Tracklist
Secret Of Mania
01 - Part 1
02 - Part 2
03 - Part 3
04 - Strangelove
05 - Deified
06 - Love Sick Love
Charlize
07 - Prelude 1 - Rainforest
08 - Prelude 2 - Pink Floor
09 - Charlize
10 - Outro - Cafe Cubano
11 - Mexican Baby
12 - Something Unspoken
13 - Phantom
14 - Ritmos Del Ybra
This is the debut album from L.A. multi-instrumentalist duo Glasspirits, aka Joanna Glass & Abe Perez. Joanna plays the guitar, keyboards, violins, as well as providing vocals and synth programming. Abe plays the drums, congas, bongos, cajon, shakers, cowbell, tambourine, timbales, claves and the gong. Mysteries of Rhythm is a strong collection of 14 songs that range from beautiful piano driven songs about love and loss to outright rock. The album has something for everyone on it.
It's an album I've been waiting for for some time that I can attest was worth the wait. Opening with a harpsichord and Joanna, the start of 'Secret Of Mania (P1)' lulls you into a false sense of security then the guitars and Abe's drums kick in and show with intent what you are in for on the rest of the album. Track 4 is a very good cover of what is rather an overlooked Depeche Mode song 'Strangelove'. It was always one of my favorite DM songs, along with 'Two Minute Warning' and 'Rush'.
The album takes a break from the rock with tracks 7 & 8 which serve as a nice calming rest before the powerhouse track 'Charlize', a track that is full of energy, funky hard rock beats and quieter more tribal percussion in the verses, courtesy of Abe. It's a track that sounds great when turned up, loud.
'Something Unspoken' is a stripped down, almost acoustic song where Joanna's vocals really shine, accompanied by subtle Latin inspired beats from Abe.
Ending on 'Ritmos Del Ybra', featuring bongo and conga work from Abe. It's an Afro-Cuban inspired instrumental that proves to be a pleasing end to a great album. Abe showcases his Cuban roots on this piece. Abe had the following insight into the song when I asked him about it:
Abe: ‘Ritmos Del Ybra’ is something very close to my heart. I did it as a homage to my Cuban heritage. I used many different percussion instruments and different rhythms and tricks, like, playing on top of the congas, not just with my hands but with my sticks. Those are meaningful and traditional beats. Ybra is my nickname in Cuban, so the title literally means ‘Rhythms of Abe’.
The musicianship on this album is top notch and very unique; blending together many differing styles from Joanna and Abe's respective musical backgrounds. Joanna's classical training mixes perfectly with Abe's years of experience with many different styles of drumming and percussion. Mysteries of Rhythm also mixes many musical styles from cultures around the world to great effect to create a unique and very enjoyable sound.
Overall, it's a very well put together debut album and one that I will highly recommend and will be doing so with everyone I meet.
Website - http://www.glasspirits.com/
Twitter - https://twitter.com/glasspirits
Audio samples!
In stores, now! Glasspirits - Mysteries of Rhythm https://t.co/TXDmmXokT2 via @eBay
— GLASSPIRITS (@GLASSPIRITS) September 13, 2016
