Stones In My Passway is the 8th album at NativeDSD from Carmen Gomes Inc. The album is the second in a series of recordings that pays tribute to legendary blues singer Robert Johnson, following their earlier tribute album Up Jumped The Devil, also available at NativeDSD.
The recording is a remarkable journey through the corridors of time. Paying homage to the legendary blues musician, composer, and founding father of the fatal 27 Club, Robert Johnson, their album transcends the boundaries of traditional recordings, offering a mesmerizing sonic road movie experience.
‘Stones in My Passway’ effortlessly transports you, each track being a gateway, to a world where time and space intertwine with the rich tapestry of Johnson’s life. Imagine Robert Johnson walking alone late at night in the 1930s United States of America, en route to his sad demise in Greenwood, Mississippi. As he walks, he reflects upon his life, accompanied by the sounds of the night and the echoes of his memories.
The small innovative soundscape vignettes, encompassing each song, weave a cinematic narrative to the unique road movie concept, further enhancing the emotional connection and depth of the musical experience. It’s an immersive and evocative concept album showcasing the power of artistic vision and technical innovation, and a deep reverence for the timeless beauty of Robert Johnson’s music.
The heart of this album is Carmen Gomes Inc.’s inspired interpretations of Johnson’s immortal songs. The synergy among the band members, with Carmen’s sultry voice in constant dialogue with guitarist Folker Tettero, bassist Peter Bjørnild, and drummer Bert Kamsteeg, goes beyond their instruments’ traditional roles. They elevate the emotions, provide solace, and weave a mesmerizing sonic narrative that further enriches the musical experience.
Carmen Gomes Inc.
Carmen Gomes, Vocals
Folker Tettero, Guitar
Peter Bjørnild, Double Bass
Bert Kamsteeg, Drums
Tracklist
Please note that the below previews are loaded as 44.1 kHz / 16 bit.Total time: 00:46:21
Additional information
| Label | |
|---|---|
| SKU | SL1063A |
| Qualities | DSD 512 fs, DSD 256 fs, DSD 128 fs, DSD 64 fs, DXD 32 Bit, DXD 24 Bit |
| Channels | |
| Artists | |
| Composers | |
| Genres | |
| A/D Convertor | Merging Horus |
| Cables | AudioQuest |
| Microphones | Josephson: C700S, C700A, C715, C617 |
| Instruments | |
| Original Recording Format | |
| Recording Engineer | Frans de Rond |
| Release Date | November 20, 2023 |
Press reviews
Audiophile Style
This is the best sounding recording Frans de Rond has done to date. And the best performance by the band.
JazzFlits
Stones In My Passway is Part Two of the Discovering The Music of Robert Johnson series in which Carmen Gomes Inc. breathes new life into the musical legacy of Robert Johnson.
The short atmospheric pieces between the tracks, where you are taken to the scene of the events like in a radio play, are a real treasure. Thus, the album opens with a beautiful intro where a passing train, wind noise, and a single guitar chord transports you to the deep south of the United States.
Carmen sings the blues straight from the heart, profoundly, with authenticity and heartfelt sincerity, eschewing any unnecessary embellishments. Her band has mastered this repertoire completely.
The slow tempos are beautifully exploited, with each musician contributing sparingly but with authority. In their renditions of Johnson’s pieces, you feel the clammy, sweaty air in the ominous dark shady clubs, where the blues was interspersed with drinking parties and fights.
Engineer Frans de Rond has captured the entire setting in a way that allows you to experience the superb interplay of these seasoned musicians. This is so well recorded that turning up the volume knob significantly only seems to make the music even more intense not louder.
With this release, an impressively good album has been added to Carmen’s discography. My suggestion is to buy both Part One (Up Jumped The Devil) and Part Two (Stones in My Passway) as they don’t fall short of each other and only become more precious with time.
1 review for Stones In My Passway
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This is the first album I’ve seen recorded in Analog and transferred to PCM 768khz.
Carmen’s recordings are always a BIG winner in my collection and this one is no exception. That extra recording quality puts this one over the top.
Is that freight train from my headphones or in the street outside!?
Jon Dennerlein (verified owner) –