If you’re looking for the quintessential studio musician or an on-stage sideman then call Carlos Go Go Gomez. His resume reads like a Who’s – Who of contemporary music. It includes everyone from Eartha Kitt to Mariah Carey to Gipsy Kings to Sade and on and on and on… Even before popping his CD into my player I was already impressed. Then once “New Paradigm Global Music” (Kidlat Records) began to play I became a fan.
From the opening track, “Water Dragon” all the way through to the closing cut, “Fearless Interdimensional Travelling” it was apparent that what Carlos had recorded was more than just music – it was a vision. In fact, Gomez had succeeded at what many in the past had attempted and that was making the literal connection between spirituality and music.
Percussionist, composer, musical director, educator, spiritualist, martial arts master, ethnomusicologist are just some of the hats Mr. Gomez wears. World music, jazz, electronica, dance, pop, rock, new age, funk and R&B are a few of the many genres that he mixes. This man has been around the world and back in more ways than one.
Particularly interesting about “New Paradigm Global Music” is that it’s sequenced with the intention of recreating a meditative, or trance-like state. The aforementioned first track begins as a soothing, down tempo instrumental with a marvelous marriage of relaxing synthesizer generated waveforms such as didgeridoos, harps, sitars and flowing water sounds wed with the groove of Carlos’ percussion instruments.
“Law of Attraction” (my personal favorite) is the only song of the 8 on this release that has vocals, or more accurately, spoken word. Its hypnotic quality lulls the listener into a sedate state of consciousness I’ve only occasionally experienced on my own while in Yoga class.
Each track thereafter seems to intensify in tempo and energy that climaxes on the penultimate title, “Sarayeye”. Cleverly enough, the record ends with “Fearless Interdimensional Travelling” that simulates a post-coital state of release and rapture that satisfies both body and mind.
To summarize, “New Paradigm Global Music” is a collection of ear candy and seductive, sexy sounds. So if anyone wants to know, “Who’s your daddy”, you tell’em – it’s Mr. Carlos Go Go Gomez. He’s the man!
For more information check out: www.carlosgogogomez.com
