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Topic: Mike Perlowin's SPANISH STEEL |
Daniel Morris
From:
Westlake, Ohio, USA
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Posted 16 Mar 2020 4:43 am |
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I don't know what took me so long, but I finally got around to buying one of Mike Perlowin's classical CDs.
My take:
SPANISH STEEL is one joyous CD by Mike Perlowin. He's one of a handful of pedal steel guitarists who use the instrument in mostly or exclusively non-country idioms, in this case classical music. I can't fathom the work Mike must have put into this recording - transcribing, meticulously recording parts, using various effects on numerous instruments, besides pedal steel. Talk about a one-man band (well, he did have some percussion help, but it's nearly all Mike here).
And how does it sound? It is indeed a buoyant affair. I've been partial to Spanish/Latin music since I was a boy, and for good reason. The rhythms and melodies are downright infectious, and the music lies well on steel. For straight pedal steel, there are only a few places where it's identifiable as such. A real plus? There are no instances where Mike plays steel as a 'lick machine'.
Personally, I feel the pieces by Albeniz, Rodrigo and Oyanguren work the best. There are many sections of the de Falla and Rimsky-Korsakov that work quite well for me, but my preference is for those middle tracks (12-14).
Now, I'm a huge fan of using effects with pedal steel, and I greatly enjoy hearing steel outside of its habitual environs. What is for me a bit of a distraction is that rather often, the sound of the steel - and the overall sound - come across as a tad too electronic. At times, I'd ask to be forgiven for thinking a synthesizer or pedal steel app was being used, and Mike's very real playing does prove me wrong. I also wonder how this CD would have sounded had someone else overseen the overall production. I feel there needs to be more separation, greater variety of timbres and perhaps a bit less mid-range. These are only my personal observations, and others may scratch their heads at my take.
In the end, I will affirm that this is a fine disc of Spanish music, and Mike is to be congratulated for even thinking of taking on a project like this. Salud, Mike!
The Forum store might have it, and amazon does. Mike's music is worthy of our attention.
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1979 MSA U12 Pedal Steel
1982 Kline U12 Pedal steel
2019 Sierra U12 Pedal Steel
2011 Bear Creek MK Weissenborn
Milkman 40W Mini amp w/Telonics 15" speaker.
Dr. Z Surgical Steel w/TT 15" speaker.
Frenzel MB-50 head.
Spaceman, Empress, Eventide, Pigtronix. |
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Charlie McDonald
From:
out of the blue
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Posted 17 Mar 2020 2:19 am
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I agree. Spanish Steel is one of the favorites in my collection, music I heard in my youth, transcribed for pedal steel, and probably my favorite of Mike's works.
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Those that say don't know; those that know don't say.--Buddy Emmons |
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Dana Blodgett
From:
California, USA
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Posted 17 Mar 2020 1:19 pm
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That’s a pretty good critique by Daniel I’d say.I have enjoyed Mike’s music too. I listened with an open mind and was rewarded. It takes some skills to play multi-;instruments and do the recording also.It’s like making something old new again. The possibilities of the pedal steel guitar are endless to me. It’s not just for Country...
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Dana Blodgett
From Los Osos,Ca.
'74 ShoBud 6140 3+4, Martins HD28,D-12-28, D-15,'65 Gibson LG-1, '77 Gibson Les Paul special dbl cut p-90's, Les Paul Special p-100's,Les paul Special Hybrid(maple top) hbkr's,'68 Fender Strat reissue, Fender Squire Jazz bass,Epi mandolin,Epi Wilshire '66 reissue, Kamaka Concert uke, 70's Kamaka Soprano Uke, Fender Super amp, Ampeg ba112 bass amp,60's harmony banjo,'00 Gibson SG Supreme |
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