$8.99
Sold by music on Tradebit
The world's largest download marketplace
3,251,313 satisfied buyers
The world's largest download marketplace
3,251,313 satisfied buyers
MP3 James Bruno - This Is The Life
11 MP3 Songs in this album (47:34) !
Related styles: ROCK: Instrumental Rock, JAZZ: Jazz Fusion
People who are interested in Radiohead Pink Floyd Todd Rundgren should consider this download.
Details:
Like the soundtrack to an as-yet-filmed movie about the life of Jesus Christ, that’s the best way to describe James Bruno’s epic solo release, "This Is The Life", a genre-defying and surprisingly joyous instrumental disc, with hints of Jeff Beck, Branford Marsalis, Jean Michelle Jarre, various prog ensembles, Brian Wilson’s Smile—even a touch of Radiohead.
From ethereal to jarring, and melodic throughout, "This Is The Life" weaves tempos and complex themes with abandon. An instrumental work inspired by Christian faith—though “church music” it’s not. Nor is it suffused with ancient African and Middle Eastern rhythms, as one might expect; this is fresher, far less somber, and rather American-sounding, in contrast to recent popular interpretations of the Gospels (the soundtracks to Gibson’s Passion of The Christ and Scorsese’s Last Temptation of Christ).
It’s easy to place Bruno’s song titles within the context of the Gospels, and let imagination fill in the gaps. The opening track, "Young Emmanuel", conjures images of the Savior’s childhood—perhaps a bit French-accented, with marching drums, slide whistles, bells, and a calliope ambiance—followed by His baptism on the short, but lovely, "Initiation".
On "Truth or Dare", Jesus literally whistles through a wilderness of wild sax, drums and sundry satanic temptations, until a Clockwork Orange-esque dirge pulls the listener down, into the depths of His conscience and agony. Angels attend Jesus on "Devine Attention", one of the more uplifting tracks on the disc, leading to the celebration of "Church in the Sunshine", a strait ahead jazz tune which combines Spanish guitar, angel voices, hand claps, and the upper register of a Fender Rhodes, all to transcendent effect.
On "No Secrets", one can hear Christ whispering into the ears of his disciples. "Gethsemane" is indeed a garden of tranquility; surprisingly, this track doesn’t wallow in anguish, as one might expect, with Jesus’ abductors about to arrive—that is, until the final, resonant note. "The Collar" bears the mark of an imaginary, and chaotic, Billy Cobham-Ornette Coleman session; and the short but excellent "A Cross to Bear" smacks of Gilmour and Wright from Pink Floyd’s psychedelic period.
The penultimate track, "Peace Out", reminds the listener that Christ’s crucifixion is indeed good news, the fulfillment of prophecy and scripture; it begins like an outtake from the Trainspotting soundtrack—one can easily envision Ewan McGregor swimming through the sewers of his heroin-induced hallucinations—before a bluesy harmonica carries the listener over another ethereal and pleasant rhythm, one that Alan Parsons, or the great Vangelis, might admire.
"Good Cimmerian", the final track, (so named as a play on words, according to the artist), feels indeed like the final ride, the ascendancy of the Savior; Bruno holds off on the perfunctory angel voices for an important guitar melody on top of a unadorned acoustic rhythm, with some surprisingly fitting sax. When those angel voices arrive, it is the culmination of all that’s come before; the Alpha and Omega are fully realized, the listener fully satisfied.
This music is fully orchestrated, heavy on presence and captivating in production. Bruno’s stellar imagination, under the influence of his faith, has conjured a visionary work, beyond formula and worthy of multiple listens. The entire disc is one you could peace out to with the headphones cranked, or leave on “repeat all” in the kitchen, as you lovingly prepare and sumptuously devour a splendid meal—of course, after offering thanks to God.
The disc is released by The Underground Music Group LLC, Bruno''s newley formed independent record label. As his second project is already in progress, we can look forward with eagerness and enthusiasm to it''s release in 2009.
—Barry Fitzsimmons is the author of the novels “Life Askew” (©2002 AuthorHouse) and “Promo Cowboy” (forthcoming).
File Data