Gnomon - Jardim de Ferro
ARTIST........: Gnomon
TITLE.........: Jardim de Ferro
LABEL.........: n/a
URL...........: http://www.myspace.com/gnomonmusic
GENRE.........: Folk/Rock
QUALITY:......: 192 kbps avg/ 44100Hz / Joint Stereo
RIP DATE......: 2009-12-21
RELEASE DATE..: 2009-09-00
Tracklist:
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01. Alvura 2:16
02. Moinho Citadino 4:04
03. Passeio dos Contentes 4:33
04. Charrua 2:46
05. Raíz Talvegue 4:36
06. Um tempo de por ti ser 3:36
07. Elástica Engrenagem 3:45
08. Paz do Gerês 4:40
09. Fogo às Cinzas 1:30
10. Verde Débil 5:08
11. Jardim de Ferro 5:27
Total 42:21
Release Notes:
Debut album from this Portuguese band from Vila Nova de Famalicão.
Inspired by names like Egberto Gismonti, Hermeto Pascoal, Zeca Afonso, Steve
Reich or Bjork.
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"Hailing from Joane, a small village in the North of Portugal, Gnomon are a band
which spirit and musicality has been clearly molded by the environment. In the
crossroad of the green landscapes of Minho, the untouched beauty of Gerês
Mountain, the cultural Celtic-Iberia roots, the celebration of nationality
(which birthplace is right there in the neighborhoods), Gnomon were able to
translate into music a very own identity, a personal signature that entwines in
a subtle manner yet profoundly marked way the various aforementioned
characteristics.
The now self released homonymous album, which prime sin is the fact it only
proportionate us about 21 minutes of an unusual and fascinating instrumental
richness, is a feast to the senses. Mainly for those who find themselves in love
for the more Folksy musicality's, transposed into a modernity and a fusion with
jazz and more Mediterranean ethnic tendencies, this is an album that holds us,
accompanies us and allows us to dream about the mesmerizing landscapes of a
Country of contrasts, that in an odd but effective way keeps a solid and unique
harmony equilibrium.
The music itself, totally instrumental, has as starting engine a rediscovery of
the traditional roots, of the Celtic influences and how those influences have
been slowly digested and absorbed by an Iberian culture with almost 900 years of
independency.
Circling around that musing nucleus, Gnomon were capable, in sublime way, to
introduce subtle traces of other genres. Some equally ethnic, such as those that
bring us closer to more southern and Mediterranean landscapes, and others that
are out of the Folk context, such as the intrusion of jazzy elements or the
clearly progressive way the instruments are distributed and interact during the
performance of the music.
While denoting a healthy and exemplary constructed interaction between the
various used instruments, the band makes them stand in the front of the stage,
like stepping out of the "orchestra" and into the spotlight. This dynamic ends
up being one of the strongholds of the band: knowing how to use and conjugate
the individualities while always maintaining a stronger focus on the sum of the
parts.
The result is beautiful, inventive and without a doubt highly captivating. It
proportionate us musical moments of an extreme richness, at the same time as it
evokes us to the discovery of our roots as a Country and as a Culture, making us
remember how rich and fascinating that culture is.
With an instrumental savvy close to that of Trape Zape, a Folk essence like
Amarok or (the early works of) Rão Kyao, an ambiental concept that has been
sometimes achieved by Francis and a spirit clearly molded by the rediscovery of
our traditional Portuguese music like Fausto Bordalo Dias, Gnomon bring us news
from this Country that is ours (mine at least?.) and remind us about the true
Lusitanian soul. All this in a refreshing format that is, I repeat, profoundly
inspiring and enjoyable!"
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