Chris Murphy Salton Songs: Electric Violin Music CD

Part of a conceptually unified series of albums put out in 2004 and 2005 by Kufala Recordings, Salton Songs is subtitled Electric Violin Music. It's the most conventionally pop-oriented disc of the lot, setting the steely whine of Chris Murphy's subtly electrified lead instrument against synth-heavy instrumental backings that borrow about equally from the not-as-dissimilar-as-one-might-think world of '70s progressive rock and present-day downtempo electronica. Murphy's solos on the album's most immediately catchy track, "Reactor," might put the historically minded listener in mind of the more rococo edges of European psychedelia and prog, but the dance-oriented beats and buzzing synths are thoroughly up to date. Similarly, the opening "Shallow Water" owes as much to the Orb's ambient house grooves as "Cane Sugar" does to David Cross' frenetic violin on Larks' Tongues in Aspic-era King Crimson. Although the guitars and keyboards throughout Salton Songs are heavily treated with reverb and other forms of sonic processing, Murphy's violins are left relatively unadorned throughout the album other than the occasional judicious application of echo, which gives the album a curious tension between the traditional and the experimental, an edge that helps put over songs that might otherwise slide too far over the line into fusionesque easy listening. ~ Stewart Mason

Moody, expansive, electronic, techno, trance,world music, violin loneliness, and love songs. "Violinist Chris Murphy has been honing his diverse instrumental composition skills for over fifteen years, and his experience certainly plays into the success of Salton Songs".-Brad Miller, Urb.net"What keeps the listener's attention throughout is Mr. Murphy's magic violin. I say "magic" because of the number of different and crazy sounds that are emitted from that thing..."-Jambase"...the most talented violin player you've never heard of... There aren't many, if any, other violinists out there who do what Chris does, and he does it well. This man is a very accomplished musician, and it clearly shows."-Sam Katz, Jambase"...unhindered imagination...adventurous style..."-Jamie Lee, Jambands Online"Salton Songs sure is one of the more interesting, albeit unusual, albums to have come my way recently. Those who like their music lively and enjoy aspects of world music coupled with modern treatments might want to give it a try."-Dene Bebbington, Wind and Wire, Melliflua "This album from eclectic violinist Chris Murphy takes the violin out of its traditional classical and English folk music settings and tries it in less familiar contexts...this is worth checking out."-Mike Watson, Ambient Music Guide

Recording information: Bassland; La Leyenda; Pop Garage; Sinai Sound; The Brain Box; Titanium.

Photographer: Jeff Alu.

Personnel: Chris Murphy (electric violin); Ted Kamp (bass instrument); Allie Bennet, Dave Hill , Stewart, Alex, Stewart, Smadar Galore (drums, programming); Joey Peters (drums, programming).

Audio Mixer: Erik Colvin.