Haitian Dances by Frantz Casseus

Lisnaholic · 09-07-2012, 07:08 PM

Here`s the most recent winner or a FAIR album poll, nominated by the promising newcomer, joy circumcision:-

Quote:

Originally Posted by joy_circumcision

Really excited about this club, and I'll probably work on hearing all the picks you guys have made over the next couple of weeks. To give back, I'd like to nominate a personal favorite:

Frantz Casseus: Haitian Dances (1954)
A lovely lovely departure through the supple Caribbean fingers of Casseus, Haitian Dances briefs the listener on some of the best folk works in Haiti's canon. The album feels like a soothing lullaby for a gone day and goes well with sunsets and hammocks or a smoke-filled lonely island bar evacuating its final patrons at three in the morning.

The last time we looked at an album from so long ago was when Elizabeth Cotton was nominated. What do you think, has this guy stood the test of time as well as she has ? Let`s hear your opinions.

Lisnaholic · 09-20-2012, 12:53 PM

When someone makes an instrumental album with just an acoustic guitar, he`s imposing a lot of restraints on his sound and I imagine it can be a struggle to make his album distinctive in some way. Not sure to what extent Frantz Casseus has won that struggle, because I found this album awful easy to tune out once I started playing it.
Yes, the playing is impeccable, the sound is gentle and if you want you can conjure up the kind of scene that Joy Circumcision mentions. If you want to relax or are of a meditative disposition, you could get a lot out of Haitian Dances, but for me, overall, I thought the sound was just too delicate and refined. After a few tracks, I wanted to change it for something a bit more robust.
So I`m just voting ok for this; don`t think I`ll be playing it again - at least not until I retire, or find nirvana.

**Janszoon** · 10-01-2012, 05:49 PM

I finally got around to giving this one a listen and I have to say I agree with Lisnaholic's take on it. It was okay but there wasn't enough there to really hold my interest. It felt like Frantz's mind was wandering as he was playing or something. There's certainly solo acoustic guitar music out there that I like a lot, but I prefer something with a little more to it.

Lisnaholic · 10-02-2012, 10:10 AM

^ Thanks Janszoon. Nice to know I`m not alone in my opinion, or in this thread. You`re right about his playing - his style comes across as a series of rather passionless finger exercises.

**Frownland** · 10-02-2012, 12:39 PM

I thought that the album was really good. I voted Excellent after the initial listen, but a few repeat listens lowers my opinion on it a tad bit. However, I think that this is really a "mood" album, where it takes a certain frame of mind to enjoy it. Not quite sure what mood that is exactly, but I stand by my opinion.

I have an album by Marc Ribot called "Marc Ribot Plays the Works of Frantz Casseus" (I wonder how long it took them to come up with that title) and I think that it really expands on the ideas from the songs on this album (as well as a few others) and makes them more interesting. Then again, Ribot is one of my favourite guitarists, so I may be somewhat biased. I'll gladly send anyone a link to the Ribot album if they want to hear it and see the contrasts between the tracks, it's quite a good listen even if you are unfamiliar with the songs.

Stephen · 10-06-2012, 07:36 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Lisnaholic

You`re right about his playing - his style comes across as a series of rather passionless finger exercises.

Yeah I think I would have to agree with you there. It tends to come across as more of a technical exploration of Haitian music than an emotional one.

View Poll Results: Haitian Dances by Fantz Casseus
Excellent	1	33.33%
Good	0	0%
OK	2	66.67%
Disappointing	0	0%
Awful	0	0%
Voters: 3. You may not vote on this poll

09-20-2012, 12:53 PM	#2 (permalink)
Lisnaholic ...here to hear... Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: He lives on Love Street Posts: 4,444	When someone makes an instrumental album with just an acoustic guitar, he`s imposing a lot of restraints on his sound and I imagine it can be a struggle to make his album distinctive in some way. Not sure to what extent Frantz Casseus has won that struggle, because I found this album awful easy to tune out once I started playing it. Yes, the playing is impeccable, the sound is gentle and if you want you can conjure up the kind of scene that Joy Circumcision mentions. If you want to relax or are of a meditative disposition, you could get a lot out of Haitian Dances, but for me, overall, I thought the sound was just too delicate and refined. After a few tracks, I wanted to change it for something a bit more robust. So I`m just voting ok for this; don`t think I`ll be playing it again - at least not until I retire, or find nirvana. __________________ "Am I enjoying this moment? I know of it and perhaps that is enough." - Sybille Bedford, 1953

10-01-2012, 05:49 PM	#3 (permalink)
Janszoon Mate, Spawn & Die Join Date: May 2007 Location: The Rapping Community Posts: 24,593	I finally got around to giving this one a listen and I have to say I agree with Lisnaholic's take on it. It was okay but there wasn't enough there to really hold my interest. It felt like Frantz's mind was wandering as he was playing or something. There's certainly solo acoustic guitar music out there that I like a lot, but I prefer something with a little more to it. __________________ A Night in the Life of the Invisible Man Time & Place 25 Albums You Should Hear Before the Moon Crashes into the Earth and We All Die last.fm

10-02-2012, 10:10 AM	#4 (permalink)
Lisnaholic ...here to hear... Join Date: Nov 2010 Location: He lives on Love Street Posts: 4,444	^ Thanks Janszoon. Nice to know I`m not alone in my opinion, or in this thread. You`re right about his playing - his style comes across as a series of rather passionless finger exercises. __________________ "Am I enjoying this moment? I know of it and perhaps that is enough." - Sybille Bedford, 1953

10-02-2012, 12:39 PM	#5 (permalink)
Frownland SOPHIE FOREVER Join Date: Aug 2011 Location: East of the Southern North American West Posts: 35,541	I thought that the album was really good. I voted Excellent after the initial listen, but a few repeat listens lowers my opinion on it a tad bit. However, I think that this is really a "mood" album, where it takes a certain frame of mind to enjoy it. Not quite sure what mood that is exactly, but I stand by my opinion. I have an album by Marc Ribot called "Marc Ribot Plays the Works of Frantz Casseus" (I wonder how long it took them to come up with that title) and I think that it really expands on the ideas from the songs on this album (as well as a few others) and makes them more interesting. Then again, Ribot is one of my favourite guitarists, so I may be somewhat biased. I'll gladly send anyone a link to the Ribot album if they want to hear it and see the contrasts between the tracks, it's quite a good listen even if you are unfamiliar with the songs. __________________ Studies show that when a given norm is changed in the face of the unchanging, the remaining contradictions will parallel the truth. d e a f b o x