MP3 Chasm - The Lovejoy Sessions

Contemplative and evocative acoustic guitar music that takes some unexpected turns.

10 MP3 Songs in this album (46:25) !
Related styles: NEW AGE: Contemporary Instrumental, NEW AGE: Relaxation

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Details:
The Lovejoy Sessions (2009), Chasmâs forth release is a contemplative and evocative acoustic guitar album that takes some unexpected turns. Lovejoy began as a solo guitar recording project that was done for no reason other than to hear what would happen. As it developed, it took on a live of its own and eventually evolved into another Chasm record. The new CD features Mark Esakoff on classical guitar/voice and Michael Allen Whipple on flutes/keyboards/percussion, along with Audrey Esakoff on piano for one track. âLovejoyâ is the name of the street where the project was recorded in Portland, Oregon during the summer of 2008.

Lovejoy is reminiscent of their debut release, self-titled CHASM (1995) with its neo-classical feel. The album even has two new versions of songs found that first album.

Track 1, âThe Time Necklaceâ opens as a solo guitar piece. This track is what the original project was intended to sound like⦠each song a single classical guitar performance.

Track 2, âUntil Goodbyeâ begins with rolling drums & percussion signaling that things are heading off into another direction. Originally written as a samba, this is the first time electronic percussion sounds have been used in a Chasm recording.

Track 3, âFacing The Moonâ is the companion piece to âFacing The Sunâ, a song found on Chasmâs CD Panorhythmica (2000). Hence, the haunting lunar landscape sounds and moonlit violas.

Track 4, âLand Of The Living â Mirrorworld mixâ is a new version of a piece originally found on the 1995 release CHASM. The intro has an inverted/mirrored sound that is actually the signature classical guitar part yet to come in⦠played backwards.

Track 5, âBetween The River & The Seaâ is a piece that would have fit nicely on the album CHASM. It features classical guitar and alto flute which were central to the sound at the time. The 1995 CD was promoted as: Somewhere between a river of sound and a sea of silence there is the music of CHASM.

Track 6, âBroken Windowsâ features Audrey Esakoff (Markâs daughter) who plays piano on a song she wrote. What a 9 year old feels like after breaking a window with a baseballâ¦

Track 7, âAlphanumeriqueâ is a tune Michael once made a demo of years ago. When Lovejoy was thought to have been finished and all the songs sequenced in order, Mark remembered it and suggested it be included as track #7. Michael agreed, but only after a new recording was made.

Track 8, âElysian Fields â Topographic mixâ is also a re-recording of a piece originally found on CHASM. Here the arrangement builds with energy and repetition, something like a rock version of Ravelâs Bolero might.

Track 9, âBamboo Blues â Homage Du Gil mixâ is a nod to the late jazz orchestral arranger Gil Evans. This arrangement in particular is a tribute to the work he did with Miles Davis on their collaboration, Sketches of Spain. It too is a new version of a song originally found on Chasmâs forth release Bamboo Blue (2008).

Track 10, âGrace Like Rainâ is the only vocal piece on the CD. The song written and made popular by singer/songwriter Todd Agnew is based on the traditional hymn, Amazing Grace. Mark chose this song when asked to sing and play guitar at his auntâs funeral. Later his cousin suggested he record it saying, âHey, even Rod Stewart sang Amazing Grace on one of his albums!â So what? So here it is.


- Zephyr
January 26, 2009
Hollywood, California