26 Results for : pigeonhole
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Nukeproof Giga 275 Carbon Frame - Black - Rahmen - Full Suspension MTB
This frame is ideal for enduro racing, hardcore trail riding and epic all-mountain adventures, and it's a superb foundation for your next full-suspension trail slayer. Plus, this version features a Fox Float X2, Factory Series, Kashima, EVOL rear shock, is compatible with 180mm travel suspension forks and offers max tyre clearance of 2.6". GLUTTONY – HABITUAL GREED OR EXCESS. As riders, we are all guilty of the gluttonous sin; we never stop striving, never stop pushing, enough is never enough in the hunt for the ultimate. It’s a constant push for bigger, longer, rougher and faster with ever-increasing demands on the performance and capabilities of our bike. The pursuit is endless, and the result is that the Giga frame is now available for 27.5”, 29” or new Mixed (Front 29”/Rear 27.5” wheel sizes) wheel setups. It’s a motto that athletes like Sam Hill live by. The new Nukeproof Giga is the embodiment of this idea; Designed to be the ultimate hard-hitting Super-Enduro weapon for when you just need more. Long Travel Full Suspension Super Enduro Frame The Giga is a seriously capable machine, with 180mm (27.5” or 29”/27.5”) or 170mm (29”) rear travel; the Giga is a monster truck of a bike that has suspension travel in reserve for when you need it. But to pigeonhole it as a point and shoot machine would be a disservice as it is so much more capable than this might suggest! Due to the way that it uses its travel; the Giga gives you the feel of a big bike, yet the versatility of a modern super-enduro bike. The Giga has a dynamic and confidence-inspiring ride to help you push your limits in all kinds of terrain. It’s equally at home at big mountain technical enduro stages of venues like La Thuile, as it is lapping the biggest lines in the Whistler bike park. The suspension is designed to be super supple off the top, whilst being supportive in the mid stroke and progressive throughout the rest of the travel. The anti-squat is optimised to ensure the Giga descends like a hooligan yet behaves itself on the climb back to the top for the next run. Adjustable Suspension Platform The suspension platform is based on the same horseshoe driven linkage as our award-winning Dissent downhill frame, albeit now with a 2-stage main pivot flip chip. Using an eccentric axle system, riders can alter the Kinematic progressivity; so, the bike can be tailored to suit the conditions on the trail with only an 8mm Allen key. Setting 1 = 25.5% progression Setting 2 = 29% progression Both settings have a super supple beginning for small bump compliance. They also both have good mid-stroke support for better cornering and pumping. Like the Dissent, the progression drops off in the end stroke to prevent mid-stroke harshness or spiking and allows more tuning options with volume spacers. The + Progressive setting can be used to add shock progression on a coil set up just like adding a volume spacer to an air shock. The added suppleness is also good in wet and slippery conditions. Stiff, Strong and Lightweight Carbon Construction The Giga Frame is constructed completely from UD 700/800 Carbon fibre. This allowed Nukeproof to optimise the stiffness and compliance of the frame parts individually. The front triangle has been tailored for stability and precision, whilst the rear triangle was designed for compliance to help tracking and provide grip. Another bonus of the carbon rear triangle is that it has a lower un-sprung mass for ultimate suspension performance. Long, Low and Slack Modern Enduro Geometry Available in Small to XXL for 27.5” wheels, Small to Large for MX wheels (Front 29”/Rear 27.5” wheel sizes) and Medium to XXL for 29” wheels, there is the perfect option for everyone. The new mixed platform uses a 29” wheel up front to maximise grip and rolling efficiency whilst the 27.5” wheel out back, ensures nimble handling for manoeuvrability. The frame geometry is Long, Low, Slack and Steep as it is based around our saddle offset principle, which ensures the seated riding position is tailored across all sizes, with steeper seat angles on bigger frames. The Seat tube is also designed for maximum seat post insertion to allow maximum drop. Integrated Rear Mud Guard and 2.6" Tyre Clearance The Giga is also sculptured to fit a 750ml water bottle (carbon bottle cage included) as well as an accessory mount under the top tube for emergency trail tools. All models also feature an integrated rear mudguard and the 275 has plenty of clearance for up to 2.6” tyres. The frames feature a clear paint protection kit as standard with 3D contoured rubber downtube, seat and chainstay protection. The Nukeproof GIGA: Gluttony is not a sin. Features: Material: Ultra Strong T700/800 Monocoque Carbon Fibre Fork Travel: 180mm Axle to Crown: 572mm Fork Offset: 37mm Rear Travel: 180mm Wheels Size: 27.5" Max Tyre Size: 2.6" Recommended Shock Sag (Measured seated): 28% Shock Size: 205x65mm Shock Hardware F: TRUNNION Shock Hardware R: 30x8mm Sizing: S/M/L/XL/XXL Headtube: 44-56mm Tapered Semi-Integrated Headset: ZS44-28.6 - T2 / ZS56/40 - B8 Bearings Required: 2x 6901-2RS MAX, 4x 6902-2RS MAX, 2x6804-2RS MAX, 2x 6900-2RS MAX Seatpost: 31.6mm (Internal Routing for Dropper Seatpost) Seat Clamp: 36.4mm Bottom Bracket: Threaded 73mm BSA Rear Hub: Boost 148x12mm Rear Axle: SRAM UDH Maxle Stealth M12x1.0 180mm (Thread Length 13mm) Chain Guide: ISCG05 Brake Mount: 200mm Direct Post Protection: 3D Contoured Rubber Frame Protection for DT/SS/CS Specification: Frame: Nukeproof Giga 275 Carbon, 180mm Travel, ultra-strong monocoque UD Carbon Fibre frame, adjustable main pivot, ISCG 05 mounts, Threaded 73mm BB Internally piped cable routing Enduro Bearings Threaded 73mm BB Boost 148mm rear axle spacing 3D contoured Rubber frame protection Factory fitted clear paint protection kit covering TT/DT/CS/SS Shock: Fox Float X2, Factory Series, Kashima, EVOL, 2 Position lever, Custom CM, RM, Rezi CM tune, 205x65mm, Trunnion with Bearing End, 1x 0.3 spacer fitted. (SHORT ID: D63P) Headset: Nukeproof, 44-56 IITS Accessories: Nukeproof Carbon Water Bottle Cage Weight: 3.88Kgs/8.55lbs (Tubeless)- Shop: Wiggle DACH
- Price: 3099.99 EUR excl. shipping
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Nukeproof Giga 275 Carbon Frame - Black - Rahmen - Full Suspension MTB
This frame is ideal for enduro racing, hardcore trail riding and epic all-mountain adventures, and it's a superb foundation for your next full-suspension trail slayer. Plus, this version features a Fox Float X2, Factory Series, Kashima, EVOL rear shock, is compatible with 180mm travel suspension forks and offers max tyre clearance of 2.6". GLUTTONY – HABITUAL GREED OR EXCESS. As riders, we are all guilty of the gluttonous sin; we never stop striving, never stop pushing, enough is never enough in the hunt for the ultimate. It’s a constant push for bigger, longer, rougher and faster with ever-increasing demands on the performance and capabilities of our bike. The pursuit is endless, and the result is that the Giga frame is now available for 27.5”, 29” or new Mixed (Front 29”/Rear 27.5” wheel sizes) wheel setups. It’s a motto that athletes like Sam Hill live by. The new Nukeproof Giga is the embodiment of this idea; Designed to be the ultimate hard-hitting Super-Enduro weapon for when you just need more. Long Travel Full Suspension Super Enduro Frame The Giga is a seriously capable machine, with 180mm (27.5” or 29”/27.5”) or 170mm (29”) rear travel; the Giga is a monster truck of a bike that has suspension travel in reserve for when you need it. But to pigeonhole it as a point and shoot machine would be a disservice as it is so much more capable than this might suggest! Due to the way that it uses its travel; the Giga gives you the feel of a big bike, yet the versatility of a modern super-enduro bike. The Giga has a dynamic and confidence-inspiring ride to help you push your limits in all kinds of terrain. It’s equally at home at big mountain technical enduro stages of venues like La Thuile, as it is lapping the biggest lines in the Whistler bike park. The suspension is designed to be super supple off the top, whilst being supportive in the mid stroke and progressive throughout the rest of the travel. The anti-squat is optimised to ensure the Giga descends like a hooligan yet behaves itself on the climb back to the top for the next run. Adjustable Suspension Platform The suspension platform is based on the same horseshoe driven linkage as our award-winning Dissent downhill frame, albeit now with a 2-stage main pivot flip chip. Using an eccentric axle system, riders can alter the Kinematic progressivity; so, the bike can be tailored to suit the conditions on the trail with only an 8mm Allen key. Setting 1 = 25.5% progression Setting 2 = 29% progression Both settings have a super supple beginning for small bump compliance. They also both have good mid-stroke support for better cornering and pumping. Like the Dissent, the progression drops off in the end stroke to prevent mid-stroke harshness or spiking and allows more tuning options with volume spacers. The + Progressive setting can be used to add shock progression on a coil set up just like adding a volume spacer to an air shock. The added suppleness is also good in wet and slippery conditions. Stiff, Strong and Lightweight Carbon Construction The Giga Frame is constructed completely from UD 700/800 Carbon fibre. This allowed Nukeproof to optimise the stiffness and compliance of the frame parts individually. The front triangle has been tailored for stability and precision, whilst the rear triangle was designed for compliance to help tracking and provide grip. Another bonus of the carbon rear triangle is that it has a lower un-sprung mass for ultimate suspension performance. Long, Low and Slack Modern Enduro Geometry Available in Small to XXL for 27.5” wheels, Small to Large for MX wheels (Front 29”/Rear 27.5” wheel sizes) and Medium to XXL for 29” wheels, there is the perfect option for everyone. The new mixed platform uses a 29” wheel up front to maximise grip and rolling efficiency whilst the 27.5” wheel out back, ensures nimble handling for manoeuvrability. The frame geometry is Long, Low, Slack and Steep as it is based around our saddle offset principle, which ensures the seated riding position is tailored across all sizes, with steeper seat angles on bigger frames. The Seat tube is also designed for maximum seat post insertion to allow maximum drop. Integrated Rear Mud Guard and 2.6" Tyre Clearance The Giga is also sculptured to fit a 750ml water bottle (carbon bottle cage included) as well as an accessory mount under the top tube for emergency trail tools. All models also feature an integrated rear mudguard and the 275 has plenty of clearance for up to 2.6” tyres. The frames feature a clear paint protection kit as standard with 3D contoured rubber downtube, seat and chainstay protection. The Nukeproof GIGA: Gluttony is not a sin. Features: Material: Ultra Strong T700/800 Monocoque Carbon Fibre Fork Travel: 180mm Axle to Crown: 572mm Fork Offset: 37mm Rear Travel: 180mm Wheels Size: 27.5" Max Tyre Size: 2.6" Recommended Shock Sag (Measured seated): 28% Shock Size: 205x65mm Shock Hardware F: TRUNNION Shock Hardware R: 30x8mm Sizing: S/M/L/XL/XXL Headtube: 44-56mm Tapered Semi-Integrated Headset: ZS44-28.6 - T2 / ZS56/40 - B8 Bearings Required: 2x 6901-2RS MAX, 4x 6902-2RS MAX, 2x6804-2RS MAX, 2x 6900-2RS MAX Seatpost: 31.6mm (Internal Routing for Dropper Seatpost) Seat Clamp: 36.4mm Bottom Bracket: Threaded 73mm BSA Rear Hub: Boost 148x12mm Rear Axle: SRAM UDH Maxle Stealth M12x1.0 180mm (Thread Length 13mm) Chain Guide: ISCG05 Brake Mount: 200mm Direct Post Protection: 3D Contoured Rubber Frame Protection for DT/SS/CS Specification: Frame: Nukeproof Giga 275 Carbon, 180mm Travel, ultra-strong monocoque UD Carbon Fibre frame, adjustable main pivot, ISCG 05 mounts, Threaded 73mm BB Internally piped cable routing Enduro Bearings Threaded 73mm BB Boost 148mm rear axle spacing 3D contoured Rubber frame protection Factory fitted clear paint protection kit covering TT/DT/CS/SS Shock: Fox Float X2, Factory Series, Kashima, EVOL, 2 Position lever, Custom CM, RM, Rezi CM tune, 205x65mm, Trunnion with Bearing End, 1x 0.3 spacer fitted. (SHORT ID: D63P) Headset: Nukeproof, 44-56 IITS Accessories: Nukeproof Carbon Water Bottle Cage Weight: 3.88Kgs/8.55lbs (Tubeless)- Shop: Wiggle DACH
- Price: 3099.99 EUR excl. shipping
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Nukeproof Giga 275 Carbon Frame - Black - Rahmen - Full Suspension MTB
This frame is ideal for enduro racing, hardcore trail riding and epic all-mountain adventures, and it's a superb foundation for your next full-suspension trail slayer. Plus, this version features a Fox Float X2, Factory Series, Kashima, EVOL rear shock, is compatible with 180mm travel suspension forks and offers max tyre clearance of 2.6". GLUTTONY – HABITUAL GREED OR EXCESS. As riders, we are all guilty of the gluttonous sin; we never stop striving, never stop pushing, enough is never enough in the hunt for the ultimate. It’s a constant push for bigger, longer, rougher and faster with ever-increasing demands on the performance and capabilities of our bike. The pursuit is endless, and the result is that the Giga frame is now available for 27.5”, 29” or new Mixed (Front 29”/Rear 27.5” wheel sizes) wheel setups. It’s a motto that athletes like Sam Hill live by. The new Nukeproof Giga is the embodiment of this idea; Designed to be the ultimate hard-hitting Super-Enduro weapon for when you just need more. Long Travel Full Suspension Super Enduro Frame The Giga is a seriously capable machine, with 180mm (27.5” or 29”/27.5”) or 170mm (29”) rear travel; the Giga is a monster truck of a bike that has suspension travel in reserve for when you need it. But to pigeonhole it as a point and shoot machine would be a disservice as it is so much more capable than this might suggest! Due to the way that it uses its travel; the Giga gives you the feel of a big bike, yet the versatility of a modern super-enduro bike. The Giga has a dynamic and confidence-inspiring ride to help you push your limits in all kinds of terrain. It’s equally at home at big mountain technical enduro stages of venues like La Thuile, as it is lapping the biggest lines in the Whistler bike park. The suspension is designed to be super supple off the top, whilst being supportive in the mid stroke and progressive throughout the rest of the travel. The anti-squat is optimised to ensure the Giga descends like a hooligan yet behaves itself on the climb back to the top for the next run. Adjustable Suspension Platform The suspension platform is based on the same horseshoe driven linkage as our award-winning Dissent downhill frame, albeit now with a 2-stage main pivot flip chip. Using an eccentric axle system, riders can alter the Kinematic progressivity; so, the bike can be tailored to suit the conditions on the trail with only an 8mm Allen key. Setting 1 = 25.5% progression Setting 2 = 29% progression Both settings have a super supple beginning for small bump compliance. They also both have good mid-stroke support for better cornering and pumping. Like the Dissent, the progression drops off in the end stroke to prevent mid-stroke harshness or spiking and allows more tuning options with volume spacers. The + Progressive setting can be used to add shock progression on a coil set up just like adding a volume spacer to an air shock. The added suppleness is also good in wet and slippery conditions. Stiff, Strong and Lightweight Carbon Construction The Giga Frame is constructed completely from UD 700/800 Carbon fibre. This allowed Nukeproof to optimise the stiffness and compliance of the frame parts individually. The front triangle has been tailored for stability and precision, whilst the rear triangle was designed for compliance to help tracking and provide grip. Another bonus of the carbon rear triangle is that it has a lower un-sprung mass for ultimate suspension performance. Long, Low and Slack Modern Enduro Geometry Available in Small to XXL for 27.5” wheels, Small to Large for MX wheels (Front 29”/Rear 27.5” wheel sizes) and Medium to XXL for 29” wheels, there is the perfect option for everyone. The new mixed platform uses a 29” wheel up front to maximise grip and rolling efficiency whilst the 27.5” wheel out back, ensures nimble handling for manoeuvrability. The frame geometry is Long, Low, Slack and Steep as it is based around our saddle offset principle, which ensures the seated riding position is tailored across all sizes, with steeper seat angles on bigger frames. The Seat tube is also designed for maximum seat post insertion to allow maximum drop. Integrated Rear Mud Guard and 2.6" Tyre Clearance The Giga is also sculptured to fit a 750ml water bottle (carbon bottle cage included) as well as an accessory mount under the top tube for emergency trail tools. All models also feature an integrated rear mudguard and the 275 has plenty of clearance for up to 2.6” tyres. The frames feature a clear paint protection kit as standard with 3D contoured rubber downtube, seat and chainstay protection. The Nukeproof GIGA: Gluttony is not a sin. Features: Material: Ultra Strong T700/800 Monocoque Carbon Fibre Fork Travel: 180mm Axle to Crown: 572mm Fork Offset: 37mm Rear Travel: 180mm Wheels Size: 27.5" Max Tyre Size: 2.6" Recommended Shock Sag (Measured seated): 28% Shock Size: 205x65mm Shock Hardware F: TRUNNION Shock Hardware R: 30x8mm Sizing: S/M/L/XL/XXL Headtube: 44-56mm Tapered Semi-Integrated Headset: ZS44-28.6 - T2 / ZS56/40 - B8 Bearings Required: 2x 6901-2RS MAX, 4x 6902-2RS MAX, 2x6804-2RS MAX, 2x 6900-2RS MAX Seatpost: 31.6mm (Internal Routing for Dropper Seatpost) Seat Clamp: 36.4mm Bottom Bracket: Threaded 73mm BSA Rear Hub: Boost 148x12mm Rear Axle: SRAM UDH Maxle Stealth M12x1.0 180mm (Thread Length 13mm) Chain Guide: ISCG05 Brake Mount: 200mm Direct Post Protection: 3D Contoured Rubber Frame Protection for DT/SS/CS Specification: Frame: Nukeproof Giga 275 Carbon, 180mm Travel, ultra-strong monocoque UD Carbon Fibre frame, adjustable main pivot, ISCG 05 mounts, Threaded 73mm BB Internally piped cable routing Enduro Bearings Threaded 73mm BB Boost 148mm rear axle spacing 3D contoured Rubber frame protection Factory fitted clear paint protection kit covering TT/DT/CS/SS Shock: Fox Float X2, Factory Series, Kashima, EVOL, 2 Position lever, Custom CM, RM, Rezi CM tune, 205x65mm, Trunnion with Bearing End, 1x 0.3 spacer fitted. (SHORT ID: D63P) Headset: Nukeproof, 44-56 IITS Accessories: Nukeproof Carbon Water Bottle Cage Weight: 3.88Kgs/8.55lbs (Tubeless)- Shop: Wiggle DACH
- Price: 3099.99 EUR excl. shipping
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Burning in Color
San Francisco Bay Area music fans are well acquainted with Timothy 'Space Captain' James as a psychedelic-pop band leader (Aquamarine, Squire-James Band, Big Luv Nation)and solo acoustic performer of uncommon presence. With the release of his latest project, 'Burning In Color', issued independently under the 'Hifidelic' moniker, it's time to meet some new and equally compelling facets of James' musical personality. For starters, the album is chock full of slinky grooves, funkily understated keyboard textures and silky smooth vocals. (Think Hall & Oats and the blue-eyed soul elite.) Check out 'Working Girl 2000', 'Fire and Ice', 'Fire of Our Love' and 'Starvin' For Marvin', James' socially-conscious nod to a certain Mr. Gaye. And throughout the album's R&B flavored numbers, James also flashes a subtle but unmistakable cool jazz sensibility. Toss in a taste of contemporary beats and rhymes (rapper A g freestyles on 'Sir Real Santa Cruz') and it's clear that this is one space captain who's comfortable exploring all corners of the pop universe. Don't get the wrong idea, James' rangy guitar-pop roots don't go untended. 'Artichoke Paradigm', a reflective, melodic rocker, and 'Dr. Feelgoode', with it's soaring duel electric guitar passages, fit right into the eclectic mix. Come to think of it, same goes for atmospheric instrumental interludes including 'Brew Bop', 'Hard Beets', 'Lyle's Mood' (a lovely solo acoustic piano number) and 'Ocean Swells'. It all fits together because James - who wrote, arranged, performed and produced damn near every diverse lick - moves effortlessly across genre boundaries. Face it, James is a tough guy to pigeonhole, but if you use the word 'soulful' you'll never miss the mark. -MIKE THOMAS -Music Editor, Pacific Sun.- Shop: odax
- Price: 29.20 EUR excl. shipping
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Live at the Brushwood Lounge
Before all else, Patrice Pike is a tremendous songwriter, a fact sometimes obscured by the seductive powers of her vocal dexterity. She is also an astute social observer and critic. A committed activist, her lyrics and delivery reveal an emotional intensity that is often applied not only to the stuff of life, but to deeply held convictions on a broad range of issues. Her stylistic breadth is rare, and this inability to pigeonhole her only adds to her appeal. Few artists have ever swung so effortlessly from alt-country to jazz to folk to R&B. I believe her greatest gifts are amplified by the pared down acoustic landscape of this live recording. On the evening of Tuesday March 2, 2004, the mythical Brushwood Lounge happened to manifest at our home venue, the venerable Black Bart Playhouse in the tiny Sierra foothill burg of Murphys, California. Full house, great vibe, and Patrice and her longtime friend and musical companion Wayne Sutton put on a spectacular show. The result is a recording that feels and sounds handcrafted, honest, and intensely personal. To me, the music of Patrice Pike is a refreshing find. After casting about in that increasingly bleak mass media wasteland, it's a joy to find there is often great art being made along the cultural side streets and back alleys. Sometimes it takes a little effort to seek this music out, but then there is that undeniable pleasure of discovery. If you like what you hear, we hope you will share this music, preferably in a manner that insures the artists are justly compensated! - Pride S. Wright, Brushwood Institute.- Shop: odax
- Price: 23.16 EUR excl. shipping
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Legend of the Free
Artist: Carrie Armitage Album: The Legend of the Free Review by Matt Warnock Rating: 4 Stars (out of 5) The term singer-songwriter often brings to mind a lone artist, sitting in the corner of a pub or café strumming open chords on their guitar as they sing laid-back songs to crowds of loyal listeners. Artists such as Joni Mitchell and Neil Young have come to define the genre with their copious releases over the years, but it's artists such as Carrie Armitage that are working overtime to redefine the genre and propel it into the 21st century. Armitage's 2010 release The Legend of the Free is an intelligently written and creatively arranged collection of tunes in the singer songwriter genre while destroying any preconceived notions of what a singer songwriter should be. Her use of ambient beats, a la This Mortal Coil but not as depressing, combined with extended vocal techniques and spoken word help lift this album above the fold and place it into a category all it's own. Songs such as "Beautiful Blue" showcase Armitage's wide vocal range as she uses her upper register to build climax after climax during the song's chorus and verse section, though using section labels such as chorus, verse and bridge might not be appropriate for this record. Armitage's music seemingly floats in the realm between formal song writing and the through composed. Her songs don't fit into the typical cookie cutter formulas of today's radio friendly pop tracks, but they aren't completely through composed either. Each tune features enough repetition for listeners to grab onto, while at the same time constantly introducing new sections and material throughout, a difficult task for any songwriter to accomplish. Besides possessing an incredible vocal range and tone, Armitage uses an interesting collection of syllables on songs such as "An Eye to the Sky" to gain the maximum emotional effect out of her performances. Mixing hard syllables, with her favorites beginning with the letter D, and open vocal sounds helps Armitage broaden her vocal effects beyond traditional words and phrases. Though her music shouldn't draw a direct comparison to a singer like Bjork, it is moments like this that at least raise a temporary connection between the Canadian songstress and the Icelandic composer. Each song on the album is carefully written and arranged in a manner that reflects Armitage's identity as an artist, without allowing songs to become strenuous on the listener's attention span. Moving between keyboards, acoustic piano, guitar, electronic drums and multiple layers of vocals, she is able to make each new track musically and lyrically distinct without losing the personal touch that enables each track to be identified as part of a larger whole. With all of the layering, electronic work and vocal dynamics soaking the album's twelve tracks, one of the most surprising and captivating songs is the acoustic piano-vocal duo "Looking Out on the World." Featuring a harmonic dynamic that weaves between major and minor, with Armitage's vocal line following as she sings over the major section and speaks over the minor, middle section, the song is a nice sidestep from the more heavily arranged songs on the album. There are even moments on the album, "Peace, Hope, Trust, Love" for example, where she reaches back and draws out a keyboard sound that conjures up memories of Pink Floyd's 1977 album Animals, showcasing the singers' wide range of influences. This lack of discrimination in it's use of form, influences or musical textures is one of the reasons why the album is so successful. Too often ambient records become monotonous after a few minutes, but this is not the case with The Legend of the Free. It weaves in and out of many different genres, styles and tonal characters while at the same time staying true to the composer's musical voice and intent. Review by Matt Warnock '...a stylistically consistent vision, a pop grandeur that veers into theatrical territory...' '....her message: to enlighten and enlist her listeners to promote love, compassion and eco/peace activism. She delivers her worthy message....' 'Armitage smoothly transverses musical genres. Her work combines elements of Ambient, Progressive Rock, Jazz, Classical and Pop.' Music Connection Magazine Los Angeles Artist: Carrie Armitage Album: The Legend of the Free Review by Alex Henderson Rating: 3 Stars (out of 5) Carrie Armitage is not a newcomer to the music world. Her first album, In Search of Simplicity, came out in 1996, and this Canadian singer/songwriter's 14 years of recording have demonstrated that she is hard to pigeonhole. Stylistically, Armitage's vocal-oriented recordings are comparable to Enya, Tori Amos, Lisa Gerrard (of Dead Can Dance fame), Beth Orton and Kate Bush. But Armitage, who plays piano and keyboards in addition to singing, producing and composing, has also recorded as an instrumentalist, offering ambient electronica exclusively on some of her previous albums. So where does Armitage's 2010 release, The Legend of the Free, fit in? This vocal-oriented outing is probably best described as adult alternative pop-rock with elements of ambient, new age, world music, classical, jazz and even R&B. Although The Legend of the Free is by no means an R&B or straight-ahead jazz album in the strict sense, some of Armitage's vocal phrasing does show some R&B and jazz influence, especially when she gets into wordless performances and hits the higher notes. Armitage has obviously absorbed some R&B and jazz along the way. In fact, her father was a jazz pianist/big band leader, and her mother was a jazz vocalist who sang in her father's band. So even though Armitage is stylistically closer to Enya, Bush, and Amos than Erykah Badu or Jill Scott, that exposure to jazz and R&B has added a touch of funkiness to her work. Being exposed to a wide variety of music along the way has clearly worked to Armitage's creative advantage, and one of the impressive things about The Legend of the Free is her ability to incorporate all of those different influences without ever sounding unfocused or confused. The Legend of the Free never fails in focus, and shows how much Armitage has grown and developed as an artist since In Search of Simplicity. Although In Search of Simplicity was generally likable and had it's moments, it was uneven. The Legend of the Free, in contrast, is a more consistent and confident-sounding album. Armitage has long favored an ethereal approach, and her knack for ethereal melodies and harmonies is quite appropriate given the new age imagery that is plentiful on lush offerings such as "Peace Hope Trust Love," "Looking Out on the World," "This Special Place" and "An Eye to the Sky." Most singer/songwriter albums stick to romantic themes, but on The Legend of the Free Armitage opts to sing about nature, ecology and the environment. Her environmental concerns make their presence felt on "A Warning Heeded: Lights in the Water," "Commonality" and "Progress." which asserts that technological or industrial "advancement" isn't really a step forward when it is harmful to the planet. One non-female artist who has been cited as an influence on Armitage is Peter Gabriel. He isn't as obvious or as prominent an influence as the previously mentioned ladies, but Gabriel's touch is present nonetheless, especially in the way Armitage incorporates elements of world music. Gabriel, too, like Armitage, has addressed environmental subjects, although Armitage's lyrics are much more overtly new age-minded. Looking at The Legend of the Free from strictly a commercial standpoint, as opposed to an artistic/creative standpoint, the album probably would have had more mainstream appeal if Armitage had included some romantic lyrics along with all the new age subject matter. But even if one isn't heavily into the new age ideology, The Legend of the Free is still enjoyable on a melodic level, a harmonic level and a rhythmic level. This solid effort demonst- Shop: odax
- Price: 22.52 EUR excl. shipping
