Gorn, Levin, Marotta - From the Caves of the Iron Mountain
Papabear  (1997)
Progressive Rock

Not In Collection

7*
CD  71:09
18 tracks
   01   Approaching the Cavern             01:25
   02   Man Walking from A to B             03:39
   03   In the Caves of the Iron Mountain             03:37
   04   Drumming on Water             03:29
   05   Devil's Kitchen             03:42
   06   Shakers in Five             03:53
   07   Glass Beads             03:32
   08   Joyous Lake             02:41
   09   Catskill Gallery: The Abandoned IBM Plant             01:52
   10   Catskill Gallery: Woodstock, the Indian Burial Ground             01:39
   11   Catskill Gallery: Swimming The Shokan Rooftops             01:26
   12   Catskill Gallery: Overlook Mountain             03:21
   13   Shepherd's song             03:46
   14   Catacombs             04:18
   15   Magic Meadow             03:40
   16   The Widow Jane Mine             03:14
   17   Squeeze Box             03:43
   18   CD-ROM part             18:12
Personal Details
Details
Country USA
Cat. Number PBCD2
Spars DDD
Sound Stereo
Credits
Engineer Tchad Blake
Notes
Enchanced CD

Gorn, Levin & Marotta: From the Caves of the Iron Mountain
Papabear (PBCD2)
USA 1997

Steve Gorn, Bansuri flute, soprano sax, clarinet, double ocarina;
Tony Levin, Chapman Stick, NS Upright BoxBass;
Jerry Marotta, Taos drums, shakers, percussion, squeezebox

Tracklist:
1. Approaching the Cavern - 1:26
2. Man Walking from A to B - 3:40
3. In the Caves of the Iron Mountain - 3:35
4. Drumming on Water - 3:30
5. Devil's Kitchen - 3:50
6. Shakers in Five - 3:54
7. Glass Beads - 3:26
8. Joyous Lake - 2:35
9. Catskill Gallery: - 8:05
a. The Abandoned IBM Plant
b. Woodstock, the Indian Burial Ground
c. Swimming the Shokan Rooftops
d. Overlook Mountain
10. Shepherd's Song - 3:37
11. Catacombs - 4:17
12. Magic Meadow - 3:44
13. The Widow Jane Mine - 3:11
14. Squeeze Box - 1:02

Bob Eichler:
I bought this disc at a Bruford/Levin Upper Extremities show, because the concept sounded interesting - three top musicians take a bunch of instruments into a cave and jam. The thing that really hooked me was the way it was recorded - the engineer used a headpiece that placed two microphones near his ears, so that if the listener is using headphones, it should sound like they're right there in the cave with the musicians.
It's a neat idea - we get to hear things like the recording engineer's footsteps as he walks into the cave and the increasing volume of the music as he approaches the already-performing band. There's also splashing water sounds as the engineer paddles around a lake inside the cave.
Unfortunately, I don't find the music itself interesting enough to stand on its own. It's pleasant stuff, but nothing on the album really grabs me. To be honest, after a few initial listens, I lost interest and shelved the disc, where it's been sitting ever since.

Joe McGlinchey:
A delightful all-instrumental disc from Crimson bassist Levin, almost-Crimson drummer Marotta, and woodwind/Bansuri flute specialist Gorn. Pure atmosphere throughout, this one was recorded in an underground lake, in a cave in the Woodstock area of NY where the three musicians live. Simple musical ideas, played on custom-made instruments, develop naturally and tap into a primal feel, yet never overstay their welcome. Engineer Tchad Blake acts like a fourth band member, transporting the listener to the recording session and the ambience of the surroundings. Tasteful and more fun than you might expect it to be.