CD Review
Mike Link & Harvey Taylor Beat Elementals The latest offering from Milwaukee's Mike Link and Harvey Taylor offers a serious dose of world fusion music. One of the standouts, "Silvery Swirl," opens with sitar and tabla, picking up flute, trumpet and heavy bass and drum programming as it goes, creating a feel that combines traditional Indian flavors with jazz and house music. The overall vibe of the CD is at times reminiscent of some of Bill Laswell's experiments with Tabla Beat Science and Material, but Beat Elemental's take is decidedly original and groove-heavy. Harvey Taylor's trumpet soars through Mike Link's digital beatscapes beautifully, and a stellar list of guests added to the mix doesn't hurt either. The Milwaukee Symphony's Glenn Asch sits in on violin, as do guitarist Michael Sullivan and Holly Haebig of One Drum and De La Buena. —Jason Seed - 8/16/2007 Copyright 2007 The Shepherd Express (Milwaukee, WI) |