[ape+cue] Acoustic Alchemy - Arcanum (1996)

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Thanks a lot to phazormaster and nanx for gratitude.

I continue to upload AA collections

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Product Details



Audio CD (June 18, 1996)

Original Release Date: June 18, 1996

Number of Discs: 1

Label: Grp Records

ASIN: B0000001VT



Songs Title



1. Columbia 4:50

2. Homecoming 5:42

3. Chance Meeting 3:50

4. Lazeez 5:50

5. Mr. Chow 3:15

6. Same Road, Same Reason 4:15

7. Casino 6:08

8. Something She Said 3:57

9. Jamaica Heartbeat 3:56

10. Catalina Kiss 4:24

11. Reference Point 4:23

12. Hearts In Chains 3:22





Most Helpful Customer Reviews





I have been an Acoustic Alchemy fan for roughly 10 years. I had almost all

of their stuff and loved it, but for some reason sold it (why oh WHY?) to

make space on my shelves. I think I will buy my collection back someday.

Looking back, I don't know why I gave my AA collection to a CD discount

warehouse. This is a great band.



I digress. I apologize. I just got this album yesterday and I love it.

Having seen Acoustic Alchemy perform live in person, I can agree with a

previous reviwer. The energy they have onstage makes all the difference. It

is one thing to listen to a recording, and another entirely to hear then

play live and in person. ARCANUM to me captures that live energy very well.



It may bias me that the cuts on this CD happen to be some of my favorite AA

cuts in any case. I like the fact that in some places, electric guitar is

used in some of the songs in place of the keyboards that are found in the

original cuts of the pieces. It gives the song a different energy and feel

altogether while retaining the melodies we all know and love. Particular

standouts for me were Mr. Chow, Reference Point, and Homecoming, and I

cannot forget Casino. The version found here of that cut may be to my mind

the best of the three that I know of. In fact, to me, the version of CASINO

found here alone was worth the purchase of this CD just on it's own. It may

not be that for you, but it was for me. I do want to get one thing

straight, however, and that is this. Just because I mention these tracks

first does not mean the others are weak. Catalina Kiss is a great cut too,

and Jamaica Heartbeat and Hearts In Chains actually grew on me more as I

heard them done here. All the tracks here really are excellent.



In short, if you are unfamiliar with Acoustic Alchemy, you can GET familiar

with them with this great, energetic emotional CD. The original studio

versions of the cuts on this album will give you a "cleaner" studio sound

and feel, but really the tunes are the same, and in some cases BETTER on

this album, which gives you the raw energy, enthusiasm, spontanaiety, and

power of a live performance, but without you being distracted by crowd

noise and cheering. For nearly 20 years now, Acoustic Alchemy has gone

strong as one of the best bands in contemporary instrumental music (despite

the sad passing on of founding member Nick Webb in 1998 due to cancer. Rest

in peace, Nick. We miss you and know that from above you are smiling down

to know that your work and dream lives on). If you don't know them, this

may be a good place to make their acquaintance. Once you do get to know

them, you may be in the mood to get more of their stuff. It could be the

beginning of your being a big fan of thiers for a long time to come, just

like it was for me, starting all the way back in around 1994. If you do

pick this up, or any of their CDs, I wish wish you many many hours of

happy, satisfied and contented listening. God bless you and yours, always.

Peace to all readers of this review.







I give this CD only 3 stars because I'm not sure why this CD was released.

Half of these selections are repeats from Acoustic Alchemy's previous CD's.

Half are fresh. So why was it not called "Greatest Hits Plus"?



Not a bad release and the guitar playing is flawless. However, I recommend

their earlier CD's "The New Edge", "Blue Chip" and "Against The Grain" as

far superior to this one. I feel that "Arcanum" was just an extra release

to drum up extra revenue for GRP Records.



This is a band which I dearly love. But as much as one may enjoy their

albums you know nothing of this group unless you've seen them live in

person. The energy and sheer excitement they can produce on stage can be

frankly exhausting. In person there is a dynamic range to their music which

doesn't seem to come through in their recordings. This album comes the

closest to those performances. Compare these versions of Casino and Lazeez

to their original recordings and you'll see what I mean. My greatest wish

is that these guys will someday produce a live double CD so everyone can

enjoy.