Search - Strunz & Farah :: Wild Muse

Less than 5 Stars - What's Up With That?

10/30/1999

(5 out of 5 stars)

"I was so moved by someone giving S&F less than 5 stars that I had to get my two cents in. We caught these guys in Texas earlier this year -- they were nothing less than FANTASTIC! I swear S&F are the hardest working duo in the business. I encourage everyone to see them live - their CDs pale by comparison. "Wild Muse" was on sale at the concert and we bought it. Haven't been dissapointed yet - it's great after a long day at work. I must admit it takes several plays to get used to as these guys are all over the place, especially on "Zagros". It hits you like a bolt of lightning and you're thinking "Wait a minute - I didn't buy a CD of Middle Eastern music!" (not that there's anything wrong with that). Then you hear it several times and it just lingers on you like a good, long shower. This is great stuff - don't pass it up."

Strunz and Farah misfire

seagrisr | Vancouver Island | 11/04/2000

(2 out of 5 stars)

"I am a huge fan of Strunz and Farah. I've seen them live, circa "Americas"/"Heat of the Sun", and I truly looked forward to a continued musical journey with their last studio release, "Wild Muse". Was I disappointed! I have tried to listen to this disc, but it just doesn't catch my attention the way the last three studio discs did. The musical direction has changed, with a heavier jazz influence. I know jazz is historically where these guys came from, but previously in interviews, Strunz and Farah even admitted that no one was buying their recordings back then. So why change course and head back in that direction? I can only assume in considering the cd title, "Wild Muse" is an attempt to explore an artistic direction more personally fulfilling or musically challenging to the artists themselves, now that they have attained a measure of commercial success. Do yourself a favor. If you are looking for an awesome world music cd, get a copy of the raw "Primal Magic", flawless "Americas", or the slightly more mature and refined "Heat of the Sun". These discs capture the essence of what Strunz and Farah are all about. And catch their show. You won't be disappointed."

Superficially Repetitive But Never Boring

Kurt Harding | Boerne TX | 04/11/2004

(5 out of 5 stars)

"Strunz and Farah have been on my radar screen since I heard a cut from Primal Magic on Austin radio station KGSR so many years ago. I liked what I heard so much, I pulled off the freeway to call the station in order to find out who was playing that music! Though I was on my way out of state, I made a quick detour over to a favorite locally-owned music emporium and picked it up on cassette. Since then, Strunz and Farah have remained high on my list of favorites.
I have had Wild Muse for a few years now and decided to throw it on today since I hadn't listened to it or the band in a while. What an excellent recording! I played it in my office all day to the delight of everyone who heard it.
I like the entire CD. No song stands out as the "best" as on some previous albums. To the untrained ear, some of the music seems superficially repetitive, but it is never boring. Any "sameness" is unfailingly on a high plane that copy-cat groups fail to match.
Strunz and Farah seemingly have a lock on the world music genre with their formulaic blend of Latin, Gypsy, and Middle Eastern sounds with a dash of African inspired percussion for spice. Wild Muse steps away from the group's usual heavy bias toward the Latin sound to include a few tunes that might just have easily come from Athens or Istanbul. Danny Papakalos' bouzouki wizardry on Zagros and Faraon had me reaching for a glass of retsina. The CD closes with a pleasant vocal selection, the inclusion of which has become part of the Strunz and Farah recording tradition since the success of Americas.
If you like acoustic guitar duos, you are sure to like this CD. There are a lot of copycat "world music" duos around, some of them quite good and there are also some excellent jazz guitar duos. But few of any genre come close to the virtuosity, compatibility and musical vigor that Strunz and Farah have shown over the years."