Artist: Vin
Downes
Title: Unlike
The Stars
Release Date:
Januarry 28, 2014
Genre: Instrumental
Guitar
Website: http://www.vindownes.com
Vin
Downes was so taken by the music of finger pickers like Will Ackerman from the
Windham Hill label after listening to a sampler; he took his electric guitar
and put it away. He never looked back and has been playing an acoustic ever
since.
With Unlike The
Stars, his third release, Downes gives you a reason to believe that he did
indeed made the right decision stowing away that six string electric. The
acoustic guitar can have just as much impact and power as any electric if it’s
played properly. I would have to say with conviction that Mr. Downes knows his
instrument quite well.
All of the tracks presented on this album convey warm
tones and atmospheres that relax and put you into a state of simple
gratefulness for life itself. The title track is one of the highlights along
with “Departure.” The title “Departure” is quite apt as it will force you to
literally depart from whatever it is you are doing or focusing on. If you
happen to be stressing out about something in particular, that feeling will
melt like snow in the spring.
Good music creates an ongoing movie in your mind’s eye. I
had visions of a warm summer breeze touching my face and I heard a babbling
brook, which in turn gave me a slice of serenity rarely felt (except when I am
asleep!). All of this beauty was brought forth by this man’s music. The
delicate yet impressionable sounds emanating from his guitar will lead you down
a path of enlightenment, and I do believe that is the purpose of this music. If
that is a fact then this album gets the job done.
Some of the tracks are accentuated by some cello, which
promotes a sense of sadness and longing at times depending on the overall
makeup of the track. But in this case, because of Downes’ guitar placed just
were it needs to be, those feelings never surface, he keeps everything light
and airy.
Perhaps the track “Window Looking…” closing the curtain
on this recording, really is a hint that the music of Vin Downes is a doorway
to his soul and more importantly, you the listener. Give it a try, sit back and
relax and let everything empty out of that busy mind and let Unlike The Stars show you the way.
4/5 Stars
Key
Tracks: Departure, Unlike The Stars, Window Looking…
Keith “MuzikMan” Hannaleck
January 9, 2014
Tracks:
1. where i began
2. riverbend
3. dark blue wind
4. departure
5. all we ever wanted
6. unlike the stars
7. skies and openings
8. window, looking back
9. unweaving
10. what falls away
11. turning years
12. window, looking back (solo)
13. turning years (alternate mix)
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