Description
Label Review.
1982 debut solo album. Francisco Yglesia is arguably the world’s most accomplished player of the Paraguayan Harp. Playing for over sixty years, including a decade with the legendary “Alberto y Los Trios Paraguayos”, Francisco has also composed many tunes that are now highly celebrated in the canon of Paraguayan ‘folklore’ music.
Our Overview.
“Shimmering Harp” was Francisco’s first album after going solo in the late 1970s. It was recorded between 1980 and 1982 at Stockport’s legendary Strawberry Studios, and originally released on the ‘Music for Pleasure’ label.The album mixes traditional Paraguayan folklore (‘Cascada’, and the anthemic ‘Pajaro Campana’ or ‘Bell Bird’), Francisco’s own compositions (a breathtaking ‘Vamos Amigos’), pop covers (McCartney’s ‘Yesterday’) and TV & Film Soundtracks of the day (‘Theme from M*A*S*H’, ‘The Godfather’, ‘Never on Sunday’). Also making its debut here is an early version of the title track ‘Shimmering Harp’, which would become one of Francisco’s most popular tunes.
Whilst ‘Bell Bird’ and ‘Cascada’ are solo, the rest of the album is a concerto backed by live band, featuring heavy use of synthesisers that would now be described as “vintage” (mostly Yamaha’s iconic CS-80). This provides a cocktail-lounge ambience that a contemporary indie band could only now dream of. The overall result is a fascinating high-fidelity easy listening period-piece that has stood the test of time.
Tracklisting: Ballade Pour Adeline / Theme From M*A*S*H / Yesterday / Alborada / Bell Bird / Vamos Amigos / Speak Softly Love (Theme From The Godfather) / Never On Sunday / Cascada / Shimmering Harp / Sonata In G / Chariots Of Fire.