THE GODDESS - MUSIC FOR THE ANCIENT OF DAYS

My first exposure to JOHN ZORN! Beautiful, hypnotic music which, at times, slides a bit into more of a background/easy listening experience (especially "Heptameron" and "Ode to Delphi"). I don't begrudge the musicians or composer the the sophistication of the music; I find myself feeling as I do while listening to LALLE LARSSON's "Infinity of Worlds" or DAVID MINASIAN's "Random Acts of Beauty:" lulled into a beautiful, peaceful state of enjoyment. Favorite songs include "Enchantress" for its FRED FRITH feel/sound, "Ishtar" for its changes in pace and chord progressions, and "White Magick" for its MAGMA/COLTRANE feel. Overall this album is not quite fresh, challenging, or complicated enough to garner my high praise, but it is a nice album to have in one's collection--especially in that nothing on it is jading or offensive; all of it is pleasant. 3.5 stars marked up for the composer's prolificity.