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Visual
Art and Spiritual Evolution
Andy Gmür
Biological evolution has advanced
to the point that a 'spiritual evolution' is taking place. This
natural process is happening, no matter if we are aware of it or
not. |
The
Dehydration Epidemic
Jaime Larese
Our first step to improving a
myriad of health problems is understanding dehydration and how much
water we need to be drinking daily to maintain our fragile health.
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What's
Endangering Our Earth?
Jeff Hernandez
The everyday items that are meant
to facilitate our lives, in fact may be harming us more than we
bargained for. Organic chemicals are extremely cheap to produce
and are very effective in their job functions. |
Looking
Forward to Clean Energy
Jon Heinrich
Fortunately, solutions exist and
if we are able to raise awareness and convince our policy makers to
consider it a priority, we can all look forward to a bright, energy-rich
future instead of one marked by environmental, political, and social
disaster. |
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Sustainability
Aaron Ades
You don't need to save for a rainy
day if you create a system that is in harmony with the needs of the
human animal. Create what you need and eliminate the reliance on things
you cannot create. |
Ten
Things You Can Do to Help Your Earth
Chrystie Hopkins Whether
you live in New York City or Big Fork, Montana, everyday decisions
that you make can impact the environment. The revolution starts at
home. Here are ten things that you can do to help save YOUR world. |
Gaia
Derek Gumuchian
We are all one. In this article
we explore the idea of the Earth as an entire entitiy and as our mother. |
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The
Fabulous Sylvan Sisters
Dan Berthiaume
An hour later, Donna was lazily
reclining in the passenger seat of Melinda's cherry red Volkswagen
New Beetle, consuming a brunch consisting of a can of Diet Pepsi and
a low-tar cigarette... |
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è bella
Designs in Peru Michael Weintrob
Photographer Michael Weintrob travels
to Peru with è bella Designs, to capture how è bella
has helped to revive the art of weaving and the Peruvuian economy. |
Rough Around
the Edges Jonathan Alsop
Invinoveritas.com Technically,
first thing in the morning is the very best time to taste wine since
your palate is fresh and unviolated. But I don't do it: the sight
of daddy in his bathrobe on a Sunday morning slogging down a half-dozen
bottles of wine could stay with a child. |
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Show
Review:
Pete Pidgeon
& Arcoda—Six Years of friends, funk and crack horns.
Jon Heinrich
Pete Pidgeon & Arcoda celebrate
six years as a band by playing at Boston's Harpers Ferry. Opening
up for Arcoda was Color and Talea and Caveman. 4/4/04. |
CD Reviews:
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Empty Food
Kerry Rumore |
Fish Pond
&
The Little
Prince Discovers a Rose Katie
Molnar |
Selections by Brian
Gagné:
- [It Fails to Pass]
- Fever/Lever
- Grief
- Smallness annihilated
in the scope of puzzlement
- Untitled A
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Events:
Spring
Issue Launch
Club Europa,
Feb. 19, 2004
State
of the Art,
Oct. 23, 2003
MetroSaturdays
Portland, Maine
Aug. 30, 2003
Premier
Launch,
Zeitgeist Gallery,
Aug. 14, 2003 |
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CD
Reviews:
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Exercising
the Demons
Big Fuzz
Rock
is rock; no matter what sub-category you try and place it in.
Whether guitarist Fuzz is playing with the funk band Deep Banana
Blackout, or with his latest side project Big Fuzz, he always
sticks to his rock n’ roll guitar roots. His first album
as the Big Fuzz, Exercising the Demons, is a tribute
to simple classic rock lyrics, and complex guitar riffs. Just
to show his diversity, there are two excellent horn players ripping
it up. Rob Somerville on sax and Rob Volo on trombone bring the
jazz edge to Fuzz’s roaring guitar solos.
The back yard barbeque flavor is refreshing and
light. The funk presence on tracks like “Next To You”
blends beautifully with the harmonized and drawn-out classic rock
style vocals. Big Fuzz is not afraid to slow it down. On “Never
Be the Same” Fuzz belts out sad lyrics, while bassist Benj
LeFevre, keys player Barry Seelen, and drummer Andy Sanesi, provide
the drama and intensity required to pull off a rock n’ roll
song about lost love. To add another sound to the album, Fuzz
brings us “Walk”. This strange track starts off with
a cello solo, and then into rock guitar, all with powerful backing
vocals that lend a gospel feel. Fuzz rounds off the album with
the blues inspired “Headin’ for the Door”, just
because he can.
The Big Fuzz has a diverse, and inspiring sound.
Blame the craving for a cheap domestic light beer on the rock
n’ roll. Check out
www.fuzztunes.com for more information about the band and
the album. |
Long
Drive Home
Ralph E. Hayes
When I walked to catch the Fung Wha, Chinatown-to-Chinatown
express bus to New York City, it was by all measure, a perfect
spring day in Boston. As I stood, waiting my turn in the sizeable
crowd, a noticeable tension permeated the crowd; the desire to
get a seat on the bus! You could feel the anxiety in the air.
Although there were only enough people to fill half the bus, the
mood suggested worry from everyone—we might not all make
it on the bus.
Finally as I reached the front of the line, the ticket-taker
said “wrong bus company, down there,” pointing down
the road. A jolt of urgency and humiliation flashed through my
face as I hurried down the sidewalk in the blazing sun.
With the headphone already on my neck, I hit play on Ralph E.
Hayes’, Long Ride Home.
Suddenly, the smooth prancing guitar took me to another place
before the bus even got there. I remembered, with a deep breath,
how beautiful the day was. I looked up to the radiant spring sun
piercing the blue sky. Bright buildings stood all around, freshly
washed by one of the rainiest Aprils Boston has ever seen. The
expressive Stratocaster guitar syncopated perfectly with the fresh
green leaves—only a few weeks old—rustling in the
crisp ocean breeze.
My world of anxiety-laden thoughts were put to rest by the ambient
surf-guitar of Hayes.
Ralph’s timeless, “guitar noir” sound puts
the listener in a slow dreamy state of bliss. The songs tend towards
a minimalistic, black & white tranquility. Characterizing
his mood music, Ralph describes his melodies as “kind of
like it’s 11 P.M., when everyone has gone to bed and all
is quiet...you turn down the lights, light a candle, and unwind.”
As I took my seat and glanced around, the transitory chaos of
getting onto the right bus had ended, and every person around
me had a chill look of peace on their face—as if they too
had just noticed how nice of a day it was. With a signature sound
similar to that of Chris Isaak or Chet Atkins, the warm tube guitar,
left me languorous for the long road ahead. |
Sacumba
Luis Garay Percussion World
The Luis Garay Percussion World proves once again that percussion
can hold its own. On the newly released Sacumba the group
is lead by percussion legend Luis Garay. Other members of the
ensemble include, Wilbur Wood, Leon Eynatyan and Miguel Alfaro.
They perform on a variety of percussion instruments including,
kit drums, whistles, marimbas, Argentinean drums, and a wealth
of Afro-Latin percussion such as congas, surdo, bongo, agogo,
timbales, tambourine, colanuts, djembe, ngoma, and if that were
not enough, they also throw in gongs, bells, and chimes.
Garay who was born in Cordoba, Argentina, studied at the Cordoba
State Conservatory of Music. He continued his education at the
Catholic University of America, with advanced studies at the Escola
de Musica de Brasilia in Brazil. The intense, yet organized percussion
arrangements highlight Garay’s classical training. The variety
of instruments used throughout every piece brings a liberal and
verbose intensity to the arrangements.
Garay has received numerous awards and accolades over the years
for his incredible use and understanding of percussion. The prestige
and honor has not changed his dedication and willingness to experiment
with new and innovative percussion techniques and sounds. This
innovation can be heard on every track of Sacumba.
The addition of the incredible conga player Wilbur Wood adds
a cohesive sound to each track. The combination of Latin American
and African percussion beats is an exhilarating and ongoing barrage
of beats, bangs, rhythms and phonic riots.
Percussion World rallies between the varied and irregular beats
of Latin music to the constant and full tribal rhythms. On the
track “Dumbe”, Garay, Wood, Eynatyan and Alfaro all
play only Afro-Latin drums, including the djembe, congas, ngoma
and bongo. The driving and weaving sounds created by the drum
circle of musicians shows the power of the mighty drum. The puling
beats will course through your body and direct your momentum.
To change up the drum circle vibe, the ensemble pulls together
“Marimba Azucar”, which is a tribute to the beauty
and vibe of the marimba. The marimba solicites memories of the
pacific coast and the fresh ocean air. Garay refers to it as the
classic surfer film feeling. It is the driving force behind the
surf guitar.
Sacumba is an album that commands the listeners attention.
This is not a CD to put on at a party for mellow background music.
This is a CD for the musician and specifically, the percussion
enthusiast. Drum lines, jammin’ drum circles, the symphonic
timpani solo, the guy in the subway playing the bucket; if these
are the sounds that appeal to you, then Luis Garay has created
an ensemble and a CD that will bring the beat home.
Visit www.luisgaray.com
for more information. |
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Meniscus
staff |
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