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Flash of the Spirit

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1988 studio album by Jon Hassell/Farafina
Flash of the Spirit
Studio album by Jon Hassell/Farafina
Released1988
LabelIntuition
Capitol
ProducerBrian Eno, Daniel Lanois, Jon Hassell

Flash of the Spirit is an album by the American musician Jon Hassell and the Burkinabé musicians Farafina. It was released in 1988, with an American release the following year. A remastered edition was released in 2020.

Production

The album was produced by Brian Eno, Daniel Lanois, and Hassell. J. A. Deane played electronic drums. The title track was included on Intuition and Capitol Records' The World Music Album.

Critical reception

Professional ratings
Review scores
SourceRating
AllMusic
Chicago Tribune
Robert ChristgauB−
The Encyclopedia of Popular Music
MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide

Robert Christgau determined that "the aural environment neither flashes nor fuses—rather than a 'forced collision of cultures,' it sounds like they just barely missed each other." The Chicago Tribune wrote that the album finds Hassell "lofting filigreed, electronically expanded trumpet lines and titanium cloud-chords above ethereal musical settings."

The Boston Globe deemed Flash of the Spirit "tribal music from the global village, sensual, earthy and high tech." The Omaha World-Herald concluded that Hassell "sounds warmer than usual because of the rhythmic density of Farafina ... Hassell's sound, altered and enhanced by electronics, bends and blares."

AllMusic called the album "a near set of dance tunes."

Track listing

No.TitleLength
1."Flash of the Spirit (Laughter)" 
2."Night Moves (Fear)" 
3."Air Afrique (Wind)" 
4."Out Pours (Kongo) Blue (Prayer)" 
5."Kaboo (Play)" 
6."(Like) Warriors Everywhere (Courage)" 
7."Dreamworld (Dance)" 
8."Tales of the Near Future (Clairvoyance)" 
9."A Vampire Dances (Symmetry)" 
10."Masque (Strength)" 

References

  1. Eno, Brian (November 17, 2020). A Year with Swollen Appendices: Brian Eno's Diary. Faber & Faber.
  2. Pareles, Jon (29 June 2021). "Jon Hassell, Musician Who Defied Genres to Create One, Is Dead at 84". The New York Times. p. B9.
  3. Andrews, Jon (Feb 1990). "Primitive Postmodernism". DownBeat. Vol. 57, no. 2. p. 39.
  4. "In Pole Position: Jon Hassell Interviewed". The Quietus.
  5. Payne, John (November 17, 1999). "Taboo". LA Weekly.
  6. Honigmann, David (11 Apr 2020). "World". Life and Arts. Financial Times. p. 14.
  7. ^ MusicHound World: The Essential Album Guide. Visible Ink Press. 2000. p. 261.
  8. The Encyclopedia of Record Producers. Billboard Books. 1999. p. 437.
  9. ^ Smith, Will (August 20, 1989). "Flash of the Spirit". Entertainment. Omaha World-Herald. p. 5.
  10. Healy, James (March 5, 1989). "Compilation Offerings 'Bold, Refreshing'". Entertainment. Omaha World-Herald. p. 10.
  11. ^ "Flash of the Spirit". AllMusic.
  12. ^ McCracken, David (20 July 1989). "Rave recordings". Chicago Tribune. p. 15A.
  13. ^ "Jon Hassell/Farafina". Robert Christgau.
  14. Larkin, Colin (2006). The Encyclopedia of Popular Music. Vol. 3. MUZE. p. 388.
  15. Gonzalez, Fernando (27 Nov 1992). "These Musicians Get No Respect". Arts & Film. The Boston Globe. p. 117.
Jon Hassell
Studio albums
with Brian Eno
with Peter Freeman
with Farafina
Soundtracks
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