Citadels of Mystery

by Bernie Krause

Overview

Considering the fraught circumstances in which this album was recorded, it's a miracle it sounds as serene as it does. Originally, this was planned as a collaborative project between Krause and his musical partner, Paul Beaver, for Columbia, but that deal collapsed when CBS executive Clive Davis was fired. Then Beaver died of a brain hemorrhage in January 1975, leaving Krause to record it for Takoma as a solo artist, albeit with the help of numerous side players (including a young Mark Isham, who plays fluegelhorn on "Heights of Machu Picchu") and arrangers. Then the record wasn't released for another four years. In some respects -- particularly the mellow jazz-pop melodies on much of the material -- it was of its time. In other respects it was ahead of its time, particularly in the genre-blending of the arrangements, which mixed fusion-like jazz with Latin-flavored production, Krause's own synthesizer shadings, film score-like ambience, and some of the placid traits that would come to be associated with new age music. It's a hard album to describe and evaluate, because in some respects it's so ordinary and bland, and in others rather far-out. The blandest aspects are the smooth jazz-pop casts of some of the melodies and arrangements, as well as the occasional hokeyness of some of the more dramatic-cinematic passages. But these weave in and out of pretty cool-sounding tribal-type percussive segments, some eerie synthesizer parts (as on the fade of "Flight to Urubamba"), and chant-singing that sounds like it's out of an Afro-Caribbean ritual. The very beginning of "Citadel, Ay Bobo," in fact, almost sounds like Bobby McFerrin gone ethnic-avant-garde. It would have been a more interesting (if less accessible) record had Krause concentrated on those weirdest parts. But if that's what you want, you'd be better off hunting down early Exuma albums rather than something like this, which had a far greater outreach to mainstream listeners. ~ Richie Unterberger

Product Details

Release Date:	07/26/2004
Label:	Ace / Takoma
UPC:	0029667003223

Tracks

1. Festival of the Sun
2. Heights of Machu Pichu
3. Flight to Urubamba
4. Jambo, Jambo
5. Stonehenge: A Mid-Summer's Day Dream
6. Citadel, Ay Bobo

Album Credits

Performance Credits

Bernie Krause   Primary Artist,Synthesizer,Choir/Chorus,Keyboards
Dave Dunnaway   Guitar (Bass),Bass
Andy Narell   Vocals (Background),Guest Artist,Piano,Shekere,Keyboards,Percussion,Synthesizer,Drums (Steel)
Mel Martin   Saxophone,Sax (Alto),Sax (Tenor),Flute (Bass),Sax (Soprano),Clarinet (Bass),Flute,Piccolo,Recorder
Mark Isham   Guest Artist,Flugelhorn
Peter Maunu   Guest Artist,Guitar
Roger Squitero   Shekere,Percussion
Dorothy Moskowitz   Choir/Chorus
Nathan Rubin   Violin
George Marsh   Drums,Flute,Percussion,Waterphone
Daniel Kobialka   Violin
Ray Rivamonte   Didjeridu
Lisa Janner   Choir/Chorus
Myra Bucky   Violin
Glenn Cronkhite   Congas,Shekere,Percussion,Waterphone,Bird Whistle
John Lachapelle   Choir/Chorus
Kurt McGettrick   Flute,Sax (Soprano)
Jeff Narell   Percussion,Choir/Chorus,Drums (Steel),Congas,Shakere
Zena Sims   Choir/Chorus
Bob Ferreira   Flute
Alicia Quintal   Choir/Chorus
Fade Frazier, Jr.   Choir/Chorus
Susan Swerdlow   Choir/Chorus
Judiyaba   Cello
Glenn Chronkhite   Congas,Percussion,Whistle (Instrument)
Kenneth Nash   Gourd,Bongos,Congas,Vocals,Percussion,Synthesizer,Lap Steel Guitar
Chris Michie   Guitar,Synthesizer,Choir/Chorus,Guitar (Rhythm)

Technical Credits

Phil Edwards   Audio Engineer,Engineer
Bernie Krause   Audio Production,Liner Notes,Remastering,Composer,Producer
Mel Martin   Wind Arrangements,Composer
Jeff Narell   Composer
Jamie Putnam   Art Direction
Andy Narell   Arranger,Composer,Choir Arrangement,String Arrangements
Gage Taylor   Original Cover Artwork
Kenneth Nash   Composer,Choir Arrangement
Stan Ricker   Producer,Mastering
Joe Tarantino   Digital Transfers