Wingin It, Attunement

By Paul Schultz - The Trades - Adair Village, OR, U.S.A.
Friday, August 10, 2007

A record that provides a handy guide for your listening mood is either a shrewd marketing ploy, or a sign that the songs are so convoluted that you need a road map to figure it all out.

Wingin It is comprised of the duo of Robert Halim Friedman and Vakila Marjo ter Veld, and after hearing their debut album, Attunement, I have to say the former is true.

Still, it seems like a needlessly pigeonholing exercise in what can simply be enjoyed in its entirety as reggae-meets-America-meets-Neil Young.

Hearing the reggae beat backing everything, one would naturally assume a Bob Marley influence and -- in this instance -- you would be absolutely correct. Combined with the couple's maturation in their spiritual quest in Sufism, the result sprouts music thematically intertwining spiritual and romantic love. Throw in a little social justice and nature observances, and you get the complete picture.

The laid-back set features mostly high vocals which sound sweet in small doses, but verge on annoying after extended exposure. The pair have participated in country music and bluegrass jam sessions in the past, and that taints the material favorably in some places. They have also recently played in internationally acclaimed Sufi qawwali singer Sukhawat Ali Khan's touring band, and that world music influence can be heard as well.

"Playing With Fire" is probably the most representative tune forwarding Wingin It's philosophy, with its repeated plea to "remember, never give up on love/However big or however small/Practice forgiveness, realize unity/And do your best for the good of all".

The connection to Marley manifests itself in two covers of his compositions, "Natural Mystic" and "Redemption Song". Additionally, Kate Wolf appears to be another favorite, as versions of "Brother Warrior" and the excellent "Give Yourself To Love" ("Give yourself to love/If love is what you're after") find inclusion here.

Attunement is a pleasant journey toward enlightenment that uses hi-lo harmony to accentuate the folk and reggae groove. The interchanging of "God" and "Jah" and "Allah" can prove somewhat confusing to those not familiar with their faith, but the intent of the songs are clear enough.

The clean production offers crisp acoustic strums amidst the mystic mix, with Robin Livingston providing drums, percussion, bass and keyboards to the recorded effort.

As the CD packaging informs me, these songs "define the Northern California sound", and who am I to disagree?

Release Date: July 24, 2007
Label: Megawave Records

[Lyrics at: http://www.spacewavemusic.com/JN99101.htm]