|
 | Blue Chip Orchestra:Red Sky Beat (Hearts of Space - 1998) When I first read that Red Sky Beat combined European pop electronics with Native American chants, instruments and legends... I (sarcastically) thought, "Oh boy... Deep Forest with American Indians instead of pygmies!". My cynicism was melted away though; despite a general New Aginess, Red Sky Beat manages to blend its chief elements tastefully. |
| Blue Chip Orchestra is Hubert Bognermayr and Harald Zuschrader, Austrian electronic musicians since the 1970's, and their musical dexterity shows. One can't help but wonder, though, to what degree the strangely successful Deep Forest inspired this outing, or at least the marketing slant; the project's original title was "White River Red Spirit"... not nearly as pop-friendly as Red Sky Beat.
Shimmering electronics and ethnic flute passages open Ate Heye Lo!. A couple of different Native American ceremonial chant passages are meshed with the modern beat, which is a European, lite-techno style. Tribal drumming and various chants infuse Skan - The Sky, coupled with airy synthesizer breezes, a perky electro-rhythm and wailing flute. A more sedate pace and lulling Spanish guitar mark Ashes Cold And White, a chant-free zone which runs at just over 7 minutes. Ite funks up the electronics a bit as a children's chorus sings, followed by a singing medicine man. Birds chirp along the peaceful Buffalo Trail, a slower-paced outing, with more chanting, ethnic beats, synths, flutes and Spanish guitar. Chirping crickets announce that Haawi - The Moon has come out for a night of chanting around the fire, along with plenty of smooth synth mixed in. The track builds in inensity, fanning the flames with shakers and electronic rhythms. Besides its shuffling rhythm, Maka - The Earth features breathy reeds, sustained war whoops and bird calls. The waters begin to flow, rising to the track's end after 3:20. Rising winds signal the arrival of Okaga And Whope; through the gusty gales steady, primitive drumming is heard while thunderclouds gather, and the rain soon falls. A slowly crackling blaze and deep droning instrumentation open Tate - The Wind. A powerful drumming joins, accompanied by flute and more percussion. Another violent storm blows in to close the track. Inyan - The Rock is a tour-de-force of various chants, samples and instruments. If you're in it for the Indian lore, Blue Chip Orchestra provides details of the legends behind these tracks in the liner notes, as well as links to the Dakota Creation Myth, and the American Indian Culture Research Center. |
| Red Sky Beat should be an easy call... if it sounds interesting, you'll probably like it; If you bristle at the notion, you probably won't enjoy it. As for me, I like it much better than I first suspected I might. Pale Face say "One Thumb Up". |  |
 |