Hemispheres

Track Listings

1. Ra!

2. Chamber Symphony No. 2: Stomp and Buc Dance

3. Chamber Symphony No. 2: Interlude

4. Chamber Symphony No. 2: Mechanique

5. Chamber Symphony No. 2: Interlude

6. Chamber Symphony No. 2: Static

7. Chamber Symphony No. 2: Fire, Dance and Wahbekanetta

8. Spin Cycle

9. Prism Rhapsody II

10. Sunrise at Angel's Gate

11. Hemispheres: Genesis

12. Hemispheres: Earth Canto

13. Hemispheres: Rajas

Tracks:

Hemispheres
Circumstances
The Trees
La Villa Strangiato

Amazon.com

Smart rockers Rush were just on the brink of being embraced by the album rock mainstream when they recorded Hemispheres. Already wildly popular with a certain corner of the intellectual crowd, thanks in part to drummer Neil Peart's Ayn Rand obsession, this CD marked a turning point for the Canadian trio. Hemispheres explores the political, social economic, and sci-fi themes prevalent on their early work, continuing the saga of "Cygnus" from A Farewell To Kings. Rush was fond of writing in movements, almost orchestrally, rather than the typical verse/chorus/verse/chorus structure, and Hemispheres has the usual opus-like compositions that perfectly displayed their chops. The CD features time changes that you'd need a calculator to crack, impossible guitar arpeggios from Alex Lifeson, and Geddy Lee's low end bass rumblings and high end vocal shriekings. Rush's lofty lyrics sometimes bordered on the ridiculous and, if for no other reason, Hemispheres deserves props for Lee's ability to sing the line, "There is unrest in the forest..." (from "Trees") while keeping a straight face. --Steve Gdula

Customer Reviews:

Can Rush Keep Getting Better? Oh Yeah!.......2007-06-28

The thing Rush fans had to keep asking themselves from 2112 on into Moving Pictures was: Can Rush keep getting better with each new album release? And the answer was, yes! After breaking away from their Zeppelin influences and creating their own sound, Rush was still building upon their mmusical talents and the strength of they're lyric-writing drummer and after the greatness of A Farewell To Kings, they went into the studio to record their final (so far) epic concept album. Hemispheres is the technically superior bastard son of 2112. Where 2112 laid the groundwork for their sprawling one-sided opus, Hemispheres perfected it. Everything on this album indicates that Rush were hell- bent on being the best musicians they could be, and Neil Peart's lyrics were just getting better. As for the force of their groove, Rush was as cohessive as ever as a single musical unit. Let's hit the song listing:

Cygnus X-1 Book II: Hemispheres - Where Cygnus X-1 left off on A Farewell To Kings, Hemispheres brings us back. Shrouded in the Mythological realms of Greek Gods, Hemispheres follows the rise of Cygnus as the God of Balance amoung the Immortals on Mt. Olympus. Musically tight and stunning, Hemispheres is well-crafted and precise. Great opening song-suite. This is Rush at the top of their game as far as the whole concept album goes. Excellent.

Circumstances - One of my personal favorites. This is a great song that gets overlooked too often. I felt the gloom of empty rooms on rainy afternoons... Short and sweet and rocking.

The Trees - An all-out Rush classic. This is one of those great Rush songs that must be on every fan's top ten list. Great commentary on social tension through the metaphor of waring trees in a forest. Alex's acoustic work is awesome and Neil's tidy little percussion extravaganza is perfect. Another fine example of how far Rush had evolved at this point in time, not only as musicians but as social commentators. Excellent! ....and the trees are all kept equal by hatchet, ax, and saw.

La Villa Strangiato - This is what The Fountain Of Lamneth would have sounded like if Rush had been able to plot themselves better back in the Caress Of Steel Days. Instead of complete chaos, with ideas roaming wild and colliding into one another, we have a balance that is tight, concise, and free-flowing. Strangiato is seamless. Here the boys get to show off every way that they can. This is a grand, epic, sprawling instrumental that birthed such later classics as YYZ and Leave That Thing Alone. This is Rush on Heavy Groove. After this no one would doubt their skills as musicians ever again. They had become gods themselves.

Overall, Hemispheres only boasts 4 tracks, which may have detracted from people shelling out money to get it at the time. Clocking a little over 36 minutes, it did seem sparse on the time side, but what they did in those 36 minutes was enough. They said what they came to say. No need for filler. Rush will continue to move forward from here, but Hemispheres will remain one of their earlier crowning achievements. A must for every Rush fan, this is a nice look back to see how they used do it. The last big song-suite of the boys from Toronto, now they would be more inclined to say what they had to say in smaller doses. Excellent!

Dig it!

Simply the Best.......2007-05-15

Simply put, this is the best RUSH release, PERIOD.....SO masterfully written and created. From beginning to end, there is not one throw away song. Any RUSH fan that doesnt have Hemispheres is doing an injustice to themselves. Hemispheres is 1. and 2112 is 1a..............

Classic Rush.......2007-04-15

This album is groundbreaking in every way. The lyrics, song structures and of course the masterful musicianship are all top of the class. Rush are one of the best prog-rock bands ever and this is one of their best efforts. It grips you from the beginning to the end with not one wasted note to be found. Hemispheres, 2112 and Moving Pictures are Rush at their finest.

Music: 5 Stars, Lyrics: 1 Star.......2007-03-27

This is a really tough album to review because it has so many contrasts. On one hand, musically, this is one of Rush's best albums of the 70's, but lyrically, it's embarrassingly bad (especially "Hemispheres" and "The Trees"). When I first heard Hemispheres, as a teenager, I thought the lyrics were cool, but now as an adult, I find them just puerile and silly; Neil Peart is a fine lyricist, but this is not the best example of his work.

Musically, it's a different story. This is a good - maybe even great - album, and Rush's last true epic song, Hemispheres, is interesting and complex. The cool fusion of hard rock and jazz elements makes "La Villa Strangiato" one of their best instrumentals. This was one last hurrah in the "progressive rock" genre for Rush, as they took a totally different direction with their next album.

Definitely worth a listen, if you can get beyond the lyrics and just concentrate on the great music.

Classic Rush!.......2006-12-18

I don't get some people!I know people who like Korn,Stain,Creed but they don't like Rush.Do you get it?I don't!They don't make albums like this anymore.Peart is such an awesome drummer.He is just as good as some of my favorite Jazz drummers.Great guitar work and bass lines too!If you like classic 70's rock this is an album for you.

Average customer rating:

Lily Afshar Hemispheres
Lily Afshar: Hemispheres
Jaw Dropping

Lily Afshar - Hemispheres

Manufacturer: Archer Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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Mel Bay Five Popular Persian Ballads for Solo Classic Guitar

ASIN: B000G7PNZY
Release Date: 2006-07-25

Tracks:

Kara Toprak (Asik Veysel, arranged by Ricardo Moyano) US Premiere
Schnee in Istanbul (Carlo Domeniconi)
Gozaar (Calligraphy No. 5) (Reza Vali) Written for Lily Afshar, World Premiere
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Prelude (John Schneider) Dedicated to Lily Afshar
Fugato (John Schneider) Dedicated to Lily Afshar, World Premiere
Adagio, Op.44 (Gerard Drozd) World Premiere (Homage to J.S. Bach)
Danza del Altiplano (Leo Brouwer)
Fantasia on a Traditional Persian Song (Garry Eister) Writen for Lily Afshar, World Premiere
Morgh-eh-Sahar (Bird Of Dawn) (Morteza Neydavood) Performance on Seh-tar
Misionera (Fernando Bustamante)

Album Description

Internationally renowned classical guitarist Lily Afshar has recorded her fourth and most impressive CD to date: Hemispheres. This CD is filled with premieres and introduces, for the first time, Persian traditional music composed for guitar by Reza Vali.

Customer Reviews:

Lily Afshar Hemispheres.......2007-07-21

Lily is a very good guitarist, She brings a nice variety of music to the table in this CD. If you love the guitar, you can't go wrong with this CD.

Lily Afshar: Hemispheres.......2007-01-10

This is my second CD of guitar music by Lily. I am absolutley enthralled with her playing; still prefer all of the tracks on the "Jug of Wine" CD' though.

Jaw Dropping.......2006-12-30

Good gracious, Dr. Afshar is simply astonishing. Her playing is technically impeccible, her interpretations are inspiring, and her selection of repertoire is innovative and enjoyable. True to form, Dr. Afshar has broadened the guitar's capabilities by having new music written for it but also by altering the guitar itself. She's added frets to get quarter tones needed for Turkish and world music! Leave it to Afshar to think of something no one else has thought of and to bring the guitar to a whole new level. The album has new works no one has ever heard before (some written for her) and it also has works by known composers like Brouwer and Morel. Many thanks to Afshar for doing something new and taking the Classical Guitar World by storm.

Average customer rating:

Between Hemispheres
Nonloc
Manufacturer: Strange Attractors
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000OYC34S
Release Date: 2007-05-15

Tracks:

Corpus Callosum
Candide
Processional
The Golden Apple Pie
Piano Stream
Sentry At Eleusis
My Song Before The Gates
A Popular Tune
Lost In The Desert, Near Death
Clearing
Two Dreams
Between Hemispheres

Album Description

"Using loops built from piano, clarinet, and accordion lines, Dwinell creates a base for his chugging, probing guitar and gently sung poetry. Although Dwinell's electric guitars do the occasional cameo to provide color, acoustic guitar is the album's dominant instrument, where he makes like another of his heroes, the late acoustic-six-string guru John Fahey." - BOSTON PHOENIX

Nonloc is the solo guise of Mark Dwinell, the guitar-slinging ringleader of East Coast spontaneous trance rokers Bright. Between Hemispheres is a heady excursion into repetition and the unyielding strength of unrepentant melody. Fascinated by minimalist composers such as Steve Reich and Terry Riley, Nonloc seeks to focus on the microtonal universe and hypnotic netherworlds minimalism awakens from repetition, while constructing ivory towers of melody ever upwards. Guitars provide focus, but the elaborate color accumulation of Between Hemispheres is dominated by alternate layering of acoustic instruments such as piano, accordion, mandolin, and cello. Whereas Bright will use vocals sparingly as instrumental color, Nonloc spices up the instrumental forays by peppering tunes with lyrics that are direct and at times strikingly personal. Impeccably recorded, Between Hemispheres is a long-playing lullaby for intimate, contemplative twilight stares into candlelight.

Borderland
Average customer rating:

Commendable song selection, but...

This is the sexiest music I've come across

Very ethnic, with strong chant like music, inspirational and

Borderland
Libana
Manufacturer: Shanachie
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music
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Fire Within

A Circle Is Cast

ASIN: B000000E53
Release Date: 1993-11-19

Tracks:

Oi Dai
Misecina Udrila U Vrata
Aber Mi Dojde
Fihel Asirem
Sh't'eshte Nxire Vetulla Tyne
Medley Of Slav Wedding Songs
Joc De Leagne
Andean Medley: Pobre Mi Negra/Ay, Porque Dios/Cautivando Corazones
Nami, Nami
Liwlaad Widdeeb
Zar

Customer Reviews:

Commendable song selection, but..........2003-05-28

I've never liked the NBA player's quote that the trouble with women's basketball is that, with very few exceptions, they can't/don't/won't "take it to the hoop and stick it." But listening to this disc gives me an eerily similar feeling about Libana, and in that respect I find it a most frustrating listen. While the arrangements of these well-chosen songs are often interesting--particularly some of the mildly dissonant a capella passages--the performance of the material comes across as limp. The first sign of trouble comes in the opening track, the Finnish "Oi Dai." Varttina's version is just percussive enough to give it the visceral strength it needs, but this nearly note-perfect transcription of the Varttina arrangement suffers in comparison, much more weakly projected. I get the sense that the singers of Libana are content to sing along with the music, rather than forcefully putting across their own feelings.

Gentleness is a virtue too often overlooked in music, but certainly the Balkan songs presented here demand a quality of toughness that Libana doesn't demonstrate on this CD. Their instrumental and vocal skills, along with their choice of source material, speak fluently for themselves. But ultimately the limp projection makes even these expert musicians sound amateurish, and even the accurate traditional vocal flourishes only make the musicians of Libana sound like they're trying to show off--and almost but not quite delivering.

This is the sexiest music I've come across.......1999-01-10

What makes this music so sexy? Well, there is one tract - you'll know the one - which has three distinctive sections with very rhythmic beats that would turn on the purest virgin...enjoy!

Very ethnic, with strong chant like music, inspirational and.......1998-06-23

soothing. The instruments are unique and offer something different and interesting to the singing. Each song is unique. This is great back ground or medatative music that could have a variety of other uses. I have used it as background music for my biweekly massages. It is a nice break from Celtic or Mexican String guitar music. Though it is a little too much for music to study to. The music is from all over the world, but it has a very east indian, gypsy, quality to it. I think you will enjoy it very much.

Average customer rating:

A Note From The Producer

Hemispheres
Dan Siegel
Manufacturer: Varese Sarabande
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Jazz Funk | Funk | R&B | Styles | Music
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Along the Way: The Best of Dan Siegel

ASIN: B00009P1N5
Release Date: 2003-06-10

Tracks:

Savanna
Hemispheres
Homeland
Sanctuary
Ancient Footsteps
Stix & Stones
El Nino
In The Mist
Rainbow Sky
Forest People
Rainbow Sky

Customer Reviews:

A Note From The Producer.......2004-01-31

Popular smooth jazz keyboardist Dan Siegel has been helping to shape the genre since his recording debut in 1980. When he originally released this extraordinary and ambitious project Hemispheres in 1995, he was simply trying to create an original, globally oriented twist on his mega-popular trademark keyboard sound. It was a veritable smorgasbord of world beat sounds, beats and textures which allowed him to keep a lower profile on the keyboard and keep the focus on some very unique all-star instrumental combinations. The plan was to bring together a lot of artists who played many different instruments some mainstream, some exotic, and blend them. The album title alludes to the overlapping of cultures, juxtaposing different sounds in ways you might not expect. It was a veritable United Nations in the studio at one time. Hemispheres is one of the 90s most innovative gems. The albums all-star instrumental collaborations include Osamu Kitajima (his soundtrack compositions have been heard in Japanese films and PBS documentaries), premiere banjo player Béla Fleck (considered one of the most innovative pickers in the world), and Boney James (best selling R&B saxophonist). Unavailable for over five years, this reissue features the previously unreleased bonus track "Rainbow Sky" with vocals by Terri Nunn, from the group Berlin ("Take My Breath Away").

Average customer rating:

A Veritable Feast For Your Ears

Hemispheres
Dan Siegel
Manufacturer: Playfull Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | International | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000006KRN
Release Date: 1995-05-01

Tracks:

Savanna
Hemispheres
Homeland
Sanctuary
Ancient Footsteps
Stix & Stones
El Nino
In The Mist
Rainbow Sky
Forest Poeple

Album Description

A mix of world beat sounds, rhythms and textures including instrumental and artist combinations, including Dori Caymmi (guitar), Tony Karasek (sitar), Bela Fleck (banjo), Charlie Bisharat (violin), Abraham Laborial (bass), Masakazu Yoshizawa (shakuhachi flute), Asamu Kitajima (koto), Luis Conte (acoustic percussion), John Bilezikjian (bozooki), Tollak Ollstad (harmonica), Mike Marshall (mandolin), Jeff Kashiwa (Saxaphone), Boney James (tenor sax), Rick Braun (trumpet), Ottmar Liebert (acoustic guitar), Dan Siegel (synthesizers, sampled percussion, piano, voice), and Richard Smith (electric guitar).

Customer Reviews:

A Veritable Feast For Your Ears.......2000-08-13

I have been listening to this album regularly since it was given to me back in the summer of 1995. Every time I listen to it, I discover another facet of the complex musical ideas that are packed into every minute of every song. With more than 25 different artists collaborating with Dan Siegel on this album, playing almost as many different instruments, it's no wonder that there is so much for the ears to enjoy! The sheer number of instruments employed is not the true wonder of this gem of an album; I think that the magic is created through the unusual and striking combinations of instruments that Dan has envisioned for his collaborators. For example, take the title tune of the album: Until the release of this album, who had even dreamed of hearing a violin (Charlie Bisharat), koto (Osamu Kitajima), sitar (Tony Karasek), shakuhachi flute (Masakazu Yoshizawa) and a bazookie (John Bilezikjian) in melodious combination? Or, on track number 6--Stix & Stones--the mysterious and fanciful combination of steel pan (Andy Narell), banjo (Bela Fleck), violin (Charlie Bisharat, shakuhachi flute (Masakazu Yoshizawa), bass guitar (Abraham Laborial) and the subtle acoustic percussion of Luis Conte. Each of the remaining 8 tracks has another surprising combination to tickle the fancy. I for one can't wait for Dan's next album, which I understand will further explore more wonderful and surprising musical combinations from around the world.

Average customer rating:

Live Nucleus

Hemispheres
Nucleus
Manufacturer: Hux Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000FZEQ32
Release Date: 2006-07-24

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Elastic Rock
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Single Line
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Persephone's Jive (Live In Europe, March 1970)
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Hemisphere (Live In Europe, February 1971)

Product Description

1. Cosa Nostra
2. Elastic Rock
3. Stonescape
4. Single Line
5. Twisted Track
6. 1916
7. Persephone’s Jive Live in Europe, March 1970
8. Song For The Bearded Lady
9. Tangent
10. We’ll Talk About It Later
11. Snakehips Dream
12. Hemisphere Live in Europe, February 1971

Format: CD

Customer Reviews:

Live Nucleus.......2007-02-03

Here we have a dozen live tracks, recorded in March 1970 and February 1971, cagily described as "live in Europe" (possibly because the venue would not license their release). Straight off the soundboard, the sound quality is everything one could hope for, with excellent fidelity in mono (first set) or stereo (second set) and only minimal polite applause between tracks.

The band is only 6 months old in the first set, touring to support their debut album and it shows in the long, jamming, not-particularly-gelled sound. It is the sound of six talented soloists following the barest of charts. John Marshall in particular stands out as a powerhouse drummer holding the explosive ensemble together as best he can.

By the second set, 11 months and two more albums later, they've grown into a cohesive working unit with less emphasis on showoff soloing and more on tight unison themes and mutual support.

The cover includes the standard Nucleus story by Nigel Cross and a few archival travelog photos, though unfortunately none of the band in performance. Humorously the roadside photos from their trip to the Newport Jazz Festival are listed under "Nucleus European Tour" (!)

This release makes a nice adjunct to the Cuneiform release "Live in Bremen" recorded three months later in the midst of the band's first (but by no means last) personnel changes.

Average customer rating:

Convergence
Ian Dogole & Hemispheres
Manufacturer: Jazzheads
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Jazz Fusion | Jazz | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000FDFPQG
Release Date: 2006-05-09

Tracks:

Nostalgia
Mistura E Manda
John Coltrane
Hijaz Oyun Havasi
Jungle Jive II
House Party Starting
Smiles For Billy

Average customer rating:

Hemispheres

Manufacturer: Klavier
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00012FXL8
Release Date: 2003-12-02

Tracks:

Ra!
Chamber Symphony No. 2: Stomp and Buc Dance
Chamber Symphony No. 2: Interlude
Chamber Symphony No. 2: Mechanique
Chamber Symphony No. 2: Interlude
Chamber Symphony No. 2: Static
Chamber Symphony No. 2: Fire, Dance and Wahbekanetta
Spin Cycle
Prism Rhapsody II
Sunrise at Angel's Gate
Hemispheres: Genesis
Hemispheres: Earth Canto
Hemispheres: Rajas

Average customer rating:

Northern Lights
Hemispheres
Manufacturer: Delta
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | International | Styles | Music

International | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B00004Z1DM

Album Details

An Ambient World Music Collection, featuring Music from and Inspired by the Varied Cultures of the Northern Hemisphere. A Companion to 'southern Cross,' Includes 'heart of the Cura,' 'desert Wind' and 'texarcana Blues.'

Music Review:

Music Review

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Back on the Case

1. Ra!
2. Chamber Symphony No. 2: Stomp and Buc Dance
3. Chamber Symphony No. 2: Interlude
4. Chamber Symphony No. 2: Mechanique
5. Chamber Symphony No. 2: Interlude
6. Chamber Symphony No. 2: Static
7. Chamber Symphony No. 2: Fire, Dance and Wahbekanetta
8. Spin Cycle
9. Prism Rhapsody II
10. Sunrise at Angel's Gate
11. Hemispheres: Genesis
12. Hemispheres: Earth Canto
13. Hemispheres: Rajas