Weingarten, Carl - Hand In The Sand /A Collection 1990 - 2004

Year of Release: 2004
Label: Multiphase Records
Catalog Number: n/a
Format: CD
Total Time: 65:59:00

There comes a time in most men's lives when they are faced with a maddeningly frustrating realization: they have simply lost it. Musicians are certainly familiar with this lot, as many have entered the realms where one relives past glories endlessly and no spark of new inspiration comes. It is at that point that compilation albums begin to surface and, on occasion, and much to the dismay of the poor fans, musicians soldier on without the musical quality of years past. Carl Weingarten instead has released a stunning collection that summarizes his artistic evolution during the last 15 years, while graciously demonstrating that he is indeed willing to soldier on, but only with the same excellence of yesteryear.

A point that is driven home immediately as the deliciously subtle groove of "Local Journeys" commences and prepares the stage for Weingarten's beautifully poignant guitar playing and a piece that continues his journey towards the rediscovery of band essence, as opposed to cinematic style. Weingarten is a master of subtlety and texture; a musician who not only is capable of stringing together his ambitions on his own instrument, but on his compositions as well. And this mastery is quickly evidenced by listening to the tugging emotional power behind each track, an impressive achievement when considering that the majority of the albums that form the backbone of this compilation rested on their strength as entire works. Extracting pieces from them would have seemed a dangerous operation given the cinematic aspect of the greater part of Weingarten's music, but, save for a couple of tracks or so, it was a complete success.

Not only that, but it also offers a certain insight into the growth of Weingarten's music to its fans. Four years before this compilation, on the gorgeous Blue Faith, all hints of band chemistry were gone in favor of a lush symphonic approach. Eight years before that, on Pandora's Garage, Weingarten and cohorts were deeply immersed in the sonic world of luminaries such as Brian Eno and Robert Fripp with a band chemistry that worked wonders, but was light years away from settling onto what now can be considered the essence of Weingarten's style. Now, as the teasers from the 2005 release Local Journeys demonstrate, the music has settled in a comfortable midpoint between both extremes, as the predecessor escapesilence hinted at. If there ever was a moment for this wonderful dobro and slide guitarist to stop, look at the road traveled, and share the observations with his listeners, this is it.

And if there ever was a right chance for those unfamiliar with Weingarten's work but curious of experiencing it, this is it. Hand In The Sand is an absolute success as a compilation because of its own strength, but also because it accurately represents each album that it encompasses. Weingarten's paths into and back from world music influences, his shifting between band and cinematic style, the ever-present quality of his own playing: they are all present in copious amounts. And for both neophytes and veteran followers, what needs to be done is obvious: to salute Weingarten and wish him many more years of successful exploration and expression, certainly not without a little selfishness in wishing to be able to listen to the wonderful results.

Similar artists: Rhea's Obsession, Dead Can Dance, Brian Eno

Tracklisting:
Local Journeys (4:18) / West Of Austin (2:54) / An Early Fall (3:04) / Bone Dog Blues (3:02) / Up The Down Slide (4:47) / Falline (5:02) / My Beautiful Moon (3:32) / Cambodian Waltz (3:39) / Illumina Suite (7:17) / Dust Covers The Sky (5:34) / Pedro's Lament (1:20) / Holographic Blues (6:25) / Come With Me (4:44) / A Sacred Sleep (0:33) / Red Night (5:48) / Hand In The Sand (3:59)

Musicians:
Carl Weingarten - dobro, slide guitars, keyboards, ebow
Michael Manring - bass, ebow
Brian Knave - drums, percussion, harmonica
Robin Bonnell - cello
Robert Powell - pedal steel
David Finn - piano
Joe Venegoni - percussion, mbira
Mark Epstein - bass
Walter Whitney - synthesizer
Angela Fields - cello
R. Scott Bryan - percussion
Jim Mayer - bass
Dan Reiter - cello
Tom Whitehead - piano
John Hanes - percussion
Kat Epple - flute
Barry Cleveland - percussion

Discography:
Submergings (1981) (w/Gale Ormiston & Phil Neon)
Delay Tactics - Out-Pop Options (1982)
Windfalls (1983) (guest app.)
Delay Tactics - Any Questions? (1984)
Living In The Distant Present (1985)
Delay Tactics - Dreaming In Colors (1986)
Laughing At Paradise (1988)
Primitive Earth (w/Walter Whitney) (1989)
Critical Path (w/Walter Whitney) (1991)
Slide Of Hand (1991)
Pandora's Garage (1992)
The Court Musicians - At The Court Of The Chera King (1993)
Redwood Melodies (1995)
The Acoustic Shadow (1995)
Silent Night (w/Kavi Alexander) (1998)
Blue Faith (2000)
Escapesilence (2002)
Hand In The Sand - A Collection 1990-2004 (2004)
Local Journeys (2005)
Invisibility (w/Forrest Fang) (2006)
Lost In The Air (2008)

Genre: Other

Origin US

Added: July 4th 2005
Reviewer: Marcelo Silveyra
Score:
Artist website: carlweingarten.blogspot.com
Hits: 2510
Language: english