Search - Acoustic Alchemy :: Reference Point

This is where I fell in Love

Fabrisse | Dorchester, MA United States | 05/28/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was lucky enough to see Acoustic Alchemy perform live one Friday in 1995 and I was blown away. This album was the one I purchased that very night at their concert (by Sunday night I owned every CD they'd released). "Homecoming" was the first song of the first set and still makes me smile. I think that "Lullaby for the first born" is the finest of all the Webb/Carmichael two handers. There's not a bad track on here."

Great traveling music...no vocals...smooth

Fabrisse | 01/07/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"The acoustic guitar licks are magic. The rendition of Take Five is awesome, and Same Road Same Reason makes me groove. There is a variety of music types...all very good. I have all Acoustic Alchemy has done and I highly reccomend. I think Reference Point is one of my favorites."

Nice acoustic guitar smooth jazz duo

Greg Brady | Capital City | 02/02/2005

(3 out of 5 stars)

"I remember really loving this album when I bought it a decade ago. Unfortunately, the passage of time and a new evaluation reveal I had overestimated this recording.



Acoustic Alchemy are Nick Webb and Greg Carmichael, who play acoustic nylon and steel string guitars, coupled usually with light keys, bass and percussion for a fairly average smooth jazz sound.



At its best, the riffs created by Carmichael and Webb dance out of the speakers and grab you by the ears. At worst, the music turns in soft, gauzy inoffensive aural wallpaper...the kind of music that's on in the background that you don't really pay any attention to.



High points include the brisk "Make my Day", the title track and the buoyant "Cuban Heels": probably the lowest point on here comes as the duo cover the Dave Brubeck chestnut "Take Five". A bass figure rumbling underneath suggests we may be in for a very funky rehaul of the Paul Desmond classic, but it rapidly deteriorates into a very uninspiring version that won't make anyone forget the original.



A nice one to consider if you're particularly into acoustic guitar, but not a fantastic outing overall.



3 1/2 stars"