücken und CD 2 mit modern gestalteten Versionen von alten Quintessence-Klassikern.

Ich wünsche den beiden weiterhin viele, gute Ideen und vor allem den Mut, diesen Weg abseits des Mainstream weiterzugehen!

 

 

Shiva's Quintessence - Cosmic Surfer

Von Christian Rohde

Shiva’s Quintessence? Quintessence? Da klingelt doch irgendwas. Stimmt. Quintessence waren eine britische Band Ende der 60er/Anfang der 70er Jahre. Musikalisch wurde ein relaxter Sound aus später Hippie-Psychedelic mit starkem indischem Einschlag geboten. Die Musiker gaben sich so urige Namen wie Raja Jam, Shiva Shankar oder Maha Dev.

Über 30 Jahre nach dem Bandsplit 1973/74 gibt es jetzt ein neues Album von Quintessence, diesmal unter dem Namen Shiva’s Quintessence, da es mittlerweile auch eine gleichnamige Combo aus Finnland gibt, die den Namen für sich beansprucht. Aus alten Hippie-Kommune-Tagen mit dabei ist nur noch Sänger Phil Jones alias Shiva. Zur Seite steht ihm Multi-Instrumentalist Ralph Beauvert alias Rudra und eine Latte Gastmusiker an den seltsamsten Instrumenten (u.a. mit Maha Dev sogar der Quintessence-Gitarrist aus alten Tagen...).

Was ist nun von einem Comeback nach so langer Zeit zu erwarten? Klingt die Band genauso wie anno dunnemals, muss man ihr Ideenlosigkeit vorwerfen. Hat sie ihren Sound bis zur Unkenntlichkeit verändert, lautet der Vorwurf Identitätslosigkeit. Quintessence gehen den vielversprechendsten Weg: Sie knüpfen vom Klang und der Stimmung der Songs her ganz klar an die alten Tage an, aber es werden reichlich moderne Soundelemente eingewoben. Allgegenwärtig sind lockere Dancefloorbeats und elektronische Spielereien und Gimmicks bis hin zur Rap-Einlage (Everything is weird).

Die Vielschichtigkeit und Verspieltheit der Soundcollage auf Cosmic Surfer führt manchmal allerdings auch in etwas seicht-süßliche Gefilde, was mitunter durchaus wohl auch parodistische Absicht ist, meist aber wohl einfach die bewusstseinserweiterte Gemütsverfassung der Musiker widerspiegeln dürfte.

Diese fröhlich-psychedelisch-spacige Melange im modernen Gewand, die nunmehr weniger indisch, dafür mehr weltmusikalisch als ehedem klingt, macht Appetit auf die alten Quintessence. Und der Appetit wird erfreulicherweise auch gleich ein wenig gelindert bzw. gleich wieder neu angeheizt.

Denn Cosmic Surfer enthält neben der CD mit neuen Titeln auch noch eine CD mit Neueinspielungen älterer Titel von Quintessence, bei denen auch das indische Erbe ausgiebig zum Zuge kommt. Die alten Stücke sind allerdings im neuen Stil der Band eingespielt, sodass man um einen Vergleich mit den alten Alben eigentlich nicht herumkommt. Ein geschickter Schachzug! Dabei stellt man fest, dass die ursprünglichen Aufnahmen längst nicht so verspielt, sondern straighter und stärker gitarrenorientiert waren (vgl. z.B. Giants in seiner neuen Version, die z.T. schon etwas süßlich klingt, mit der Originalversion vom Album In Blissful Company, 1969).

Beim Hören wurden bei mir gelegentlich Erinnerungen an das Amon Düül II-Album Nada Moonshine wach, bei dem die Düüls bereits einen ähnlichen Weg eingeschlagen hatten, die verschiedenen Elemente jedoch noch keine genuine Form fanden. Shiva’s Quintessence zeigen auf Cosmic Surfer, dass es aber durchaus möglich ist, eine zeitgemäße und ansprechende Form eines alten Bandsounds zu finden bzw. die Psychedelic selbst in eine solche Form zu gießen.

Babyblaue Prog-Reviews  24.September 2006

http://www.babyblaue-seiten.de/

 

Vocalist and songwriter Shiva Shankar (Phil Jones) is behind this project which carries the name of his hroup. Quintessence had its days of glory during the hippie age when they played jazzy psychedelic pop with Indian influences and sang universal religious lyrics founded on Hinduistic philosophy. After a few sligh comeback attempts in the 90's, Shankar now tries to update the Quintessence sound on his own - or at least outside of the old group. Instead he has teamed up with the Swiss musician Rudra Beauvert who, along with various session musicians, plays all the instruments on the album except for Shankar's didgeridoo.

Hippies trying to modernize their music within old premises often end up unintentionally parodic, but Shankar/Jones carry through this project with a certain dignity. A rhythm section dominated by ambience functions well as a means of updating the psychedelic tradition of Quintessence. Beauvert does his job properly, but it is Shanksr's creativity which is the driving force of this album. When he is really inspired, Cosmic Surfer is very entertaining. He is at his best on the first CD, where the arrangements are more varied and the lyrics are spiced up with theatrical monologues. Here you find "Who Am I?", a satirical techno-soundscape about a man who talks to aliens, and the moralizing, but extremely funky environmental protection song "Blue Is Beautiful". "Men's New Age" and "Hollywood Guru" directs a critical glance at how the hippie movement has developed.

Most of the album, especially CD 2, does, however, have a recurrent problem; the melodies are quite excellent, but the record is under-produced. The tracks have a lot of potential which to an insufficient degree is realized because the arrangments lack body. At times Cosmic Surfer is quite delightful, but it lacks real highlights.


© 2006 Tarkus Magazine

 

 

5.0 von 5 Sternen Sensationelle Neuigkeiten, 4. Juni 2006

Von M. Weidlich "Weidi"

Hurra - Shiva Jones, der ehemalige Sänger und Frontman der Gruppe Quintessence (spirituelle Kultband der späten 60er und frühen 70er) läßt seine wunderbare Stimme wieder ertönen.
Unterstützt wird er dabei von dem genialen Musiker Rudra Beauvert, dem es mit seinem elektronischen Instrumentarium hervorragend gelingt den alten Quintessence-Geist in moderne, zeitgemäße Musik des beginnenden 21. Jahrhunderts zu verwandeln.
Auch Mahadev, der ehemalige Gitarrist von Quintessence, konnte für dieses neue Projekt gewonnen werden und unterstützt die Macher von Shiva's Quintessence als Gastmusiker mit seinen gewohnt-guten Gitarrenriffs.

Heraus kam eine Doppel-CD, die wohl einzigartig ist:
Die Freunde moderner Synthesizer-Sounds kommen dabei ebenso voll auf ihre Kosten, wie auch die Liebhaber klassisch geiler Gitarrensoli, Blues-Harp- und Didgeridoo-Klängen oder gar indischer Mantra-Gesänge.

Auf CD1 haben Shiva's Quintessence nur neue Songs veröffentlicht, die jedoch von ihrem spirituellen Charakter ganz im Fahrwasser der ehemaligen Quintessence-Besetzung liegen. Dabei greift Shiva Jones jedoch auch aktuelle Themen auf wie in HOLLYWOOD GURU (einfach köstlich !!!). oder in DIDGERIDOO MEDICINE MAN (mein persönlicher Favorit von CD1), das für mich die beste Verschmelzung von Didgeridoo-Sounds mit westlicher Rockmusik darstellt, die ich je gehört habe.

Auf CD2 sind neben neuen Songs auch einige alte Quintessence-Klassiker und damals nicht mehr erschienene Quintessence-Songs enthalten. Diese erscheinen jedoch in völlig neuem Kleid und wurden durch neue Strophen bzw. Zwischenparts ergänzt. Mir persönlich gefallen sie dadurch meist besser als die Originale. Wenn z.B. bei GIANTS der neue Zwischenpart ertönt geht mir regelmäßig das Herz auf und ich empfinde die Musik und Botschaft noch viel schöner und weitreichender als es bei Quintessence ohnehin schon der Fall war. Sehr schön auch das Wiedertreffen mit GANGA MEI - I must be in heaven !

Fazit: Diese CD ist ein Muß für alle Freunde von Quintessence aber auch für alle, die Musik lieben in der spirituelle Texte für eine gewisse Geistigkeit sorgen, in der jedoch auch Rhythmus und Lebensfreude nicht zu kurz kommen.

Om namah Shivaya !!!

P.S. Shiva's Quintessence haben bereits 2003 unter dem Namen SHIVA SHAKTI eine CD herausgebracht die ich ebenfalls wärmstens empfehle. (Auch hier bei Amazon erhältlich !)

 

 

5.0 out of 5 stars This is fantastic, 6 Jan 2006

By Kris Ladusau (Oklahoma)

This review is from: Cosmic Surfer (Audio CD)

2 CDs with distictly different flavors.
I have been listening to this every day
since I got it. I'm the same age as the
musician and we are definitely on the
same wave length.
Thank you for creating
this wonderful set.

 

5.0 out of 5 stars Shivas Quintessence - Cosmic Surfer, 8 Nov 2005

By Jerry Kranitz "Aural Innovations" (Space Rock City, USA)

This review is from: Cosmic Surfer (Audio CD)

In 2003 Mystic Records released the debut CD by Shiva Shakti, a collaboration between Phil "Shiva" Jones, original vocalist for the band Quintessence, and Swiss synth wizard Ralph "Rudra" Beauvert. The CD was a mixture of original songs and reworkings of Quintessence songs. Though the band name has changed to make the Quintessence connection more overt, Cosmic Surfer is really the follow up to the first Shiva Shakti CD. There may be an ocean between them but that has in no way hindered Phil and Ralph's ability to work together to create music, and indeed this latest effort is a 2 CD set. The first disc includes all original music while the second consists of new recordings by Phil and Ralph of Quintessence classics, including two songs originally written for Quintessence never recorded. To be sure, Phil struck gold in hooking up with Ralph, and he acknowledges as much in the liner notes. Ralph brings a love for the original Quintessence along with a taste and talent for varied styles of electronic music to the team, which makes for a superb combination with Phil's passionate, expressive vocals and witty, humorous and poignant lyrics. The result is a unique and wholly accessible sound that crosses multiple stylistic boundaries and defies simple classification. Disc 1 opens with "Reptilian Corporate Sign Language", a 10 minute tune with cool grooves, stinging guitar licks and freaky alien synths to provide the musical pulse for Phil's lyrics attacking big business and its role in creating a mindless consumer culture. Obey… conform… breed… consume. And halfway through the music transitions to a segment where the mood darkens and Phil sings with theatrical intensity. A potent opening track. The mood lightens considerably on the whimsical "But Where Am I", which features some of Phil's most humorous lyrics and delivery. What really amazes me about the song is that it's got a pop song sense of melody, yet there's non-stop action with a variety of soundtrack voice bits and Ralph injects a banquet of electronic fun into the mix throughout. Excellent music and a really fun song. And a perfect illustration of the band's potential to reach multiple audiences… progressive rockers, space and psych fans, and plenty more I'm sure.
"Dolphin Dreaming" is one of my personal favorites and one that will surely appeal to space rock fans. Ralph is a wiz at creating completely cosmic music that works perfectly within a song oriented context. And after several headphone listens to this song I know it could stand alone as an instrumental. But the vocals are key to this project and "Dolphin Dreaming" is surely one of the more spiritually uplifting songs of the set. Other highlights include "Blue is Beautiful", another standout track where Phil's vocal delivery takes front and center stage, but backed by equally creative musical arrangements. "Didgeridoo Medicine Man" is another lengthy track, and has some of the more down 'n dirty rocking moments on the album, as well as some of the more Eastern influenced chanting music, a hallmark of the original Quintessence. And just to keep things interesting, Phil, who is an accomplished didgeridoo player, uses the instrument to embellish the proceedings in ways you've probably not heard before. For something way off the beaten path give a listen to the spaced out cosmic rap on "Everthing is Weird". And for more lyrical fun and Phil taking jabs at the commercialism and superficial use of spiritualism just check out "New Age Breadhead" and "Hollywood Guru Show". Disc 2 features a set of 9 reworked Quintessence songs. Veterans fans of the band will be pleased to hear that these are no mere re-recordings. In many cases the duo have written new sections, and along with Ralph's personal musical stamp they are truly fresh interpretations of the songs. And there are numerous guests who help to flesh out the music, prominent among them being Maha Dev, the only other original Quintessence band member to participate in the album. Among my favorites of the Quintessence songs is "Cosmic Surfer", with its beautiful combination of spirituality and progressive rock. Part of the magic of the album as a whole is Phil and Ralph's ability to create accessible yet adventurous music. Psychedelic influenced progressive rock with a pop sensibility. The nearly 12 minute "Ganga Mai" is a real standout on disc 2, with Phil and his chorus of backing vocalists taking off into chanting jam realms while the synths, flutes and percussion make for an enchanting spaced out Eastern raga vibe. "Sun", one of the previously unrecorded Quintessence songs, is probably the track with the most potential to be released as a single. "Hail Mary" is the other Quintessence song finally seeing the recorded light of day and is a shining example of the Shiva penchant for spiritual themes. And I love the way the song incorporates elements of Indian pop music and adding spacey raga keyboards and light techno grooves. In summary, this is outstanding album with a fantastic combination of music and song, impeccable production and impressive crossover potential. The music is accessible and groove laden, yet the music fan who likes to be challenged will discover countless new treasures with each subsequent listen.
Highly recommended.

 

 

 5.0 out of 5 stars Magnificent, 22 Sep 2005

N. Black "nickblack19"

This review is from: Cosmic Surfer (Audio CD)

Shiva Jones is an epic figure who used to front the wonderful cult band Quintessence in the 60s and has after many years returned to the Quintessence catalogue, arm in arm with his new buddy Rudra Beauvert from switzerland.

The two have produced an album that has flashes of brilliance, wit, beauty and the occasional downright wierdness. Quintessence fans will head for disc two for some excellent re-interpretations of old classics. Giants is especially good, and Gangamayi irresistable..

But side one contains some delightfully subversive stuff, too. If you are into a mordant look at the planet Earth and our consuming monster of a culture, check out Shiva as he tears it all apart. Some of it will have you laughing out loud.

A must-have. Also check out the earlier Shiva's Shakti album, more of the same if a little less assured.

As an added bonus, many of the tracks feature another Quin member Maha Dev strumming away on the guitars. And Rudra's surefooted synth colours make many tracks modern classics.

Heaven in a CD. Jai Gangamai!!!

 

 

5.0 out of 5 stars Great new band!, 14 Sep 2005

By Jeff Spoon (Leeds, UK

This review is from: Cosmic Surfer (Audio CD)

I recommend this record to anyone who likes to listen rather than talk! Excellent guitar playing and the vocals are sensational as are the songs. I especially like 'Didgeridoo Medicine Man'. This record is impossible to catagorise cos it's so good!

 

 

 

Autore: SHIVA'S QUINTESSENCE
Titolo album: Cosmic Surfer
Nazionalità: Inghilterra
Etichetta: Eclectic Discs
Anno di pubblicazione: 2005

Recensito da Donato Zoppo

La nuova incarnazione degli storici Quintessence: deludente (Vers. stampabile )

Sarebbe meglio ricordare i Quintessence per i loro album degli anni '70, intrisi di misticismo e psichedelia, rock, jazz e salmodianti litanie dai Veda. Invece no: l'australiano Phil Shiva Jones - fondatore con Raja Ram della storica band londinese - ha ripreso le redini della band, cambiando nome e tirando fuori un doppio lp di scarsa ispirazione.
Con Shiva troviamo molti ospiti - un senso comunitario che ancora vive - e in particolare Rudra Beauvert, polistrumentista e synth-wizard che ha immesso un notevole apporto nella riuscita dell'album. Peccato che di quel sound storico non vi sia più niente: gli anni passano, Londra non è più la stessa nè esiste più quella comune che diede la luce a opere come "In blissful company" (1969).

"Cosmic surfer" è un disco fatto di poche idee (a volte neanche tanto buone) sviluppate con eccessiva insistenza. Un esempio eloquente sono pezzi lunghi e noiosi come "Reptilian corporate sign language" e "Didgeridoo medicine man": melodie beatlesiane e ritmi tecnologici, spunti rock, testi persino ironici e graffianti (l'aspetto più intrigante dell'operazione). Tutto nasconde però un senso di vuoto fastidioso, dal tecno-pop patinato di "But what am I?" e "Dolphin dreaming" all'imbarazzante simil-rap di "Everything is weird".
Jones sfodera il suo didjeridoo in "Blue is beautiful", Rudra un incisivo guitar-solo in "Blame", "New age breadhead" ha vaghe ascendenze blues e un testo sarcastico ma è troppo poco per risollevare le sorti del disco.

Il secondo dischetto presenta qualcosa di più interessante, ovvero i classici dei Quintessence riarrangiati e reincisi a distanza più trent'anni: peccato che "Giants", "Cosmic surfer", "Hallelujad" e "Ganga Mai" conservino poco del loro originale "flavour" ma la band non ha inventato nulla di nuovo in questo rock a cavallo tra tecnologia e passione religiosa. Persino l'afflato mistico e spirituale che permeava i dischi dell'epoca non c'è più. La new age è un gran bazar e questa musica da supermarket farà rabbrividire chiunque pensi che "arcana publicata vilescunt".
Segnaliamo "Om Mane Padme Hum" - gradevole nelle sue reminiscenze reggae e acid rock - e "Sri Ram Chant": unico grande momento di suggestione, ancora intrisa di smarrimento e mistero. "Hail Mary" e "Sun" sono due inediti: scritti anni fa e mai incisi prima, sono abbastanza carini ma con la vecchia formazione avrebbero avuto più senso.

Preferiamo ricordare i Quintessence dell'epoca e consigliamo l'album degli Shiva's Quintessence esclusivamente ai cultori della band di Phil Jones. Probabilmente costoro troveranno ancora qualche brivido con la potente voce di Shiva ma lo slancio di un tempo è ormai perduto.


http://www.movimentiprog.net/modules.php?op=modload&name=Recensioni&file=view&id=1716

 

Shiva’s Quintessence – Cosmic Surfer
(Eclectic)
www.eclecticdiscs.com

Shiva Jones, member of the English alternative progressive band Quintessence, is back with a new band and a new album with its roots well planted in the past, starting from the band’s name

Tra la fine degli anni Sessanta e i primi Settanta nella zona tra Ladbroke Grove e Nothing Hill si era costituita a Londra una vera e propria comune di fricchettoni che dividevano il loro tempo fra vita collettiva e musica, e che, sotto il nome di Quintessence, sono oggi ricordati tra le pagine dei libri di progressive come uno dei gruppi più eccentrici e stravaganti della scena cittadina alternativa dell’epoca. Shiva Jones, cantante della band, ha deciso oggi di tornare alle origini costituendo gli Shiva’s Quintessence. Non si può certo parlare di una reunion in grande stile, visto che del gruppo originale c’è solo Shiva, che si è unito ad un nuovo compagno di viaggio, Rudra Beauvert. L’eco del passato però non manca, innanzitutto perché tra gli ospiti c’è Maha Dev, altro membro del line up originale , e poi perché Cosmic Surfer, che è un doppio cd, presenta nella sua seconda metà numerose nuove versioni di brani originali dei Quintessence, a cominciare dalla title track dell’album per passare attraverso Ganga Mai e Giants. La svolta rispetto alle origini è decisamente in direzione rock, senza risparmiare sonorità dure e suoni tipicamente digitali. L’elemento orientaleggiante che spesso si manifestava nei dischi dell’epoca torna a galla in Om Namah Shivaya Chant. Le tematiche sono impegnate, più volte fanno riferimento al modo violento e invasivo con cui l’umanità si sta rapportando all’ambiente naturale, e spesso nei brani entrano prepotentemente rumori del quotidiano e parlati in stile radiofonico. E’ un progetto interessante, certo non sorprendente ma non è questa l’aspettativa con cui va recepito. E’ piuttosto da vivere come un appello, una conferma della propria presenza, un segnale della volontà di portare determinate realtà avanti. E questo segnale viene rivolto anche agli altri Quintessence, quando nelle note di copertina si legge “Hi everybody! just when we need another Quintessence, I’m back.”

Giulia Nuti

http://www.ilpopolodelblues.com/rev/nov05/rec/Shivas-Quintessence.html
 

 

SHIVA'S QUINTESSENCE: Cosmic Surfer DBLCD£15.99
As someone who's never heard a Quintessence album in his life, I can't compare this to anything that's gone before. But I can say what it's like - well, I could if I "got it" but it's all gone "whoosh……" - right over my head. With a CD of all new material on disc one and a CD of re-recorded Quintessence tracks on disc two, the whole thing is lyrically full of socio-political musings, musings about the world we live in, musings about spirituality and……well…..musings!! With a backing consisting of mostly electronically derived means whether synths or drums, there are a number of guest musicians on guitars and vocals, including original guitarist Maha Dev who plays on a number of tracks. In a nutshell, it sounds identical to the sort of album you might hear from the Stone Premonitions label, particularly the more self-indulgent lyrical leanings, mixed with the more vocal and lyrically strong albums from Gong's Daevid Allen, with whose take on life a lot of this no doubt shares. If you're an erstwhile hippy that wishes the seventies days of Notting Hill Gate, free love and brown rice had never disappeared, then this will suit you down to the ground.

http://www.deadearnest.btinternet.co.uk/monthlysupps36.htm

 

 

 

 

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