Album review: CODA - There is a Way to Fly

LABEL Silent Recordings SIL002

Review copy supplied by Abels Music, Canberra.

Reviewed by Tony Magee

This one is brand new and delightfully different. Coda features six musicians who play a variety of instruments including Violin, Viola, Cello, Double Bass, Marimba, Djembe, Drums, Percussion, Vibes and more.

This is world music and features influences from France, Japan, South America, The Middle East and USA amongst others. Some tracks are driving, pulsating and rhythmic, whilst others are wistful, thoughtful and almost meditative.

The driving force behind most of the tracks is the string section. If you think Electric Light Orchestra without vocals, but massively updated and with a broader global approach, you would be heading in the right direction.

Another interesting feature of this album is that each track has a story to it, which is explained in the liner notes. In the music world, this is referred to as a “program”. It is very interesting to first read the story and then listen to how the music unfolds, or alternatively, listen to the music first, make your own judgements and then read the suggested story.

There are many surprises along the way too. Track 10 for example, entitled Lucky 7, offers a challenging but appropriate change of pace with driving rock grooves, which adds further to the premise that this album is certainly not predictable. If you think your patrons might like a constantly changing listening environment, then this could be a CD to check out.

First published in Restaurant and Catering Magazine, Nov 2001