Epicurus.com - Sonic Seasonings + [Enhanced CD]

	List Price: $19.98 Our Price: $19.98 Availability: Usually ships in 24 hours Manufacturer: East Side Digital
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Binding: Audio CD EAN: 0021561813724 Format: Enhanced Label: East Side Digital Manufacturer: East Side Digital Number Of Discs: 2 Publisher: East Side Digital Release Date: 2003-11-11 Studio: East Side Digital
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Editorial Reviews: Before there was ambient music, in a time before the New Age, there was Wendy Carlos's Sonic Seasonings, a double LP released in 1972. Taking the form of Antonio Vivaldi's The Four Seasons, Carlos orchestrated four side-long soundscapes designed, according to producer Rachel Elkind, to be "part of the decor." Using only her Moog synthesizer and environmental sounds, Carlos created prototypical ambient music, predating Brian Eno's similar work by a few years. Carlos weaves gentle, often reedy synthesizer melodies through chirping birds on "Spring," phase-shifted church organ drones across crystalline bells and wind on "Winter," and she seems to simulate an alien space landing on "Summer," mimicking nature with her synthesizer. An added treat on this special double CD is a 40-minute, unreleased, two-part suite from 1986 called "Land of the Midnight Sun." Using her Synergy synthesizers, Carlos orchestrates slow-motion melodies and overlapping minimalist layers that recall Steve Roach's "Structures from Silence." Sonic Seasonings is the first wave of a batch of Wendy Carlos reissues. While many of Carlos's classical, "Switched-On" orchestrations have an antique, dated charm, this original composition sounds fresh and current. In attempting a music that wouldn't draw attention to itself, Carlos achieved a prescient work of subtlety and depth on Sonic Seasonings. --John Diliberto
Spotlight customer reviews: Customer Rating: Summary: The invention of new age music. Comment: If you do not know from where and when the title and sytle of "New Age" music comes, you must buy this albun and listen carefully. It's a classic and Wendy Carlos invented a new form of music in the world. Customer Rating: Summary: Timeless Comment: First heard this recording in the early 1970s as a young man. Loved it then and was so fortunate to discover this again so many years later.. Way ahead of its time and is still timeless... Customer Rating: Summary: Wow Comment: This CD is awesome. My favorites on the 2 cds are Winter, Aurora Borealis and Midnight Sun. What an incredible album. Customer Rating: Summary: Just great Comment: After, what, 30 years, i am still knocked out by this record. It is a fascinating piece of work, involving and truly innovative. The bonus tracks are also extremely good. Why isn't it available on dts or SACD? Customer Rating: Summary: Sonic Seasonings Comment: Wendy Carlos gives her musical impressions of the various "Seasons" of the year -- Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall, plus a few other related topics that have never been released until this disc. Very eclectic, but enjoyable. (Have not viewed the stuff available on the Enhanced CD part of the disk.) More Reviews