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The Sounding Board by R J Lannan |
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RJ Lannan is the reviewer for The Sounding Board. |
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| Floatovations: The Realm of Levitation |
| By Jo Blankenburg w/ Kawiti Juventin |
| Label: Zero Latency Productions |
| Released 2/1/2007 |
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| Floatovations: The Realm of Levitation tracks |
1. The Realm Of Levitation 
2. Below The Surface
3. Merman Encounter
4. Reaching The Seabed
5. Awakening
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Water Wafting |
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There is this fascinating scene in the movie Daredevil where the hero emerges from a flotation tank. Within, he uses the warm, salty silence to corral his raging super senses and regain his sanity if only for a brief period. This is perhaps the overall theory behind Floatovations: The Realm of Levitation. Composer Jo Blankenberg with accompanying guitarist Kawiti Juventin offers a unique album. An orchestral experience really, that literally drowns out the outside world. In this case, it is not sensory deprivation, but a sensory feast.
Inside the long-playing five-track album are musical mantras, minimal drones, nature sounds and unexpected silences that will change your harried day into a bubble of quietude and peace. Blankenburg's concept of flowing, atmospheric piano and symphonic sounds combined with Juventin's earthy acoustic guitar makes for one fantasy building occurrence.
The Realm of Levitation is the first cut and a warm, fluid introduction to a sensual experience like no other. It is the beginning of your immersion into a world that although foreign, is welcoming and hospitable. Kawiti's gentle Maori chant is inviting and wholly refreshing. There is a subtle balance between guitar and orchestra that acts as a mental cleansing, preparing you for what is to come.
Below the Surface, with a sampling of gentle ocean waves takes you deeper into the watery kingdom. The music sparkles all around you as you are enveloped in a sense of self-assurance. I like the way the music swells on this cut as if the deeper you go the more unbound and unrestricted you feel emotionally. The flute adds a much-needed breath to your unfathomable plunge. There is also a very pleasing reprise of the theme that ties the episodes together.
One again waves crashing on the shore begins the third tune Merman Encounter. This bit of whimsy adds a fanciful touch to the recording as if our fantasies will be realized. We follow our oceanic guide even deeper and it allows us to let go of burdens that pull us to the surface and back to an uncertain reality. Strong guitar in this one with a not an unpleasant drone throughout.
Jo's piano takes the lead in part four, Reaching the Seabed. It is one of the better cuts on the album. We find ourselves walking on the ocean floor, a visitor in some strange, yet friendly domain. Soon after our arrival, the guitar begins a samba of celebration. We have finally made contact with the one person that will help us the most, our inner self. Although we are miles beneath the surface, we are confident that we are on something solid and comprehensible.
Lastly, Awakening is the liquid plane that we sought after from the beginning. The reoccurring theme is familiar and reassuring to us. The upsurge of strings and strong piano melody take us gently back to the surface with spirits anew. For me this is the best track on album. Every time I listened to it I felt lighter and dare I say...more buoyant.
Jo Blankenberg is from Germany, but he now lives and works in New Zealand. Although he is generally known as a composer of filmscores, I believe Floatovations could be his tour de force. He wrote the music as an accompaniment to flotation tank experiences. I think he should balance his time between filmscores and New Age ambient projects as he seems to excel in putting together emotionally charge music.
Kawiti Juventin is a guitarist from New Zealand. His talents cover not only classical material, but also jazz, Latin and Flamenco styles. His gentle Maori chant is a unique and uplifting contribution to the album.
I have listened to this recording with earphones and speakers. In either case, it makes for very inexpensive therapy of the finest kind. This remarkable recording is going on my Top Ten List for 2007.
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Rating: Excellent  |
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- reviewed by RJ Lannan on 7/3/2007 |
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