Tausig, Jay: Taurus: Roots of the Earth

Jay Tausig's latest release, from the "Trip Around the Sun" package is "Taurus: Roots of the Earth". This album takes Tausig's music in a completely different direction than the previous albums in the package.

The action kicks off with a cool earthy reggae beat void of the spacey introductions from the first two CDs. You get the feel of traveling down some Bahamian back road in a jeep, looking out at the crystal clear blue ocean as the sun bakes your senses. Nice image and wonderful supporting music if you're there. There is some cool narration, but it can be difficult to understand at times. The word happiness is often heard repeated through the piece and that is the state of mind this music helps bring together well.

So "Glorious Dub" is a definite keeper and a fine signature opening for the album. "Strength of Will" keeps the reggae beat strong and the tempo full, this time of great percussion, spacey keys and solid drumming.

The spacey keyboard effects make their return as sax and other horns are added to the mix with "Solidity". "Of Natural Things", brings some of the best guitar work on this early section of the album. The solos hold you in their grasp as you wait for what's yet to come.

Jay's wife, Rhi Jenerate, returns with some cool dreamy poetry reading to highlight "Gaia (Transmission from Within)".

"Taurus (Live Dub) Part 1" sheds the reggae beat at the beginning, as the spacey synth keys weave magical vortexes around the soundscape. These keys build within a larger bouncy groove which dominates the sound sphere. Yes…a very cool effect.

"No Babylon Way (featuring Natty Congo)" brings back that nice soft, bouncy reggae groove as Natty Congo sings vocals.

"Ode to Venus" leaves the reggae beat behind entirely as the cool spacey keys roar and launch you back into new dimensions of space that Tausig has so cleverly taken us before. This is one heck of a new inter-stellar overdrive, and easily one of the album's biggest highlights for me.

"Roots of the Earth", the title track is something special. Massive banks of keyboards surround the soundscape with great vocals echoing through the surrounding prism of sound. It is breathtaking to hear, and well placed near the album's conclusion.

Most of the tracks on this album are shorter in length than Tausig's previous albums. However, "Everything So Tactile (Parts 1 & 2)", and the closer, "You Are of this Earth", clock in at 8:40, and 7:20 respectively. This gives Tausig more time to develop the themes he uses so well in all of his music. And develop he does, with cool synth keys and rhythms that let your mind drift from the daily concerns of a modern society. The kind of music we definitely need even more today.

This is Tausig's fourth in a series of 12 albums, and I think he captured every essence of the earth sign.

Track Listing:

1. Glorious Dub 6:03
2. Strength of Will 4:55
3. No Turning Back 3:42
4. Solidity 4:33
5. Of Natural Things 4:41
6. Extreme Determination 5:10
7. Gaia (Transmission from Within) 4:01
8. Taurus (Live Dub) part 1 3:08
9. No Babylon Way (featuring Natty Congo) 3:50
10. Taurus (Live Dub) part 2 3:03
11. Ode to Venus 4:34
12.Tribal Dub (Yeah Mon) 3:12
13. Roots of the Earth 5:24
14. Everything So Tactile (parts 1 & 2) 8:40
15. You Are Of This Earth 7:20

Added: July 28th 2012
Reviewer: Mark Johnson
Score:
Related Link: The Trip Around the Sun.com
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Language: english

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