Acoustic Alchemy - World-Designs-Forum

Haselsh1 · #1 2nd May 2009, 04:07 PM

Mmm... Where to start...??? 1988 I guess and the release of 'Red Dust and Spanish Lace'. This band is fairly unique in that they are an acoustic guitar based smooth jazz band very famous for the original music to 'Gardener's World'. In their original guise they were made up of Simon James and Nick Webb but this soon became Greg Carmichael and Nick Webb. This duo produced most of Acoustic Alchemy's very famous highly sought after music but around 1998 Nick Webb died from pancreatic cancer during the making of 'Positive Thinking'. I miss those old days as I was an early fan of Acoustic Alchemy and feel it's rather like the Genesis situation all over again when Peter Gabriel departed.

If you love highly melodic acoustic guitar music with just the right amount of keyboards and percussion why not give them a try. All of their music is available from Amazon with their earlier recordings being by far their best. A good starting point...? Natural Elements is for me the pinnacle closely followed by Blue Chip. Stand out tracks...??? Mr Chow and Natural Elements as well as many others. Truly beautiful music.

By the way, this stuff would sound amazing through a 300B single ended triode amp

JohnCu · #2 19th September 2009, 09:36 AM

Yes, me seems to remember having an Acoustic Alchemy CD with 3 or 4 tracks on it which came free with a HIFI mag - Hifi news??. It was dark blue I think. Can't remember the track titles but I could wistle them. So obviously very catchy and enjoyable. I will take your advice and treat myself from Amazon. I would love these same tracks. Anybody any idea as to what they where?? Thankyou for stirring the ol' grey stuff.

alnewall · #3 20th September 2009, 09:24 AM

I remember that free sampler. It was in my cupboard till quite recently.
Ariane was the really catchy one, i think. Maybe Mr Chow was on it too.

Good stuff without doubt, but i was never sure if i could listen to a whole album of it.

JohnCu · #4 21st September 2009, 12:53 PM

Good man yerself. Have ordered a "very best of" form Amazon (US seller)with these tracks on it. Let the waiting begin.

alnewall · #5 21st September 2009, 07:24 PM

Let us know how you get on with it.
Must have had that sampler for donkeys years. i was probably too young to appreciate it.

JohnCu · #6 8th December 2009, 09:39 PM

Hi Alnewall

CD received yonks ago but haven't had much time of late to enjoy. Just as I remembered mind. Oh and the tracks were as you remembered on the sampler plus Casino. Take the point about an album full, 3 or 4 tracks is just right. Some other nice pieces on here like Jamaica Heartbeat. Definately a few pounds well spent.