Smoothjazz.com Review
Like a letter from a favored friend – Smooth Jazz supergroup Acoustic Alchemy writes again… This time they’ve written in ”American English,” which is, as we would be inclined to say in America, altogether cool. Celebrating their 20th anniversary the British instrumental ensemble has released, in our opinion, one of their best projects to date… Sophisticated, captivating and fresh. Reminding me a bit of 1991′s BACK ON THE CASE with regard to how that album impacted music at that time. Starting off smooth and hip on AMERICAN/ENGLISH with “The Crossing,” moving right into the current radio hit, “Say Yeah,” which offers a lot of fun, cutting edge production where the guitar riffs are “chopped” for effect; this technique has been used by dance/pop artists like Madonna and Craig David. For you Chill/Lounge enthusiasts, check out “So Kylie,” a delicious groove with sweet vocalizing combined with that signature Acoustic Alchemy sound. The name references the U.K. dance scene and diva Kylie Minogue. Another stand out track, “She Speaks American English,” funks up the place a bit. According to AA manger, Stewart Coxhead, “It’s an English take on a sound that is very American, with perhaps a few Steely Dan quotes thrown in.” My personal bestloved is the deep “Lilac Lane” for it’s rich texture, complex emotion and haunting melody. Feels like the Monterey Bay area to me… Acoustic Alchemy Circa 2005, with Greg Carmichael and Miles Gilderdale at the helm, is at the top of their game… Sounding, looking and recording better than ever. -Sandy Shore
Worthy purchase!
I wasn’t expecting much from a good deal of of the reviews here but was enjoyably surprised. Sure, there are a good deal of of the same guitar progressions & licks, a few that sound like other AA tunes, but overall it is a exclusively pleasurable CD, with more or less more of a 70s/80s feel than a great deal of of their other CDs. Some real treats here like “Detroit Shuffle”, “Say Yeah”, and “Carrot Cafe” is a whole new AA groove. Soothing, energizing…there’s not much music like this these days, so get it!
Good work by good musicians
Whenever I get a new cd, I always seem to compare it to the bands older music. With this album (and the former Radio Contact release), I find that each are a slight departure from what the band had been known for.
This album in peculiar starts to use a heap of more electronic loops and drum sounds. Personally, I’m applied to the actual musicians playing. However, the classic AA licks and melodies are still there, keeping that undeniable sound they’re known for.
Don’t get me wrong; the album is still progressed with tracks such as “Detroit Shuffle”, “Lilac”, and “14th St Carrot Cafe” which was recorded in one take, not letting us forget that the acoustic sound and live musicianship will always prevail.
In short, anything AA touches turns to gold… which is sort of what alchemy is anyway. I have come to receive this (and Radio Contact) with open arms into the AA catalog and can’t wait to see them on tour this summer.
Cheers!
