Double-CD compilation containing most of Mythos and Voluntary Dreaming, six loop-based guitar and percussion pieces from 1992 (four remixed 2003), two ambient guitar pieces from 1981, and an entirely improvised solo guitar loop piece recorded "live" at Spark Productions for a soon-to-be-broadcast Living Room Concert on the Echoes radio program.
Disc One
Voluntary Dreaming (7:15)
Ritual Sticks (5:53)
Visual Purple (2:26)
The Inward Spiral (3:13)
Cleopatra's Needle (2:34)
Hawk Dreaming (4:33)
Aeon (5:00)
Abrasax (7:05)
Mythos (19:10)
Voluntary Dreaming/Alternate Mix (7:15)
Credits as given for Voluntary Dreaming and Mythos
Disc Two
Still Smiling (3:13)
Signless (3:25)
Snakey Jake (4:05)
Bottoms Up (3:23) | MP3 Download
Lucid Mirrors of Eroticism (3:17)
Memory & Imagination (24:24) Excerpt 1 | Excerpt 2
Echoes on Echoes (4:57)
Stones of Precious Water (5:21)
Indigo Runes (5:51)
Barry Cleveland:electric & acoustic guitars, percussion, vocalizer, loops
Carl Weingarten: slide guitar (1 & 3), Dobro (1 & 6)
Bob Stohl: Lyricon (9)
Produced by Barry Cleveland
Recorded and mixed at various studios between 1981 and 2002
Review:
2003 was a busy year for Barry Cleveland, as he also released his Volcano CD. On the 2-CD Memory & Imagination, Disc 1 includes what Cleveland considers to be the best of his first two albums, Mythos (1986), and Voluntary Dreaming (1990). Disc 2 includes recently remixed pieces created circa 1993 that were produced using only guitar and percussion, along with a solo guitar piece performed live on the Echoes radio program in 1993 (quoted from the promo sheet).
With Volcano being my introduction to Barry's music it was nice hearing the earlier tracks from his first albums. I was immediately struck by the prominence of percussion and world music influences on several of the tracks, elements that have apparently informed his work through the years. Several of the musicians that participated in Volcano are present on these early albums, though the tracks are mostly solo and duo performances, and Barry plays synths in addition to guitar.
The effects and sound processing that made Volcano such an interesting and beautiful experience are present, though the earlier music is characterized by more mellow, floating journeys, with a powerful ambient soundscape element. But even when the percussion is up-front, it is busy and varied... and yet so steady and smooth. I love the pedal-steel on "Ritual Sticks." We're even treated to heavenly symphonic space on solo tracks like "The Inward Spiral" and "Cleopatra's Needle." "Hawk Dreaming" is an intense piece that has some of the most cosmic winding guitar on the album. "Abrasax" is a standout track that combines Frippoid guitar patterns with bass throbbing drones, spacey symphonics and beautiful wailing guitar lines. But the highlight of disc 1 is the 19-minute "Mythos," a gorgeous blend of meditative drones, symphonics, psychedelia, and a hint of the avant-garde. The music builds slowly throughout, intensity levels rising but never peaking. The journey is the focus... too much focus on destination would only be a distraction.
I was particularly eager to dive into disc 2 when I saw Carl Weingarten's name appearing on three tracks. I loved the playful slide and Dobro melody he contributes on "Still Smiling," played against a steady tribal rhythmic pattern. "Snakey Jake" is a very cool bit of psychedelia given an extra kick of cosmic Blues from the Dobro. The third track Weingarten plays on is the nearly 25 minute epic "Memory & Imagination," a deeeeeeep in space voyage with a banquet of brain candy sounds from the guitars and Dobro, and a continual wave of varied soundscape textures and drones. Imagine Ash Ra Tempel meets Frippertronics. I got completely lost in this track and would have been perfectly happy if it had gone on for an hour. Absolutely beautiful.
We've got several solo tracks from Barry too. I really liked the varied guitar sounds on "Signless"—a nice blend of spaciness, rock and tribal rhythms. "Bottoms Up" has a dancey cosmic groove that I enjoyed. I love the trippy Eastern vibe on "Lucid Mirrors Of Eroticism." I've mentioned Fripp a few times in this review, and the excellent "Echoes on Echoes" has the most overt Fripp influence of any of these tracks. "Stones of Precious Water" is highly meditative but also a tad on the avant-garde side—another varied combination of guitar sounds and effects. And "Indigo Blues" ends the set on a floating Tangerine Dreamy note.
Jerry Kranitz, Aural-Innovations.com
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