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Binkelman's Corner by Bill Binkelman |
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Bill Binkelman is a long-time icon in the industry. |
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| Following the Call |
| By Ann Licater |
| Label: Cul de Sac Mystic Productions |
| Released 3/31/2007 |
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| Following the Call tracks |
1. Following the Call
2. Numinous Gateway
3. Spirit Dance
4. Ancient Echoes
5. Sacred Moon
6. Unfolding Mystery
7. Wind and Butterfly
8. Three Graces
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9. Mystic Messenger
10. Dream Time
11. Initiation
12. Beloved
13. Winged Prayer
14. Emergence
15. Old Soul
16. Full Circle
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Following the Call |
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Few instruments convey more depth of feeling, haunting beauty and serenity than flutes made of earth and wood. When wielded by a talented artist, their primal mystery blends with ancient spirituality and the music can be amazingly transportive. Such is the case with Ann Licater's Following the Call, an album on which the artist uses her wooden and clay flutes to deftly weave spells that comfort and enlighten the listener. This is one beautiful and serene recording. Without going any further in this review, if you enjoy Native-influenced flute music, you should consider this a must-have release. Despite not bearing overt resemblance to the duo Coyote Oldman’s music (the latter incorporate much more spatial sound tweaking and studio wizardry), Licater’s songs induce the same sensations of calm, reflection and ages-old memories.
Other than the presence of a Tibetan singing bowl on Sacred Moon, Following the Call features only flute (although Licater’s double and drone flutes may fool you into thinking they are multi-tracked, as they did me). Due to the variety of flutes heard and the diversity of the artist’s compositions, I never once experienced any feelings of monotony. Of course, when I read the liner notes and saw that the CD was co-produced by the extremely talented multi-instrumentalist (and fellow Native-influenced flutist) Gentle Thunder, I wasn’t the least bit surprised. GT, as she is known, is the consummate musical perfectionist (as well as being a passionate and spiritual person) so her sonic fingerprints were easy to hear.
The smartest move that Licater, GT and Brian Todd (the third co-producer and the engineer, too) made here was to have no songs last much over four minutes. These shorter "tone poems" impart more feeling and carry more emotional impact by not wending down the über-improvisational road (which sometimes leads to noodling and, in turn, leaves the listener feeling restless or even bored). By interchanging the wooden and clay flutes song-by-song, either alone or combined, Licater also manages to make the music more multi-dimensional than expected, as opposed to only sounding Native-influenced. Who knows what part of the modern (or ancient) world you may imagine yourself visiting.
The opening title track sets the stage with a somber and moody wooden flute melody, followed by Numinous Gateway, a more ethereal and flowing clay flute number. Spirit Dance introduces higher pitched tones and a somewhat livelier mood, while Unfolding Mystery evokes the image of fog covering distant hills. Wind and Butterfly hints at Asian flavors blended with the more expected Native ones. Licater’s trills introduce a subtle but distinct playfulness, perfectly capturing the visual essence of butterflies dancing on the breeze. Mystic Messenger, played on a clay ocarina, is minimal by comparison and conveys a sense of ages-old spirituality. Winged Prayer has a palpable gracefulness to its gently lilting higher pitched notes, and the closing Full Circle ends the sixteen-track long album with a peaceful "traditional" Native-like piece on which Licater plays her drone (double) flute with dexterity and feeling.
What’s all the more remarkable in Ann Licater's case is that she actually received her formal musical training in classical (silver) flute (here in my hometown of Minneapolis at the renowned MacPhail Center for Music) yet she plays these wholly different instruments as if born to them. Following the Call is the ideal CD for those who desire acoustic music (as opposed to electronic ambient) which can help them center themselves, heal, relax, or de-stress. In addition, it would be perfect for late-night reading since at low levels it’s never invasive or intruding, yet the mood it establishes (of quietude and repose) will be felt nonetheless. I highly recommend this album and would love to hear more from this talented artist.
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Rating: Very Good +  |
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- reviewed by Bill Binkelman on 11/2/2007 |
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