Several More Musiks

Description

Several More Musiks is an instrumental album by the American singer, songwriter, and multi-instrumentalist Kerry Livgren of Kansas fame, independently released on Numavox in 2017. Originally recorded in 1988 and released as One of Several Possible Musiks in 1989 by Sparrow Records. Re-recorded, re-mixed, and re-mastered in 2017 and released as Several More Musiks featuring new cover artwork. Tracks 1, 5, and 9 are new songs. (From the booklet: “Most of the original tracks, except the guitar parts, have been totally re-cut, and of course the album has been re-mixed and re-mastered. In addition, I have written and recorded 3 new songs.“)

One of Several Possible Musiks

In 1988, I was living in Covington, Georgia. I had not been a very prolific writer in the previous two years, but I had an explosion of Musical ideas that year. The more I listened to them, it became clear to me that this was going to be an instrumental album. Upon completion, I drove to Nashville and presented the album to Sparrow Records (The one record deal I had at the time), and to my surprise they were enthusiastic about it. They raised an eyebrow at the unusual nature of the Music, but the more they heard it, they were convinced. They thought an instrumental album would be a bit of a marketing challenge, but they went for it.

Several More Musiks

In early 2017 I had one remaining album on 2” Analog Master tapes – “One of Several Possible Musiks.” I no longer had a machine to play them on, so I took them to Kansas City to be transferred to Digital. I had never contemplated re-mixing this album (much less re-recording it), but when I began listening I was convinced that it could be greatly improved. Most of the original tracks, except the Guitar parts, have been totally replaced, and of course the album has been re-mixed and re-mastered. In addition, I have written and recorded 3 new songs. As always, enjoy!

– Kerry Livgren

If you’ve been around christian music for some length of time, you will know the name Kerry Livgren, who came to fame as guitarist and lyricist for the classic rock/prog rock band Kansas, and then left the band after coming to faith and continued his music career solo and with the band A.D. Now an elder statesman in rock music, Livgren has been slowly remastering and re-releasing all his previous solo and A.D. releases. This CD was an unusual one for Livgren, being entirely instrumental. It was originally recorded in 1988 and titled One of Several Possible Musiks, winning a Dove award that year.

Remastering and some rerecording has been done, the results sounding crisp and clean. 3 new tracks have been added, «On the Waves of Kinnaret», «Jubal’s Ark-estra», and «Pastorale» – adding a classical touch to the album, as well as new cover art for the renamed Several More Musiks. If your musical tastes don’t extend beyond the borders of metaldom, you may politely pass, but as most headbangers also enjoy guitar instrumental albums, we thought we’d review this disc for you.

There’s a wide variety of styles on display here, all loosely under the umbrella of prog rock. Livgren is a guitarist first, and so there is a lot of guitar-work here, but Kerry passes on flexing and noodling, choosing to structure songs where the guitar is not always center stage. He paints lush and mellow pallets, with the occasional rock guitar song («Ancient Wing»). Thankfully the keyboards have all been updated. There’s a lot of classical influence, and unexpected instruments such as trumpets; even some passages that might classify as jazz. For Kansas fans and especially fans of Phil Keaggy‘s volumes of work. [Doug Van Pelt]

> Apple Music (https://music.apple.com/us/album/several-more-musiks/1322730595)

CD tracklist:

01. On The Waves Of Kinnaret
02. And I Saw, As It Were…Konelrad
03. Ancient Wing
04. Collonnade Gardens
05. Jubal’s Ark-estra
06. A Fistful Of Drachma
07. Alenna In The Sun
08. Diaspora
09. Pastorale
10. Tannin Danse
11. In The Sides Of The North
12. The Far Country
13. Eerie Cove
14. 10th Of Nisan

Note: Several More Musiks is One Of Several Possible Musiks re-recorded, re-mixed, and re-mastered (with tracks 1, 5, and 9 being new songs). Available at Bandcamp: https://kerrylivgren.bandcamp.com/album/several-more-musiks