Released
1995
Reviewed by
Kim Alexander
Label
RGB Records
Visit
Last Edit/Update
12 May, 1998
Candice Pacheco
If Then...else
Track Listing
1. IF Then..
2. Sola Bân
3. Inside the Oval
4. Jăgabadai
5. In the Never Rose
6. Habitat
7. In Two & Then
8. ...Else
9. Rest Ego
10. With the light still on
11. Yin Yang
"Groovemistress/D'Cückoo co-founder Candice Pacheco lays down
a hot new solo version of her techno/tribal vision. Awesome sampling, cool
instruments from everywhere, distinctive synths, and intricate, multi-ethnic
vocalizing add up to joyful pop-infused world music for the 90s.
IF THEN...ELSE: music from the modern edge,
where computer lingo meets body language."
--RGB Press Data.
Track Listing
1. If Then...
2. Sola Bân
3. Inside The Oval
4. Jăgabadai
5. In the Never Rose
6. Habitat
7. In Two & Then
8. ...Else
9. Rest Ego
10. With the light still on
11. Yin Yang
Once again, the "ethnomusicologist" Candice Pacheco
presents yet
another excellent release with If Then...Else, bringing you a unique and quite
tasty blend of techno-tribal vision with multi-ethnic vocals blended with pop-
infused world music that is sure to get you on the dance floor. It is worthy to
mention here Pacheco's passion for "technological innovation" and voice, by
which she utilizes her "vocal sample files" on her computer, instruments
(Stephen Schultz), in playing baroque and Native American flutes through
her
guitar and Lexicon effects processors. Other instruments used on this release
include the oud (strings), Arabic Tamourine, dumbek, and large finger
cymbals, (Bashir and Nadir Shahin), on Jăgabadai.
Candice manages the
the electric guitar, synthesizer and drum programming on this CD, and
rightfully so as it has an excellent sound, good production and holds your
attention with the upbeat synth-techno-pop fused with her ethnic-world music
creativity and talents.
What is especially nice about this
CD is the full sound brought to the
forefront by the programming, cultural influences and techno-pop beats as in If
Then... and Rest Ego. The elements in Sola Bân just seem to fall
right into
place -- racey beats, swirling synths, and popish vocals. Rolling drums and
melodic backup and vocals brings the listener to Inside The Oval.
Predominantly male vocals, female backup,
guitar, drums and finger
cymbals tempt you to stand up and sway to the wavey tribal performance in
Jăgabadai. Slowing down a bit with In the Never Rose, a romantic blend of
vocal harmony and smooth guitar which take a twist into Habitat, dark synths,
jungle critters calling from behind the sound wall, as you imagine yourself
walking into a clearing and seeing/hearing a group of multi-cultural people
celebrating some festivity in which In Two & Then portrays. ...Else is a
warmer
more mello composition, more female vocals slightly treated with echos,
clicking rhythm, bass, drums and melodic synths. The dreamy sounds of
With the lights still on are wonderfully soothing, layered with a smooth tribal
beat, and flows into Yin Yang, another more mello yet more ethnic sound with
soft flutes and expansive synths in the background, shuffled with the sounds of
more likely Candice's programming and baroque (correct me if I am wrong
there...).
A word about music technology from
Candice:
"When I first started working with electronic music in college, it was pre-MIDI
and by today's standards crude, but I was instantly in love. Since then music
technology has moved at such a rapid pace and continues to do so, that I
really have a hard time believing that Captain Picard will be playing European
classical music 400 years in the future. As a result of the technology, I was
able to completely produce this recording in my studio. I want to acknowledge
and thank the multitude of under-appreciated and overworked engineers whose
individual and collective genius envisioned and created the technology that
made this and in fact all recordins possible. You are the spirit in the machine."
--CD Liner Notes.
To read the
review of
"The Vortex"
by
Candice Pacheco
Click here!