22 Dec 2024
An Emerald City - Album Review: An Emerald City – Circa Scaria
16 Apr 2009 // A review by BrendaF
This is An Emerald City’s debut album, however they did release a 4 track EP in April 2008.
Circa Scaria was recorded in a cave (how cool is that!) and it does come through in the music with a wonderful mystical undertone.
I am always very weary about instrumentals as they always end up sounding like elevator music but this is definitely different.
From the first track, you can hear the Eastern influence (don’t think Bollywood) and it is subtly hidden throughout the 8 tracks.
You can hear the passion and dedication in the music. It is evident that a lot of time was taken planning what instruments were to be used and where they should be placed throughout the tunes even though the actual recording was done over two days.
The artwork for the album is breathtaking and is a true reflection of the sounds that lay inside.
For me, this album was captivating, mystical and heartrending and I highly recommend it.
This is An Emerald City’s debut album, however they did release a 4 track EP in April 2008. Circa Scaria was recorded in a cave (how cool is that!) and it does come through in the music with a wonderful mystical undertone.
I am always very weary about instrumentals as they always end up sounding like elevator music but this is definitely different.
From the first track, you can hear the Eastern influence (don’t think Bollywood) and it is subtly hidden throughout the 8 tracks.
You can hear the passion and dedication in the music. It is evident that a lot of time was taken planning what instruments were to be used and where they should be placed throughout the tunes even though the actual recording was done over two days.
The artwork for the album is breathtaking and is a true reflection of the sounds that lay inside.
For me, this album was captivating, mystical and heartrending and I highly recommend it.
About An Emerald City
The summer of 2007/2008 unleashed an array of summer performances that included the likes of: Soundsplash, Rhythm and Vines, bFM’s Summer Series and Shore Sounds. WOMAD saw An Emerald City perform to over 1200 people across their two performances. This is also where NZers and the world got their first opportunity to purchase a slice of An Emerald City - their debut self titled EP.
The 4 track EP features two of the bNet favourites Qing Song (also featured as Karen Walker’s opening track at New York Fashion Week) and A Thousand Stars At Night recorded at Clockwork Studios in Auckland with Nick Taylor. The EP also included two new songs Mr. Finn and the new single A Question recorded at Roundhead Studios with Liam Finn and Jol Mulholland. The sriking original artwork is by Mr. Will Handley.
Visit the muzic.net.nz Profile for An Emerald City
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