专辑简介

by Jonathan WidranOut of all the expressive instruments, the guitar's range and mobility seems to make it the one most suited for a performer with a big ego. But Ray Obiedo's success as a world-beat pop-fusion guitarist may be due to the way he shuns that idea. He's never been one to dominate his own compositions, and this allows for the fascinating textures and exotic timbres his vision reaches. His latest gem never strays far from the expansive strokes of melodicism he's best known for, and yet what sticks with you long after the disc changer turns off are the atmospheric travelogues he produces so efficiently. With the help of longtime cohort Andy Narell, he visits the tropical paradises of "Santa Lucia" and "Castille." The reeds of Norbert Stachel, synth runs of David Kirk Mathews and bouncy percussion takes by various studio friends keep Obiedo true to his Latin roots. He lets everyone else introduce the global motifs, then places himself around the center of each cut for a very straightforward electric romp. The tunes stretch out nicely, even if a few backing vocals add a certain expressly commercial sheen to the proceedings. Voice and guitar work more effectively on the silky "Forever," featuring the sweet touch of Kevyn Lettau.