Search - Secret Archives of the Vatican :: Reformation

This is great, innovative music.

Darryl L. Cottier | Arizona | 06/21/2000

(4 out of 5 stars)

"SAofV have put out one of the most cutting edge CD's with Christian overtones in a long long time. They intermingle a mixture of Asian sounds, voices, and samples to achive a fresh sound. You can tell they aren't working through a major record company as they are willing to experiment and give you a big dose of music (16 tracks - 70:48 minutes of music). My personal favorites "Reformation" sort of an Asian Anthem techno sound and track 8 "Godheadz" which is more a drum and bass tune. I believe the Vince Millett and Louis Counter have played some of the instruments on the CD, like noseflute, doumbek, bouzouki, and mandola. You add these to the tradition sampling and programming and you have a vey good CD, I played my first copy till it fell apart. Highly recommend."

Excellent

Derek Kosky | Minneapolis, MN, USA | 03/10/2009

(5 out of 5 stars)

"An excellent early release from Secret Archives.

A raw album which displays the beginnings of their experimentation.

However, don't fall for the people selling them on this site.

Go to their website and email the band for a free copy.

"

Love it.

Derek Kosky | 06/21/2000

(5 out of 5 stars)

"From the opening of the title track Reformation as the synth lines meet with Eastern percussion and hard breakbeats you know that this CD is something a little unusual. Secret Archives of the Vatican bring together a whole stack of styles, Drum and Bass, Techno, Trance, Hip-Hop, Trip-Hop and mix it up with a huge variety of textures and sounds from around the globe. Hip-hop grooves find themselves paired up with Medieval dance tunes, tracks like Takla Machan mix techno with a suprisingly different take on "ethnic" vocals while Godheadz and Dark Night of the Soul mix the more laid back end of jungle with Javanese Gamelan and Oboe's.What is really noticeable is the space given to acoustic instruments alongside the techno analogue synths and hard dance drums. During In the Shade of the Injil this is particularly striking with the whole track based on some kind of long Eastern melody.The other thing that really makes the overall package of Reformation so appealing is the space in the cover given over to sleeve notes. No lyrics or list of musicians here just poetic starting points for getting deeper into the tracks. All in all its a very rewarding CD."