Another Fine Day: Salvage

The world could have done without a New Age-y disc-opening version of the folk standard “Scarborough Fair.” And while the use of the African kalimba (thumb piano) on tunes like “Twisted Standards” is interesting, it is by no means a new idea (can you say Earth, Wind & Fire?), and it gets overdone after a while (see “Two Kalimbas and a Synth”). While many of the disc’s textures tip dangerously toward the float-away side, some moments, like the romantic piano intro to “Lost in Space,” add some teeth. Still, before playing this lighter-than-air disc, you’d be well advised to nail your speakers to the floor.

Originally Published January 1, 2001