JOHN GREENFIELD: No Age Music

John Greenfield

No Age Music

© 1992 John Greenfield (634479305528)

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A quiet, dedicated guitar virtuoso with extensive training in physics and acoustics, John Greenfield presents the first album he has written, recorded and produced -- even down to creating the cover art. In this work John shows the spiritual side of his music incorporating a therapeutic use of sound.

"Music takes up the part of my brain usually reserved (in others) for religion. To me the most sacred music has to be purely instrumental -- for it expresses tonality without literal reference or the involvement of the ego. This is one of the rules No Age Music must follow."


"Every sound excites us down to the cellular level, and there are some sounds that resonate deep in our bodies in particular ways which promote health and healing."

Looking around the Mirror Records Studio, one does not see the usual studio recording equipment. Many of the devices are unmarked anonymous boxes with lights and dials which have been designed or co-designed by John to achieve a particular facet of his sonic vision.

Greenfield keeps many secrets regarding his sonic originality, saying only:

"As the means to achieve my ideas did not already exist , I was compelled to build my own equipment along the way -- however, there is a lot more math in the music than the equipment."

Greenfield quickly directs attention away from his gagetry to get back to the subject:

"Think of my music as a sonic hologram. The settings of each peice are parallel worlds of subliminal terrain. As a compositional element I find it fascinating to direct the journey from piece to piece (including timed pauses) by manipulating spacial cues and enviornmental content within the soundfield.
Beyond this are the low frequencies which are camouflaged in the harmonic ryhthms of the music in such a way as to create a resonant progression through the chakras beginning with the solar plexis upward. This stimulation is present even at nominal listening levels. Finally the lighter frequencies are gently tuned for the perfect phase relationships with which to caresss as well as stimulate the the fine hair cells of the ears. To this end, No Age Music seems to create not only a world of its own, but a feeling of its own. No wonder it is hard to judge how long the album is if there is no clock in the listening area. The mind wanders into a sort of non-linear introspection -- masking actual clock time."

"Healing is the theme of this album" says Greenfield, "from the gentle cleansing of the rain in the first selection to the cathedral organ at the end of the CD, every element is carefully selected for its progressive effect on the listener mentally and physically"

Audiophiles will appreciate the attention to sonic detail as well as the dynamic range of this recording. Infact, Greenfield warns to defeat all "loudness" controls and equalization on stereo systems to get a natural impression of the sonic content given its expanded dynamic range. Suffice it to say that if you listen to No Age Music on a pair of $150K Wilson speakers you will be rewarded beyond belief. No less is the enjoyment (if not the impact) through a decent pair of headphones.
"The album is way overbuilt", says Greenfield. "most people will never hear all the sonic information packed into this work, yet that influence is essential to the outcome of even the most casual exposure".

This is an album that never sounds "dated" -- that no matter how many years you own it, you'll still find something new when you turn it on.

Lofted by Greenfields' unique approach to guitar, No Age Music is a soul filled journey, a road less traveled, and a soundtrack for healing from the inside out.

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  • First rate in every category!
    author: Journal of Progressive and Electronic Music

    This is Greenfield's first release on CD and features John on guitars, synths, fx and a lot of ingenious electronic wizardry. He is joined by his brother James on congas, ocharina, and percussion. The album also features John performing on the Infinite Sustain Guitar from Holland Magnetics. This instrument shares the same name as the guitar that Michael Brooks uses on "Hybrid" and several other ED/Opal releases, but all similarities end there. The Holland Magnetics instrument is more responsive to work with, a lot more sophisticated in it's amplification stages, and capable of an infinite array of aural nuances. John conjures up some incredibly dramatic textures with this instrument, and the ten compositions presented here maintain a finely tuned sense of dynamics. It covers a lot of ground both sylistically and texturally. At times acoustic guitarists like Kottke, Fahey, and Paul Adams come to mind as reference points. At others, his electric and processed guitar work could rub shoulders with David Torn, Robert Fripp, Metheny, and Steve Tibbetts. Got the idea yet? This guy is capable of virtuoso performances in a variety of settings. My favorite, and in my opinion the albums highlight is the 7 minute composition called "Fractals". It's a solo piece written for the Infinite Sustain Guitar. The sheer quantity of tonal variations and harmonic shifts in this peice is astounding. It's up there with Bill Frizell and Robert Fripp's best work. Actually, it's one of the most innovative solo compositions I've ever heard. The guitars are sometimes indistinguishable from the synths as the timbres constantly shift and modulate. The synth work, sampling, and processing add a great deal to the cohesiveness of the works. His brother also adds some nice percussion and wind on several pieces. James is at his best on "Bam Y Dunya" creating an expansive dynamic atmosphere below the shifting walls of guitar provided by John. The guitar work on this piece is similar to early 80's Metheny, somewhere between post bop and neo-classical. There is a piece dedicated to his grandfather with huge synth cathedral organs augmented by some really incredible classical guitar playing. It has beautiful melody lines on par with Mark Knopfler's "Local Hero" soundtrack. All in all, it's a great musical statement from a refreshingly origonal composer. First rate in every category! -- Ben Kettlewell

  • Beautiful and Intelligent
    author: Steve Brauner

    John's music is a sonic journey which takes the listener to a unique place where the analytic meets the esthetic. Highly Recommended.

  • Reminds me of Andy Summer's solo stuff, but better.
    author: Erik Paulsen

    Enjoying the samples from your 'No Age' album while composing this e-mail. Reminds me of Andy Summer's solo stuff, but better. The subtlety of Eno. Right now 'Vibrancy' is playing, with a lead that has the timbre of Steve Hackett's, which I always loved.

  • An infinitely timeless masterpiece!
    author: Sifu Hui Cambrelen, Black Tiger Hall

    Maestro John Greenfield has composed an infinitely timeless masterpiece that transcends all limitations of form and conformity. Like the true masters before him, John is daringly creative, vibrant and inspiring. The harmonic blend of varied and sophisticated rhythms, alive with the genius of vision, ripples through our consciousness as a prayer throughout the universe.

  • AWESOME!
    author: Greg Hanks

    John's music brings me peace. Helps my children to feel better, and I believe it has physical as well as emotional and spiritual healing powers

  • A brilliant body of work!
    author: Felicia Collins, C B S Orchestra - Late Show With David Letterma

    DEEP!

  • No Age Music is beautiful
    author: G E Smith, Guitarist And Musical Director

    A totally unique musical excursion, expanding the horizons of the modern guitar.

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