DAVID CLARK ALLEN: WIDESCREEN

Released in 2007, David Clark Allen's Widescreen was also compiled with Carmen's otherwise final album, 1975's The Gypsies, which I listened to earlier today. In the least, I do recommend perusing that album.

Introducing this album is the very traditional "Veracruz", with light percussion and acoustic instrumentation. Also handclaps! In retrospect, a sure highlight.

"La Luz" is instead minimal. Same for "Tango For Pia". And I'm seeing now, all percussion is apparently sampled material. It sounds good enough. Gets the job done.

"Delta" in the least has some soloing. This album though has turned out to be very minimal, very traditional in tone, and not often if at all in the 'progressive' camp. "Seti" on the other hand does have a slightly more upbeat rhythm. But ultimately still... not a whole lot here for me.

It's back to soft (and at least very lovely) on "Dancing on a Cold Wind"... until a minute in and the beat once again picks up. This has some more instrumentally than on most tracks that came before. The beat keeps it up on "Bouba", which... I don't know. It doesn't offer me much. Modernity didn't help. Another softie in "Isobel"... and in "Hope".

"Margarita" has something different, but still not for me. An apparently new version from a track off Gypsies. Lastly, we have the self-referential "Carmensque". Some strangeness herein. And here, like the bonus track on the aforementioned Carmen album originally released 42 years before, modern sampled percussion all the more. It's a tad abrasive though after all we just heard. This song features keyboards and synth most prominently. It's more like an electronica tune. I'll pass.