Surpasses even STREAM.
06/23/2003
(5 out of 5 stars)
"GOSSIP OF THE NEURONS is possibly the greatest album to feature Tim on an acoustic guitar. A sadly overlooked CD (for a while, Tim Reynolds's own site was about the only place you could find it), it was recorded live at Millers in early 1996, in Charlottesville, VA. There are surprisingly few older songs in the setlist (only "After the Dust Settles" and "Letting Go" are included), but the then-new compositions are marvelous: "Imaginary Time," "Loose Interpretations," "Breathing Space," and "There is no Judgement" have since become staples in his repertoire.But to simply hear "songs" is not what a true Reynolds fan goes to one of his shows for; it's his astonishing gift for improvisation. Using his elaborate array of sonic effects, the improvised tracks "Hermetic Dew Drops," "Not of This World," and the title track conjure up images (in my head, at least) of underwater journeys, extraterrestrial encounters, and just plain spooky things. Don't put those tracks on in your car when driving by yourself in the boondocks after dark.
"Kundalini Bonfire," and "Big Blast of Hot Air" are, despite their billing, NOT improvised tracks. They are played often on Tim's solo acoustic shows (even with Dave & Tim earlier this year), but parts of them ARE improvised, showing Tim's amazing gift. "Loose Interpretations" is probably the best improv on the album not to use any kind of digital trickery. Which is not to downplay the rest of this CD, which is simply marvelous and is an absolute must-have for any fan after he or she has purchased Tim's 1993 masterpiece STREAM, which doesn't contain any digitized soundscapes that, admittedly, are not to everyone's taste."
Tracks
Bubbasbox | Orlando, FL | 04/23/2007
(5 out of 5 stars)
"1. hermetic dew drops
2. after the dust settles
3. imaginary time
4. big blast of hot air
5. the gossip of neurons
6. loose interpretation
7. breathing space
8. letting go
9. kundalini bonfire
10. there is no judgement
11. not of this world
"