COSMIC SURFER - SOME REVIEWS
4.0 von 5 Sternen ambitioniertes Werk...,
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,
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,
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,
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,
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!,
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