The Madeira - Tribal Fires CD Now Available (Surf / Exotica) - Tiki Music

B bigtikidude Tiki Socialite Anaheim,Ca. Joined: Aug 10, 2004 Posts: 9222	B bigtikidude Posted posted on Fri, Mar 23, 2012 9:34 AM I was hoping that Jonpaul would post his song by song review here. But I think he has left Tiki Central and is on the Surf Forum all the time now. :wink: so here it is. Review of The Madeira "Tribal Fires" CD by Jonpaul Balak. OK, I can't keep my mouth shut any longer!!! Now that it's official and CDs are on their way, here goes.... This album is a remarkable accomplishment on so many levels!!! One of the first things that really makes an impact is the cohesiveness of the album's theme. From the song titles to the artwork (another incredible Ferenc Dobronyi design) to the primal energy--it is abundantly clear that a tremendous amount of care and attention to detail went into the songs and their unifying concept. The entire album really flows like the soundtrack to some kind of adventure epic. Tribal Fury Smack! The intensity hits you right in the face from the very first second! Truly like a "headbanging" dream for the fans of the heavy stuff, the main lower-register descending riff pummels you into submission and spits you out into a tension-creating higher register chordal passage that explodes into a whirlwind of a blistering "exotic" solo that truly only Ivan could deliver. Cities of Gold Optimistic and hopeful, yet with just the right amount of added tension, as though you don't know what's lurking around the next corner. Beautiful acoustic rhythym guitar and memorable, gentle melodies. Twilight Ahhhhh...now we're given a chance to reflect and appreciate the beauty of it all. Perhaps viewing the jungle at twilight, thinking of those loved ones back at home, looking nostalgically at a wallet photo by campfire. Gorgeously Shadows-inspired in all the best ways. Effective and not overused strings. Triumphant. The sun sets. Gotta get a good night's sleep for tomorrow, because we may end up witnessing a... Fire Sacrifice OK, tension begins to increase as the tribal toms kick you into a foreign world of wonder and intrigue, as though you're witnessing something you shouldn't from behind the protection of dense foliage. I know I'm injecting my own non-musical interpretation here, (isn't that one of the greatest things about instrumental music?), but I swear you can hear the exact moment in the song when the actual sacrifice takes place!!! The Expedition First light...rolling toms, acoustic rhythm and dripping palm-muting move brush along the trail as strange beasts scamper across the leafy horizon. Where are we going, where are we headed? What's next? Light and humidity glisten against the vibrant colors of the green foliage as the trails winds upwards and deep into the hills. Wonder and glory. Good times, natural beauty. Until we arrive at a hidden area where, through the trees we can see a.... Witch Doctor Uh-oh. Something isn't right here. Throbbing bass invites us into a powerful, exotic and dark world of hummingbird-like double picking and accents, while an ever-so-subtle shaker sounds in the background, reminding us that the doctor is still working his magic, which involves... Jungle Drums Ahhhh...content, happy, mellow. Tribal drums, big, acoustic rhythm, claves, a sublimely toneful lead line--Ernesto Leucona's classic, famously interpreted on Martin's Denny's Afro-Desia given a brilliant new lease on life. A definite instant Surf-Exotica classic! Like floating down a beautiful, majestic river. Arcadian Voyage Tribal toms and double-picking pumping confidence into the belief that the voyage is worth it, that the adventure will end successfully. The trials and tribulations of taking such an adventure. What's that around that bend, is that an ocean view?... Mar Vista Beautifully acoustic, in the exotic/flamenco/romantic vein we've come to expect and adore from The Madeira. Wonderfully subtle yet effective use of hand drums. Giant Galloping drive, spacey echo for days--one of those tunes where Patrick's strumming hand seems like it's impossible to go that fast! Big, anthemic, dramatic! Pre-Ritual Speaking of drama, this time a different, quiet kind. Dark, foreboding, deep, ominous. Awesome instrumentation--Acoustic rhythm, Bass VI, Shaker/scraper, bell, drippy palm-muting, more tribal toms. Intense feeling of leading up to something... Ritual Heavy, tense, building, growing, ascending to an apex, rising up from the fires. Like you know it all must eventually come to end, and you don't necessarily know if it's a good or a bad thing, just that it has to happen. Triumphant. Zanzibar Soft, lilting, mellow--resolution. The voyage is over, we've survived. We've loved, we've lost, we had adventures, but now it's back home. It was a good ride, but now it will only exist in our memories. Wonderful use of tremolo and echo. Breathe a sigh of relief and reminisce about the beauty of it all. Ivan, Dane, Patrick, Todd....thanks for the adventure! A true masterpiece! — Jonpaul

I was hoping that Jonpaul would post his song by song review here.
But I think he has left Tiki Central and is on the Surf Forum all the time now.
:wink:

so here it is.

Review of The Madeira "Tribal Fires" CD
by Jonpaul Balak.

OK, I can't keep my mouth shut any longer!!! Now that it's official and CDs are on their way, here goes....

This album is a remarkable accomplishment on so many levels!!! One of the first things that really makes an impact is the cohesiveness of the album's theme. From the song titles to the artwork (another incredible Ferenc Dobronyi design) to the primal energy--it is abundantly clear that a tremendous amount of care and attention to detail went into the songs and their unifying concept. The entire album really flows like the soundtrack to some kind of adventure epic.

Tribal Fury

Smack! The intensity hits you right in the face from the very first second! Truly like a "headbanging" dream for the fans of the heavy stuff, the main lower-register descending riff pummels you into submission and spits you out into a tension-creating higher register chordal passage that explodes into a whirlwind of a blistering "exotic" solo that truly only Ivan could deliver.

Cities of Gold

Optimistic and hopeful, yet with just the right amount of added tension, as though you don't know what's lurking around the next corner. Beautiful acoustic rhythym guitar and memorable, gentle melodies.

Twilight

Ahhhhh...now we're given a chance to reflect and appreciate the beauty of it all. Perhaps viewing the jungle at twilight, thinking of those loved ones back at home, looking nostalgically at a wallet photo by campfire. Gorgeously Shadows-inspired in all the best ways. Effective and not overused strings. Triumphant. The sun sets. Gotta get a good night's sleep for tomorrow, because we may end up witnessing a...

Fire Sacrifice

OK, tension begins to increase as the tribal toms kick you into a foreign world of wonder and intrigue, as though you're witnessing something you shouldn't from behind the protection of dense foliage. I know I'm injecting my own non-musical interpretation here, (isn't that one of the greatest things about instrumental music?), but I swear you can hear the exact moment in the song when the actual sacrifice takes place!!!

The Expedition
First light...rolling toms, acoustic rhythm and dripping palm-muting move brush along the trail as strange beasts scamper across the leafy horizon. Where are we going, where are we headed? What's next? Light and humidity glisten against the vibrant colors of the green foliage as the trails winds upwards and deep into the hills. Wonder and glory. Good times, natural beauty. Until we arrive at a hidden area where, through the trees we can see a....

Witch Doctor

Uh-oh. Something isn't right here. Throbbing bass invites us into a powerful, exotic and dark world of hummingbird-like double picking and accents, while an ever-so-subtle shaker sounds in the background, reminding us that the doctor is still working his magic, which involves...

Jungle Drums
Ahhhh...content, happy, mellow. Tribal drums, big, acoustic rhythm, claves, a sublimely toneful lead line--Ernesto Leucona's classic, famously interpreted on Martin's Denny's Afro-Desia given a brilliant new lease on life. A definite instant Surf-Exotica classic! Like floating down a beautiful, majestic river.

Arcadian Voyage
Tribal toms and double-picking pumping confidence into the belief that the voyage is worth it, that the adventure will end successfully. The trials and tribulations of taking such an adventure. What's that around that bend, is that an ocean view?...

Mar Vista

Beautifully acoustic, in the exotic/flamenco/romantic vein we've come to expect and adore from The Madeira. Wonderfully subtle yet effective use of hand drums.

Giant
Galloping drive, spacey echo for days--one of those tunes where Patrick's strumming hand seems like it's impossible to go that fast! Big, anthemic, dramatic!

Pre-Ritual
Speaking of drama, this time a different, quiet kind. Dark, foreboding, deep, ominous. Awesome instrumentation--Acoustic rhythm, Bass VI, Shaker/scraper, bell, drippy palm-muting, more tribal toms. Intense feeling of leading up to something...

Ritual
Heavy, tense, building, growing, ascending to an apex, rising up from the fires. Like you know it all must eventually come to end, and you don't necessarily know if it's a good or a bad thing, just that it has to happen. Triumphant.

Zanzibar
Soft, lilting, mellow--resolution. The voyage is over, we've survived. We've loved, we've lost, we had adventures, but now it's back home. It was a good ride, but now it will only exist in our memories. Wonderful use of tremolo and echo. Breathe a sigh of relief and reminisce about the beauty of it all.

Ivan, Dane, Patrick, Todd....thanks for the adventure! A true masterpiece!
—
Jonpaul

Post #629760 by bigtikidude on Fri, Mar 23, 2012 9:34 AM

so here it is.