Fascinoma

• Artist: Jon Hassell/Ry Cooder/Jacky Terrasson
• Rating:
• Release Date: June 22, 1999
• Total Time: 60:30
• Genre: Rock

Review

"With this record, I locate myself squarely within that aspect of music which is fundamental and irreducible: the beauty of the sound," states Jon Hassell in the liner notes for Fascinoma. Hassell, of course, has spent his career emphasizing the beauty of sound and how recordings capture that better than any other medium. The difference is, with Fascinoma, he weaves unique interpretations of standards like "Nature Boy" and "Caravan" into his own sonic tapestry. Hassell has intended the album as a tribute to the "musical exotica" he heard as a child "on the radio or in movie scores," and his statement unlocks many doors to his music. Echoes of early exotica and evocative jazz can be heard throughout the album, but Hassell pieces it together in an odd, original fashion. Since the record is so quiet, some listeners may dismiss it as mere mood music. This is a valid point; the album creates its own unique, wide open aural vistas. But listen closer and there's some truly startling interplay and ideas, not only from Hassell but from his supporting musicians (who include Ry Cooder and Jacky Terrasson). At times, the gauzy recording can be a little impenetrable, as can the challenging minimalism of the compositions and arrangements themselves. But if the music intrigues you, it's hard not to get swept up in it. ~ Stephen Thomas Erlewine, All Music Guide

Tracks

Track Title	Composers	Performers	Time
Nature Boy	Eden Ahbez	Jon Hassell	(2:45)
Datura	Jon Hassell	Jon Hassell	(4:31)
Caravanesque	Irving Mills, Duke Ellington, Juan Tizol	Jon Hassell	(7:18)
Wide Sky	Jon Hassell, Ry Cooder, Ronu Majumdar	Jon Hassell	(6:35)
Mevlana Duke	Jon Hassell, Jacky Terrasson	Jon Hassell	(6:16)
Secretely Happy	Jon Hassell, Jamie Muhoberac, Ronu Majumdar	Jon Hassell	(6:33)
Poinciana	Nat Simon, Buddy Bernier	Jon Hassell	(4:28)
Sensuendo	Jon Hassell, Ronu Majumdar	Jon Hassell	(5:15)
Suite de Caravan	Irving Mills, Duke Ellington, Juan Tizol	Jon Hassell	(12:09)
Estate (Summer)	Bruno Martino, Bruno Brighetti	Jon Hassell	(4:40)

Credits

Ry Cooder (Producer), Bill Lewis (Executive Producer), Kavichandran Alexander (Engineer), Neil Kellerhouse (Photography), Neil Kellerhouse (Design), Chris Rice (Tape Editor), Donata Wenders (Photography), Jamie Muhoberac (Songwriter), Jamie Muhoberac (Percussion), Kavichandran Alexander (Producer), Chris Rice (Digital Mastering), Neil Kellerhouse (Art Direction), Baron DeParavicini (Digital Mastering), Dr. Dilip Raval (Executive Producer), Peter Grant (Photography), F. Scott Schafer (Photography)

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