A great release from Jeff Pearce
darklebot | Ohio | 09/21/2005
(5 out of 5 stars)
""What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us" - Ralph Waldo Emerson
This quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson appears on the back cover of the CD insert to Lingering Light. These words are well chosen. The music on this disc strikes me as an offering to a transformation of the human soul with a little redemption thrown in. The compositions are wonderful. Many repeat listens here.
The production values are great. I highly recommend this disc!"
From MainlyPiano.com
Kathy Parsons | Florence, OR United States | 05/05/2006
(5 out of 5 stars)
"No, Jeff Pearce has not suddenly switched from guitar to piano. I heard some samples from "Lingering Light" and fell in love with the music, so I'm the one who has temporarily jumped ship! When I did CD reviews for the print version of Wind and Wire, Jeff's name came up all the time as one of the foremost artists in the ambient genre, but since I did mostly piano and keyboard reviews, I never had the chance to hear his music. I'm kicking myself for that now, as this is some amazing music. Known as a guitar innovator for quite a number of years, Pearce composed and recorded the music for "Lingering Light" exclusively on the Chapman Stick, an electric guitar-like instrument that is kind of a bridge between guitar and keyboard. The instrument has ten strings, and the strings are usually tapped. The playing position is different from a guitar, and both hands play the strings, allowing the player to play melody and accompaniment. The range is about 5 1/4 octaves. In Pearce's hands, the sound is ethereal and sooooooo relaxing. This is truly one of the most beautiful albums I've heard in a very long time. A bit on the melancholy side, the music is leisurely, open, and deeply emotional. The quote from Ralph Waldo Emerson in the liner notes really says it all: "What lies behind us and what lies before us are tiny matters compared to what lies within us." All twelve tracks are gorgeous and create a mood of peaceful reflection. Give your ears, mind, and soul a real treat and check this out. Very highly recommended!"