B-Tribe Spiritual Spiritual CD

B-Tribe--AKA multi-instrumentalist Claus Zundel--has been mesmerizing club-goers for years with an inventive blend of heavily reverbed Flamenco guitars and techno beats. On this 2001 release, B-Tribe takes a deep breath of inspired airàand exhales slowly. The mood is meditative, the textures and beats dreamy. A brooding take on Albinoni's "Adagio in G Minor" establishes the contemplative pace and tone of the album; the title track even echoes a key chord progression from the classical piece. The songs flow together seamlessly, with small variations in instrumentation to add flavor. Melancholy horns enrich "Sketches of Saint Antoni," while vaporous female vocals waft in and out of the mixes, suggesting spiritual apparitions.

The highpoint of the album is the traditional and oft-covered Irish ghost ballad "She Moves Through the Fair," given new life as a lush Enya-esque mini-opera. Some may find the opulent arrangements on SPIRITUAL SPIRITUAL a bit too distracting for meditation, but the album's bright and uplifting tone suits meditative movement--and lives up to the title.

Recorded in Ibiza, Spain and Miami, FLorida in 1999 & 2000.

Personnel includes: Susan Carol, Dave Jeffs (vocals); Paco Fernandez (guitar); Eric Plumettaz (strings); Mark Smith Jr. (trumpet, flugelhorn).

NAPRA Review (01-02/02, p.82) - "...Lush electro-flamenco sonic murals beautifully fulfill both aural and inner space throughout this enthralling world/New Age/ambient/dance groove melange..."