Neto (BW037)

This is the kind of album that Jimi Hendrix used to make and, maybe, Carlos Santana still could. It was Hendrix who inspired the young Neto to learn the guitar in his native São Paolo and to treat it with respect; to not play at all rather than play something forgettable. The Neto style - throwing away the plectrum and using thumbnail and four fingers to create chords and octaves that surf on top of melodies that take up permanent residence in your subconscious - is unique to the man in the bandana with the buccaneer's earring.
Equally at home on electric or acoustic guitar, the Paradis Avalon with its amplified nylon strings is the perfect companion for José's intricate Latin style, able to burst forth in a torrent of cadenzas when the muse connected. Designed by Rolf Spuler and Mathias Glob of Switzerland, the Paradis has inbuilt 'polysubbass' which is triggered electronically when played in the lower register to produce a completely unique sound: a solid bodied guitar with the tone of an acoustic instrument. On this album, however, the Fender Stratocaster, the Takamine Classical and Alvares Yari 12 String are all handled here with equal dexterity.

Guardian Angel

Track Listing (30 Second Samples)

1 Guardian Angel
2 Razorback

Bible of Dreams (BR042CD)

The 1997 release of Bible of Dreams marked Juno Reactor's fourth album. Relatively different from the previous three albums, Bible of Dreams marked a dynamic transformation away from the typical dance-techno formula that continues to dominate the genre. It moved away from being a musical journey to a focused powerful electronic sound scape with more punch and drive. With the single "Conga Fury", Watkins introduced Amampondo, Nelson Mandela's favorite traditional South African percussion act, to the world of Juno Reactor. Later that year, Watkins took Amampondo on a five week tour of the U.S. with him opening for Moby. The performances proved a crowd pleaser, and Juno Reactor kept Amampondo as a full time tour collaborator.