 In Stock $14.95 |
Philippe Fouquet |
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Track Listings |
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1.
Lueurs d’horizon |
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Produced by Philippe and Harp Guitar
Music founder Gregg Miner (that's me). This is Philippe's third
CD, and (other than one previous track on an old kontragitarre)
his harp guitar debut. And what a debut it is! If
I had to describe Philippe and his music in one word, it would be passion.
I refer to him
as "the Pierre Bensusan of the harp guitar" - though his style
is uniquely his own. In
these
13 new solo compositions - 8 on his Brunner harp guitar and 5 on his
Wingert 6-string - Philippe's heart seems stripped bare for all the
audience to hear, feel and absorb. His
music is joyous, sad, uplifting and heart-wrenching.
It is life.
I've never heard anything quite like this music, and am thrilled to have
been able to help bring it to you. Song notes (not included
in liner notes) are below.
REVIEWS "C’est belle, c’est magnifique, cette musique. Enchanting, delightful, rich in texture and color, the steel stringed melodies of Philippe Fouquet on his debut release for Harp Guitar Music, "Turning Point," captivate the listener with their sheer musicality. In a departure from previous recordings, Fouquet delves headlong into open tunings on "Turning Point." Eight of the 13 tracks are played on his unusual Lukas Brunner harp guitar, where the harp neck is longer scaled and fretless, allowing Fouquet access to deep, resonant registers to anchor his soulful tunes. He makes fine use of them, while allowing the mids and trebles to weave the melody. "Life Will Give You" - as every song on this collection - is a gem of flowing musical ideas. The heat rises a bit on "Run," with a pulsating bass thumping along the route, alternating between major and minor gymnastics across the fretboard; it’s a real digit workout. Fouquet shows equal aplomb when only using six strings (a fine Kathy Wingert guitar), adding unexpected turns in color and chords, as on "La Pluie du Voyage," where a well-placed slap gets our attention. Like most good music, we can sense the development of Fouquet’s themes and ideas as the song progresses, enveloping the listener in his aural meditation. The title cut, "Turning Point," is a melancholic chestnut, brimming with douleur and angst, yet never losing its subtle beauty. There are brief, scattered allusions throughout the CD to the amazing Pierre Bensusan and his complex musical ideas. Whether intentional or not, it’s a fitting homage to a fellow Frenchman and fingerstyle pioneer. "Sky Rivers" bounces between droning bass and ascending and descending chords, rising in tension, only to resolve in gentle harmony. Fouquet concludes the CD with "Sensible," and with his skillful hands, indeed it is. A fine CD, and another great recording from Gregg Miner and the folks at Harp Guitar Music." © Kirk Albrecht, minor7th.com "If you have acoustic guitar lovers in your clientele, you simply must introduce them to Philippe Fouquet’s Turning Point, a recording on which the accomplished artist performs on harp guitar, a dual-necked instrument pictured on the CD’s cover. The harp-guitar’s uniqueness is partly embodied in its sub-bass strings. In Fouquet’s hands, this instrument becomes a vessel of nuance, grace, and artistry. It’s hard to believe that what the listener hears emanates from a single instrument, but it does. By turns fiery and passionate, reflective and inward, and warm and approachable, the 13 tracks on Turning Point will enchant and delight instrumental acoustic guitar lovers." © Bill Binkelman, New Age Retailer |
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| About the Artist |
