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Rapture
The fact that most of the material is sampled is pretty extraordinary in itself. Had I not looked at the liner notes, I would swear that this was performed by an international group of musicians. Considering the five people who worked on this project are all from Southern California, that is an incredible feat! Judd Miller does an outstanding job on breath controller (woodwind synth). The vocals by Susie Williams, Rick Logan, and Susie Stephens are top knotch if you can dicipher their voices from the sampled indigenous ones. Together, they create a fascinating listening experience. Raw, engaging, and even wild at times, this album reflects the pathos of world culture.
Review by Ben Kettlewell |
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'Beyond
Borders' by Rapture, is a cross-cultural excursion composed
by Steve Edwards. It begins with a Mid-Eastern flavored
updempo dance rhythm,"Daily Bread", with vocals similar to
those heard in modern Arabic dance, driving synth melodies,
and solid bass from Randy Tico. The dance feel and groove
continue in "Rain Dance" which combines pop sensibilities
with jazz and world influences. It is followed by lively
African chants and exotic percussion in the joyous " Djembe
Dance" a mixture of harmonies like Ladysmith Black Mambazo
and the energy of Salief Keita. Next we move onto "Trance
Alleluia" a slow pulsing anthem, aptly titled. This
contemplative mood continues in the next track" Flute of
Eros" Ethnic vocal samples abound on "Dara Dance", a slow
dervish-like dance.