Reviewed by Dave Massey

'Reaching Out' is certainly a relaxing listen - there's something about Pan Pipes and the Quana - that breathy quality that imparts it's own mystique and leaves you feeling as though you've just taken a deep breath of pure country air! All the pieces are composed by Simeon Wood and John Gerighty and although they're not masterpieces they range from the charming to the pedestrian. To be constructive all I think that is necessary to raise the quality of the compositions is a little development of melodies - they didn't go anywhere and therefore boredom is likely to set in after a few tracks. The guitar is rather mechanical and makes nothing of the melodies when it is given them. A hint of future musicality comes through in "Reaching Out" where he actually starts to make something of his phrasing and melodic line. Jenny's leap owes a lot to Villa lobos I think   : but unlike him doesn't go much beyond the I/VII/VI progression. Having said all this though, I think a lot of people will like this recording because of its reflective quiet qualities. In the future I'm sure we will see improvement in leaps and bounds as Simeon and John mature a little more musically.

The opinions expressed in this article are not necessarily those held by Cross Rhythms. Any expressed views were accurate at the time of publishing but may or may not reflect the views of the individuals concerned at a later date.

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