Analog Universe
The curiously titled Analog
Universe is a recording from the duo of pianist/keyboardist/guitarist Cass
Anawaty and guitarist/keyboardist/synthesist and rhythm programmer Paul Russell
They're joined (on various tracks) by a crew of able accompanists: Don Latarksi
(lead guitar), Jeff Leonard (bass), Romy Benton (flute), Charley Langer (sax),
Benjy Wertheimer (esraj), Peter Hollens (vocals), Dale Bradley (cello), and
Mark Zonder (drums). I say "curiously titled" because the words
"analog universe" evoke (musically) for me retro/Berlin school synths
and outer space soundscapes. In reality, while there are moments here and there
on the album where ambient/spacemusic textures surface, the overwhelming
evocation for me is closer to jazz and blues, somewhat akin to the sensational
jazz fusion duo from the '90s, Dancing Fantasy (Curtis McLaw and Chris
Williamson). Anawaty and Russell infuse their music with somewhat the same
mixture of jazz, rock, and pop, but they also introduce world music elements.
Where Dancing Fantasy was slick and polished to a chromium sheen of synth-pop
hooks and danceable rhythms, Anawaty and Russell are aiming for something a
little less, for lack of a better word, superficial. If Dancing Fantasy was ear
candy, Analog Universe is more like a
substantial meal - tasty for sure, but more varied (you got your veggies, your
carbs, your protein, your spices, etc.).
This isn’t to say that these two cats don't kick out some
snazzy licks (especially on guitar) to go along with gently rockin' rhythms
(check out the blues-tinted electric leads on the title track), but they can
also kick back and lounge a bit as well, witness the mellow synth, reverberating
bells and flute on "On the Beach" along with some seriously sensual
hand drum percussion. You can almost hear the ocean waves lapping, taste the
margarita on your lips, and feel the gentle rays of the setting sun warm your
skin. "Where You Hide" opens with a quavering series of synth notes,
joined by a plaintive but warm guitar melody. This track also elicits the feel
of the tropics at times, less so when piano is folded into the mix and the mood
becomes somewhat somber, only to revert to the original synth and guitar motif.
Jazz flute opens "If Only I Could," flitting gracefully over a subtle
bed of keyboards, soon joined by more of the mellow jazz/blues guitar (the
guitar itself is played in somewhat the same style as Mark Knopfler, especially
on his various soundtracks). A slow tempo trap kit drum backing track comes
into play and the guitar switches briefly to a Spanish-flavored acoustic one.
At 6:35 "Another Worldly" is far and away the longest track on the
album, but despite its title, the predominant vibe here is still rooted in
jazz/jazz fusion, although with some well-executed spacey synth work added to
the mix. About half-way through the song, the assorted drums and percussion
becomes more pronounced and dials in some tropical-spiced funk into the track.
"A Space in Time" has the most overt spacemusic sound (at its outset)
with flowing synths sounding like a cross between Jonn Serrie Meg Bowles, but
the introduction of Wertheimer's esraj (an Asian "violin" like
instrument) moves the sound into less of a spacemusic direction and more in an
ethnic-ambient vein - haunting and mysterious. The closing track, "Deep
Sighting" begins in with Eno-esque minimalism (sparse piano and subtle
synth backdrops) before taking on some Asian influence via what I assume to be
sampled koto. Dale Bradley's cello descends over all the other instruments near
the end, lending an air of both elegance and profound somberness, if not even
downright sorrow of a sort.
Analog Universe is
both quite varied yet remarkably cohesive, but I'm at a loss to explain how I
judge it thusly. Part of it is because many of the songs wind up introducing an
element of jazz or jazz fusion at some point during their durations. The
beautiful, albeit short, opening piece, "Theme For an Imaginary
Noir," may remind you of "Memories of Green" from the Blade Runner soundtrack, and illustrates
what I mean. The track begins as an ambient piano piece and folds in silky
smooth sax and bluesy guitar. This seems to be a modus operandi for Anawaty and
Russell, i.e. they introduce a spacey/ambient theme at the outset and slowly
but surely mold it into something with touches of jazz, blues, maybe a hint of
rock, or even world beat. They do all this will anchoring each song in solid
accessibility, catchy rhythms, and inviting melodies, even when they venture
into world music territory. In the end, Analog
Universe is about kicking back and indulging in the semi-tropical, breezy
vibe from the majority of the album's tracks. Every now and then something
unexpected hits your "aural taste buds," but that's what makes a
great meal, yes?
