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Review by Bill Binkelman I've listened to a fair number of releases on the Intentcity label in the past few years. With this, the second offering from Magna Canta (Junior Deros and Ray Frederico), the label has finally hit their stride. Balancing Gregorian chants (yeah, they're still around) with superb some electronica/chill-out music and beats, Sanctuary is some delectable ear candy almost on a par with recent offerings from the Neurodisc label (e.g. Amethystium, Ryan Farish). Obviously, if you're not fond of Gregorian chants, you should skip this CD. However, I gotta tell you, I'm not really excited by chants either, but the electronics and rhythms on this recording are so well done (perfectly mixed, extremely high quality production and, frankly, damn catchy) that I began to groove on this one despite myself. I've always been a sucker for high energy electronic music with infectious rhythms and memorable hooks and Sanctuary delivers those in abundance, whether it be the kinetic frenzy of "Kyrie," the slowly building explosion of rave/techno on "Credo," the quasi-Enigma world fusion chillage of "Japan" or the merger of ethnic percussion with electronica on "In Excelssis Deo." Deros and Frederico (the brains/talent behind Magna Canta) sure know their around a mixing board and can also craft music that gets in your bloodstream and cooks. If you can last all the way through "Celestia Organa" with its synth-pop/Pet Shop Boys driven electronics and beats (it hits critical mass at about the 1:00 mark) and not want to crank this sucker UP, well, you need to find your libido 'cause it's left the building. I'm not going to reflect on the right/wrong of integrating religious hymns with beats and sensual melodies that point toward more carnal desires. I'm too busy enjoying this album and bopping in my chair. I guess it goes to show that even genres like this aren't played out when they're done with this much style and panache. Color me enlightened! |
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