 Tingstad & Rumbel - Acoustic Garden Narada Records 
Creeping along at 40 kilometres an hour on the typically busy freeway, bottle necked by countless abandoned cars and a half dozen different emergency vehicles, all victims of a late spring storm, I could literally feel the enamel being ground off my teeth as I motored cautiously in my brand new car. My jaw aching and my shoulders stiff, I unconsciously slipped on the CD player. Miraculously, my demeanour transformed as the soothing sounds of the title track from Acoustic Garden filled my car. 2003 Grammy winner of the best new age album this work features the very best of Eric Tinstad (guitars) and Nancy Rumbel (oboe, English horn, keyboards). Recording on the Narada label since early 1987, Tinstad and Rumbel are joined here by keyboardists Nick Morre, Jovino Santos Neto, David Lanz and Tom Kellock. Like the touch of spice in a gourmet meal, the keyboards enrich an already impressive array of the best of the best New Age has to offer. Acoustic Garden, the title track, is a splendid mix of guitar, oboe, piano, percussion and bass. Take it to your next yoga class, or light some candles around the bathtub, and relax with a friend. Shamrock, heralds a new age peace with a memory of Ireland. It teases the imagination as to the next path it will take. Just as one becomes accustomed to the sprightly lilt, the music is awakened by an immigrant piano, and the subsequent melting pot becomes a treat for the ears. And from the Celtic harmony these accomplished and versatile musicians take us east, to China and the soothing lullaby Clear Moon, Quiet Winds. With selections as diverse as the stately Les Jardins de Nohant and the playful Havana Acoustic Garden blooms with a fresh diversity sure to delight. The haunting Windows of the World, in memory of all who were lost on 9/11 is an exquisite, comforting blend with sadness in the oboe that seems tangible. The liner notes quote the Scottish
essayist and historian Thomas Carlyle who described music as
"the speech of angels". That being said, the celestial
choirs must have been having their annual convention when this
CD was created. Peaceful, playful, poignant, it speaks relaxation
without the "doze" factor. I am sure that in those
few moments on that icy highway my blood pressure must of dropped.
This CD is just what the doctor ordered! Tingstad & Rumbel - American Acoustic Narada Records
They say God is in the Details and this new double disc demonstrates that its not always about smelling roses and burning inscense. I love the sense of wellness on this 'best of ' album. Guitarist Eric Tingstad and oboeist Nancy Rumble are simply plugged into the clearest expression of what most of us view as undiluted perfect peace. Do you want to feel better ? do you want to know everything ultimately is in perfect harmony with everything else ?, then buy this album and do more than just listen to it just be aware of how it makes you feel. American Acoustic refers to a genre that the duo helped define in the 80s(though some still consider it new age) and continue to expand today with their irresistably catchy yet non -intrusive melodies. This is definitely the catalyst for relaxation. -by John Beaudin |
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