Bruce Kaphan "Slider" Hearts of Space 11404-2 2000 (57:12)
Clouds
(7:24)
Country
& Eastern (7:51)
High Desert (3:42)
Big Brain Small Brain (3:50)
Back to the Light (5:31)
Sideways Carousel (4:47)
Outpost
(8:20)
Arc of Flight (4:07)
Homage (Pour La Grande Fromage) (3:11)
Underserved Ending (4:06)
Shinn Pond (4:23)
Bruce Kaphan is a multi-instrumentalist and producer who's work has graced albums by American Music Club, Mark Eitzel, REM, The Black Crowes, Love and Rockets, Chris Isaak, David Byrne and John Lee Hooker, among many others. "Slider" is his solo debut for Hearts of Space (www.hos.com), an album properly subtitled 'ambient excursions for pedal steel guitar'. Kaphan successfully removes the instrument from it's stereotypical Country & Western setting and uses it as sound source for a music more akin to "Bitches Brew" than Buck Owens. Each of the 11 tracks, a few minutes shy of an hour total, are primarily the mellow notes and washes of the steel set in reverberated ambiance. "Clouds" sets the tone with lovely steel and fretless bass interplay. "Country & Eastern" and "Back to the Light" mix in tabla rhythms for an unnaturally natural East meets West feel. "Outpost" is an outlying settlement in one of Brian Eno's ambient worlds. "Homage (Pour La Grande Fromage)" has light beats credited as 'purrcussion' to Kaphan's cat Hana. Overall "Slider" is like an audio sedative, not too dull and not too exciting, but certainly relaxing and pretty. Another welcome addition to the 'music for sleepy time' pile ...
Where did I get this cd? - mail order via Hearts of Space.