Produced, mixed, and designed by Jim Combs
Mastered by Tom Eaton for Imaginary Road Studios
Basic tracks recorded at Common Sound Studio, Decatur, GA 2005-2018
Jim Combs – Synthesizers & Drum Machines on all, eBow Guitar on 2
AeTopus (Bryan T. Hughes) – Synthesizers & Drums on 1
Monica Arrington – Vocals on 5 & 12
Christian Birk – Synthesizers on 4
Dave Coustan – Trumpet on 2
Tony Gerber – Synthesizer on 1, 2, & 4, EWI on 4, & Harmonica on 7
Brian Good – Soprano Sax on 2, 5, 8, 9, & 12
John McNicholas – Guitars on 2 & 4
Otso Pakarinen – Synthesizers on 1, 2, 9, & 10
Josie Quick – Violin on 1, 2, 4, 5, 8, 9, 10, & 12
Mitchell Sosebee – Hand Percussion on 2
Kevin Spears – Kalimba on 4
Ryan Taylor – Guitars & Bass on 2, 4, 5, 7, 8, 9, 10, & 12
Paul Vnuk, Jr. – Synthesizers & Percussion on 8 & 9
Talya Marie Louise Sabra – Spoken Word on 10
Best of 2018 Awards contender for Grammy (first round Best New Age Album), Zone Music Reporter (nominee for Best Electronic Album), and One World Music Radio (nominee for Best Electronic Album). Top 20 (peaked at #2) on NACC Top 30 Chill Chart May-Oct 2018 & Jan 2019.
Walking a Beautiful World was released on May 7, 2018 and has received airplay from commercial, college, NPR, and internet stations around the world.
“Travel is fatal to prejudice, bigotry and narrow-mindedness, and many of our people need it sorely on these accounts. Broad, wholesome, charitable views of men and things can not be acquired by vegetating in one little corner of the earth all one’s lifetime.” – Mark Twain (1867)
I’ve had the great fortune to recently travel around the world, mostly to places I have never been before. My travels have taken me to Europe, South America, Africa, Asia Pacific, and back home in North America. While the Finland trip was to perform at the Karelian Skies Electronic Music Festival, most of the remaining trips to the far corners of the globe were for a research project to interview individuals from 13 to 55 years old in each location and simply find out what their lives were like and what influences affected their thoughts, attitudes, and behaviors in these diverse locales.
The amazing people who invited me into their homes and shared their hopes, desires, and realities turned my little business trip into a profound spiritual journey filled with deeply emotional wisdom and inspiration, often from those in the most precarious life situations. Everyone’s perspective on their own lives, the richness of their own cultures and communities, and the challenges of their own countries reinforced a universal realization of the common outlook of people across continents, countries, cultures, and classes. This album is a travelogue of my journey and an ode to the common threads that bind us across our different lives and locations.
AWARDS: Zone Music Reporter nominee for Best Electronic Album of 2018 with Top 100 Airplay at #71 for October 2018, #44 for September 2018, #45 for August 2018, #40 for July 2018, #23 for June 2018, #27 for May 2018, and debuted at #31 for April 2018.
One World Music Radio nomination for Best Electronic Album of 2018, and Top 100 Airplay at #34 for August 2018, #26 for July 2018, #11 for June 2018, and debuted at #58 for May 2018.
WXPN 88.5FM Star’s End Significant Release of 2018.
WMSE 91.7FM Instrumental Saturdays Top 10 of 2018.
First round selection for 61st Grammy Awards Best New Age Album.
NACC #2 Chill Chart on June 19, 2018, #3 Chill Chart on August 28, 2018, June 12, 2018, #4 Chill Chart on September 11, 2018, September 4, 2018, August 21, 2018, August 14, 2018, August 7, 2018, #5 Chill Chart on July 31, 2018, June 5, 2018, #6 Chill Chart on July 24, 2018, June 26, 2018, May 22, 2018, May 15, 2018, #10 Chill Chart on January 8, 2019, #12 Chill Chart on May 29, 2018, #14 Chill Chart on September 25, 2018, #18 Chill Chart on October 9, 2018, #19 Chill Chart on October 2, 2018 and September 18, 2018.
Airplay
Walking a Beautiful World
KSBR 88.5FM The Morning Breeze show in Black Hawk, CO & Mission Viejo, CA played “Missing Viejo” on December 15, 2024, August 18, 2024 and May 18, 2024, “Rain Falls Down (Like an Ocean in the Sky)” on March 30, 2024, “Missing Viejo” on January 13, 2024, “Rain Falls Down (Like an Ocean in the Sky)” on February 25, 2023, February 19, 2023, and October 2, 2022, “Last Day Song (World Walking Again)” on August 21, 2022, August 20, 2022, August 14, 2022, and July 24, 2022, “Rain Falls Down (Like an Ocean in the Sky)” on July 2, 2022, May 14, 2022 and March 20, 2022, “Missing Viejo” on March 6, 2022 and February 27, 2022, “Rain Falls Down (Like an Ocean in the Sky)” on January 15, 2022 and April 10, 2021, “Missing Viejo” on April 4, 2021, “Rain Falls Down Like an Ocean in the Sky” on April 3, 2021, March 28, 2021, March 27, 2021, March 13, 2021, March 6, 2021, February 21, 2021, February 20, 2021, February 13, 2021, February 6, 2021, January 23, 2021, January 16, 2021, September 6, 2020, September 5, 2020, July 25, 2020, July 18, 2020, July 5, 2020, June 13, 2020, “Rain Falls Down Like an Ocean in the Sky” on May 24, 2020, April 25, 2020, April 18, 2020, April 4, 2020, March 14, 2020, March 7, 2020, February 29, 2020, February 22, 2020, February 9, 2020, February 1, 2020 and January 11, 2020, “Missing Viejo” on November 23, 2019, “Rain Falls Down Like an Ocean in the Sky” on October 20, 2019 and August 31, 2019, “Last Day Song (World Walking Again)” on August 17, 2019, “Missing Viejo” on July 20, 2019, “Rain Falls Down Like an Ocean in the Sky” on July 6, 2019 and June 30, 2019, “Missing Viejo” on June 15, 2019, “Rain Falls Down Like an Ocean in the Sky” on April 21, 2019, April 20, 2019, and April 13, 2019, “Missing Viejo” on April 7, 2019, “Rain Falls Down Like an Ocean in the Sky” on April 6, 2019, March 30, 2019, March 23, 2019, and March 16, 2019, “Missing Viejo” on February 16, 2019, “Missing Viejo,” “Last Day Song (World Walking Again),” “Rain Falls Down Like an Ocean in the Sky,” “Spirits Between Bourbon and Royal,” on February 9, 2019, “Rain Falls Down Like an Ocean in the Sky” on January 6, 2019, January 5, 2019, December 30, 2018, December 1, 2018, “Spirits Between Bourbon and Royal” on October 28, 2018, “Rain Falls Down Like an Ocean in the Sky” on October 21, 2018, “Rain Falls Down Like an Ocean in the Sky” on October 20, 2018, “Missing Viejo” on October 14, 2018, “Rain Falls Down Like an Ocean in the Sky” on October 13, 2018, “Rain Falls Down Like An Ocean In The Sky” on August 26, 2018 and August 5, 2018, “Missing Viejo” on August 4, 2018, “Dreaming Helsinki Esplanadi (Walking a Beautiful World” on July 28, 2018, “Missing Viejo” on July 21, 2018 and July 7, 2018, “Dreaming Helsinki Esplanadi (Walking a Beautiful World” on June 24, 2018, “Rain Falls Down Like An Ocean In The Sky,” “Gift Hill Respite,” “Takeshita Street Vs. The Jeepney,” “Mercado San Telmo,” “Spirits Between Bourbon and Royal,” and “Last Day Song (World Walking Again)” on June 10, 2018, “Rain Falls Down Like An Ocean In The Sky” on June 9, 2018, June 3, 2018 and May 26, 2018 and “Hypnotica Muríca,” “Dreaming Helsinki Esplanadi (Walking a Beautiful World,” “Missing Viejo,” “Jomo Jet Lag,” “Bad Ass Nairobi Land Rover,” and “Rain Falls Down Like An Ocean In The Sky” on May 27, 2018, “Missing Viejo” on May 20, 2018, “Missing Viejo” and “Rain Falls Down Like An Ocean In The Sky” on May 12, 2018, “Rain Falls Down Like An Ocean In The Sky” on May 6, 2018 and April 29, 2018, “Missing Viejo” and “Rain Falls Down Like An Ocean In The Sky” on April 28, 2018, “Hypnotica Muríca” on April 22, 2018, “Rain Falls Down Like An Ocean In The Sky” on April 21, 2018, “Missing Viejo” on April 15, 2018, “Rain Falls Down Like An Ocean In The Sky” on April 14, 2018, and “Last Day Song (World Walking Again)” on April 7, 2018.
KMNO 91.7FM The Blue Bus in Maui, HI played “Bad Ass Narobi Landrover” on March 7, 2024, and April 22, 2021.
KBRP 96.1 FM The Luminous Chord show in Bisbee, AZ played “Dreaming Helsinki Esplanadi (Walking a Beautiful World)” on July 6, 2023, “Mercado San Telmo” on September 14, 2022, The Quantum Soup played “Rain Falls Down (Like an Ocean in the Sky” on July 13, 2022, “Dreaming Helsinki Esplanadi (Walking a Beautiful World)” on April 14, 2022, “Last Day Song (World Walking Again)” on March 17, 2022, “Spirits Between Bourbon and Royal” on October 17, 2021 and October 14, 2021, “Missing Viejo” on September 12, 2021, and September 8, 2021, and “Dreaming Helsinki Esplanadi (Walking a Beautiful World)” on July 11, 2021 and July 7, 2021.
Hypnagogue Podcast listed “Takeshita Street Vs. The Jeepney” in their Top 20 from 2018 on December 30, 2018 and played “Last Day Song (World Walking Again) in their Episode 374 on January 19, 2023 and “Missing Viejo” in their Episode 237 on June 21, 2018.
KXFM 104.7FM Laguna Lounge show in Laguna Beach, CA played “Missing Viejo” on May 22, 2022, “Dreaming Helsinki Esplanadi (Walking a Beautiful World)” on February 7, 2022.
KDNK 88.1 FM Carbondale, Glenwood 88.3 FM Aspen played “Hypnotica Murica” on April 23, 2022, “Takeshita Street Vs. The Jeepney” on December 12, 2018, “Dreaming Helsinki Esplanadi (Walking a Beautiful World)”, “Missing Viejo”, “Bad Ass Nairobi Land Rover”, “Rain Falls Down Like an Ocean in the Sky”, “Takeshita Street vs the Jeepney”, “Mercado San Telmo”, “Spirits Between Bourbon & Royal”, “Hypnotica Murica”, “Last Day Song (World Walking Again)”, and “Rain Falls Down Like an Ocean in the Sky (Radio Editi) on July 4, 2018 and May 16, 2018, and ”Rain Falls Down Like An Ocean In The Sky” on May 6, 2018.
KXRY 91.1 & 107.1FM 12 Steps Beyond Prog radio show in Portland, OR played “Last Day Song (World Walking Again)” on January 13,, 2022, “Spirits Between Bourbon and Royal” on May 16, 2018, and “Last Day Song (World Walking Again)” on May 10, 2018.
Radio Despi 107.1 FM La Otra Orilla radio show in Barcelona, Spain played “Dreaming Helsinki Esplanadi (Walking a Beautiful World)” and “Takeshita Street Vs. The Jeepney” on May 7, 2019.
WWUH 91.3FM Ambience radio show in West Hartford, CT played “Dreaming Helsinki Esplandi (Walking a Beautiful World)” on May 5, 2019, “Takeshita Street Vs. The Jeepney” on January 13, 2019, “Missing Viejo” on January 6, 2019, “Hypnotica Murica” and “Spirits Between Bourbon and Royal” on December 9, 2018, “Dreaming Helsinki Esplanadi (Walking a Beautiful World)” and “Bad Ass Nairobi Land Rover” on October 21, 2018, and “Bad Ass Nairobi Land Rover” on July 1, 2018. Included on the Best Ambience of 2018 show.
KUBU 96.5FM Beyond The Invisible show in Sacramento, CA is featuring Sensitive Chaos for the month of May and played “Dreaming Helsinki Esplandi (Walking a Beautiful World) on May 3, 2019.
KSBR 88.5FM The Late Night Lounge show in Mission Viejo, CA played “Missing Viejo” on April 21, 2019, March 24, 2019, and February 10, 2019, “Dreaming Helsinki Esplanadi (Walking a Beautiful World)” on January 20, 2019, “Missing Viejo” on December 30, 2018, “Dreaming Helsinki Esplanadi (Walking a Beautiful World)” on October 28, 2018, “Missing Viejo” on September 2, 2018, “Dreaming Helsinki Esplanadi (Walking a Beautiful World)” on August 19, 2018, “Missing Viejo” on August 5, 2018, “Dreaming Helsinki Esplanadi (Walking a Beautiful World” on July 29, 2018 and July 22, 2018, “Missing Viejo” on June 24, 2018, “Bad Ass Nairobi Land Rover” on June 10, 2018, “Missing Viejo” on May 27, 2018, “Bad Ass Nairobi Land Rover” on May 12, 2018, “Missing Viejo” on May 6, 2018.
KUAC 89.9FM Nightlight radio show in Fairbanks, AK played “Dreaming Helsinki Esplanadi (Walking a Beautiful World)” on March 31, 2019 and May 20, 2018. Listed #7 of Top 20 for April 2018.
2MAX FM 91.3 The Musical Panorama in Narrabri, New South Wales, Australia played “Dreaming Helsinki Esplanadi (Walking a Beautiful World)” on March 28, 2019 and June 28, 2018, and “Bad Ass Nairobi Land Rover” on June 7, 2018. Listed #8 on Top 20 for June 2018.
WFIT 89.5FM Future Echoes radio show from Melbourne, FL played “Spirits Between Bourbon and Royal” on March 3, 2019, “Hypnotica Muríca” on February 24, 2019, “Last Day Song (World Walking Again)” on February 17, 2019, “Missing Viejo” on February 10, 2018, “Takeshita Street vs. The Jeepney” on January 27, 2018, “Mercado San Telmo” on January 13, 2019, and “Bad Ass Nairobi Land Rover” on January 6, 2019.
WPNE 89.3FM/WHND 89.7FM At The Edge show in Green Bay/Sister Bay, WI, played “Dreaming Helsinki Esplanadi (Walking a Beautiful World)” on February 18, 2019.
Alpha Rhythms on WYSO 91.3FM in Yellow Springs, OH played “Hypnotica Muríca” on February 3, 2019, “Takeshita Street Vs. The Jeepney” on December 30, 2018, November 25, 2018, and July 8, 2018, “Hypnotica Muríca” on July 1, 2018, “Dreaming Helsinki Esplanadi (Walking a Beautiful World)” on June 24, 2018, “Missing Viejo” on June 3, 2018, “Hypnotica Muríca” on May 27, 2018, “Hypnotica Muríca” on May 20, 2018, “Takeshita Street Vs. The Jeepney” on May 13, 2018, “Hypnotica Murica” on April 29, 2018, “Takeshita Street Vs. The Jeepney” on April 22, 2018, and “Rain Falls Down Like An Ocean In The Sky” on April 15, 2018. Listed #4 of Top 20 for April 2018.
WWSP 90FM Ambient Aether in Stevens Point, WI played “Bad Ass Nairobi Land Rover” on January 27, 2019, “Mercado San Telmo” on January 20, 2019, “Spirits Between Bourbon and Royal” on January 6, 2019, “Rain Falls Down Like an Ocean in the Sky” on October 21, 2018, “Takeshita Street Vs. The Jeepney” on October 7, 2018, “Mercado San Telmo” on September 30, 2018, “Spirits Between Bourbon and Royal” on September 16, 2018, “Missing Viejo” on September 9, 2018, “Dreaming Helsinki Esplanadi (Walking a Beautiful World)” on September 2, 2018, “Rain Falls Down Like An Ocean In The Sky” on August 26, 2018, “Spirits Between Bourbon and Royal” on August 19, 2018, “Mercado San Telmo” on August 5, 2018, “Hypnotica Muríca” on July 29, 2018, “Bad Ass Nairobi Land Rover” on July 22, 2018, “Dreaming Helsinki Esplanadi (Walking a Beautiful World)” on July 8, 2018, “Hypnotica Muríca” on July 1, 2018, “Rain Falls Down Like An Ocean In The Sky” on June 17, 2018, “Takeshita Street Vs. The Jeepney” on June 10, 2018, “Last Day Song (World Walking Again)” on June 3, 2018, “Bad Ass Nairobi Land Rover” on May 27, 2018, “Rain Falls Down Like An Ocean In The Sky” on May 13, 2018, and “Missing Viejo” on April 22, 2018. Listed #1 of Top 20 for June 2018 and May 2018 and #5 of Top 20 for April 2018.
YLE Radio 1 Avaruusromua (Space Junk) Finnish Broadcasting Company radio played “Dreaming Helsinki Esplanadi (Walking a Beautiful World)” on January 20, 2019, and May 6, 2018.
Sounds Like Cafe in Australia listed ‘Walking a Beautiful World’ on the Top 10 Instrumental Chart December 2018, November 2018, October 2018, September 2018, August 2018, July 2018, and June 2018, and “Missing Viejo” at #14 on their July 2018 Singles chart and #8 June 2018 Singles chart.
WXPN 88.5FM Star’s End radio show in Philadelphia, PA played “Last Day Song (World Walking Again)” on January 6, 2019, October 28, 2018, and August 12, 2018. Included on the Significant Releases of 2018 list.
Echoes, the daily two-hour music soundscape, distributed by Public Radio International and broadcast on over 130 radio stations from Maine to California played “Rain Falls Down Like an Ocean in the Sky” on November 30, 2018, “Bad Ass Nairobi Land Rover” on October 11, 2018, “Rain Falls Down Like an Ocean in the Sky” on September 28, 2018, “Bad Ass Nairobi Land Rover” on September 22, 2018 and September 17, 2018, August 24, 2018 and July 3, 2018, “Rain Falls Down Like An Ocean In The Sky” on May 4, 2018, and “Bad Ass Nairobi Land Rover” on May 2, 2018. Top 25 for May 2018.
KCBX 90FM Beyond the Fringe radio show in San Luis Obispo | 89.5 Santa Barbara | 91.7 Paso Robles to Salinas 90.9 Santa Ynez, Avila Beach, Cambria | 91.1 Cayucos | and 95.1 Lompoc played “Missing Viejo” on November 27, 2018, “Jomo Jet Lag” and “Bad Ass Nairobi Land Rover” on October 17, 2018, “Hypnotica Muríca” on September 18, 2018, “Gift Hill Respite” and “Takeshita Street Vs. The Jeepney” on September 4, 2018, “Last Day Song (World Walking Again)” on August 7, 2018, “Rain Falls Down Like an Ocean in the Sky” on July 24, 2018, “Missing Viejo” on July 10, 2018, “Hypnotica Muríca” on June 26, 2018, “Jomo Jet Lag” and “Bad Ass Nairobi Land Rover” on June 13, 2018, “Dreaming Helsinki Esplanadi (Walking a Beautiful World)” on May 22, 2018, “Gift Hill Respite” and “Takeshita Street Vs. The Jeepney” on May 8, 2018, and “Rain Falls Down Like An Ocean In The Sky” on April 17, 2018. Listed #1 of Top 20 for June 2018, #4 of Top 20 for May 2018, and #20 of Top 20 for April 2018. NACC Electronic Chart listings: #1 for June 19, 2018, May 22, 2018, May 15, 2018, #2 Electronic Chart for September 11, 2018, August 14, 2018, #3 Electronic Chart on May 8, 2018, #5 Electronic Chart for October 2, 2018, June 5, 2018, #6 Electronic Chart for September 25, 2018, #8 Electronic Chart for November 13, 2018, August 21, 2018, April 24, 2018, #9 Electronic Chart for September 4, 2018, May 1. 2018, and #10 Electronic Chart for September 18, 2018, August 7, 2018, July 17, 2018.
One World Music Radio has included “Dreaming Helsinki Esplanadi (Walking a Beautiful World)” in the Matthew Mayer-sponsored Healing Waters playlist #15 on November 14, 2018, “Last Day Song (World Walking Again)” in the Kathryn Kaye-sponsored One World Music playlist #120 on April 25, 2018. List at #26 on the Top 100 World Chart for July 2018, #11 on the Top 100 World Chart for June 2018, and #58 on the Top 100 World Chart for May 2018.
WMNR 88.1FM New Music Gallery radio show in Monroe, CT played “Dreaming Helsinki Esplanadi (Walking a Beautiful World”, “Rain Falls Down Like an Ocean in the Sky”, and “Takeshita Street Vs. The Jeepney” on November 8, 2018.
WMSE 91.7FM Instrumental Saturdays radio played “Dreaming HelsinkiEsplanadi (Walking a Beautiful World)” on October 13, 2018, and interviewed Jim on the air for 3 hours and played “Dreaming HelsinkiEsplanadi (Walking a Beautiful World),” “Missing Viejo,” “Jomo Jet Lag,” “Bad Ass Nairobi Land Rover,” “Rain Falls Down Like An Ocean In The Sky,” “Gift Hill Respite,” “Mercado San Telmo,” and “Last Day Song (World Walking Again)” on June 2, 2018, “Hypnotica Muríca” on May 26, 2018, “Missing Viejo” on May 19, 2018, “Last Day Song (World Walking Again)” on May 5, 2018, and “Rain Falls Down Like An Ocean In The Sky” and “Hypnotica Murica” on April 28, 2018. Listed #3 of Top 20 for June 2018, and #1 of Top 20 for May 2018.
Sequences Electronic Music podcast included “Bad Ass Nairobi Land Rover” and “Dreaming Helsinki Esplanadi (Walking a Beautiful World)” in their latest No 136 podcast on October 13, 2018.
KCUR 89.3FM Night Tides with Renee Blanche show in Kansas City, MO played “Rain Falls Down Like an Ocean in the Sky” on August 12, 2018, “Last Day Song (World Walking Again)” on July 22, 2018, “Rain Falls Down Like an Ocean in the Sky” on July 8, 2018, “Missing Viejo” on June 24, 2018, “Takeshita Street Vs. The Jeepney” on June 10, 2018, “Mercado San Telmo” on May 27, 2018, “Dreaming Helsinki Esplanadi (Walking a Beautiful World)” on May 6, 2018, and “Spirits Between Bourbon and Royal” on April 22, 2018. Listed #18 of Top 20 for June 2018, and #15 of Top 20 for May 2018.
M3 Radio listed the Sensitive Chaos ‘Walking a Beautiful World’ at #4 on August 6, 2018, July 29, 2018 and July 22, 2018 Chill chart, and #10 on June 10, 2018 New Age chart.
WAWL Light in the Night. Listed #1 of Top 20 for June 2018, and #3 of Top 20 for May 2018.
WHYR 96.9FM’s The Clearing radio show in Baton Rouge, LA played “Takeshita Street Vs. The Jeepney” on June 17, 2018, and “Rain Falls Down Like An Ocean In The Sky” on May 20, 2018.
WVKR 91.3FM Secret Music show in Poughkeepsie, NY played “Dreaming Helsinki Esplanadi (Walking a Beautiful World)” on June 10, 2018, “Bad Ass Nairobi Land Rover” on June 3, 2018. Listed at #12 for June 2018.
Onda Pedriza 107.3FM Músicas Imaginadas (Imagined Music) in Manzanares el Real, Madrid, Spain played “Dreaming Helsinki Esplanadi (Walking a Beautiful World)” and “Rain Falls Down Like An Ocean In The Sky” on May 28, 2018. Listed #8 of Top 20 for May 2018.
Guido’s Lounge Cafe In The Zone in the Netherlands included “Missing Viejo” in their May 2018 show. Listed #18 of Top 20 for May 2018.
WMNR/WGRS/WRXC New Music Gallery. Listed #12 of Top 20 for May 2018.
WTUL Cheezmuzik. Listed #18 of Top 20 for May 2018.
WESS Alternating Currents. Listed #19 of Top 20 for May 2018.
WVUD 91.3 The Morning Fog radio show in Newark, DE played “Missing Viejo” on May 27, 2018, “Rain Falls Down Like An Ocean In The Sky” on May 20, 2018, “Dreaming Helsinki Esplanadi (Walking a Beautiful World)” on May 13, 2018, and “Hypnotica Muríca” on April 29, 2018.
WNMC Radio 90.7FM Inner Visions radio show in Traverse City, MI played “Bad Ass Nairobi Land Rover” on May 13, 2018, and “Dreaming Helsinki Esplanadi (Walking a Beautiful World)”, “Missing Viejo”, “Bad Ass Nairobi Land Rover”, and “Rain Falls Down Like An Ocean In The Sky” on May 6, 2018, and “Dreaming Helsinki Esplanadi (Walking a Beautiful World)” on April 29, 2018.
KTEP 88.5 FM Audiosyncracy show in El Paso, TX played “Mercado San Telmo” on May 13, 2018, “Mercado San Telmo” on April 22, 2018, and “Spirits Between Bourbon and Royal” on April 15, 2018. Listed #8 of Top 20 for April 2018.
WMUH 91.7 FM Thought Radio played “Jomo Jet Lag” and “Bad Ass Nairobi Land Rover” on May 12, 2018.
WDIY 88.1FM Galactic Travels played “Bad Ass Nairobi Land Rover” on May 10, 2018. Listed #16 of Top 20 for May 2018.
KFGM-LP 105.5FM This Is The City in Missoula, MT played “Dreaming Helsinki Esplanadi (Walking a Beautiful World)”, “Missing Viejo”, and “Last Day Song (World Walking Again)” on May 8, 2018.
HFM Radio 102.3FM Night Hawke show in Market Harborough, South Leicestershire and North Northamptonshire, UK played “Missing Viejo”, “Last Day Song (World Walking Again)”, and “Rain Falls Down Like An Ocean In The Sky” on May 5, 2018. Listed #11 of Top 20 for April 2018.
CKUW 95.9FM Shades of Classics in Winnipeg, MB, Canada. Listed #18 of Top 20 for April 2018.
PRESS
Juliet Fromholt, WYSO, Interview in nacc, July 2018
Favorite album of 2018 so far? For New Age/Chill; Bob Holroyd’s The Cage and Sensitive Chaos’ Walking a Beautiful World are tied.
John Shanahan, Hypnogogue Podcasts, May 30, 2018
Know what’s a lot of fun? Sensitive Chaos’ latest, Walking a Beautiful World. Evolving up from Jim Combs’ solo project to become a collective of insanely talented musicians, Sensitive Chaos bridges the gap between electronica and smooth jazz, with doses of pure New Age laced in. It’s a big, beautiful, jam-sessiony overdose of feel-good tunes, and you need to go hear it. Dig into “Bad Ass Nairobi Land Rover” for a kick of tasty adrenaline.
SYLVAIN LUPARI, SYNTHE&SEQUENCES, May 21, 2018
SENSITIVE CHAOS: Walking a Beautiful World (2018)
“Rich and creative in all aspect, this is a travel diary into sounds and tones”
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With time, I eventually became a true fan of Sensitive Chaos. Nevertheless, this Jim Combs’ project is at light years of the Berlin School model, even if it’s essentially built around synthesizers and beat-boxes.
Mixed adequately to more conventional instruments, such as guitars and bass, and to acoustic instruments such as trumpet, harmonica, saxophone and violin, this electronic music reaches another level which becomes even more surprising when the targeted styles go from Jazz to Folk with a touch of American Southwest’s spirit. In fact, it’s the very eclectic side of the Pacific School model but with a more cheerful vision and where some essences of Robert Rich and Forrest Fang drag melancholy and creativity beyond what one could imagine.
“Walking a Beautiful World” is a 9th album and especially a diary travel in sounds and tones that Jim Combs made around the globe these last years. Inspired by meetings with people of Finland and Europe, as well as from South America, from Africa, Asia and finally from his home in the region of Atlanta, the sound troubadour with thousand ideas returns with an album as surprising as his long journey. And his immense bunch of guest artists gives as many colors as emotivism to a superb immensely musical album.
This tone so crystalline of Sensitive Chaos slits the silence with hesitating arpeggios which connect to another keyboard and to a suspended rivulet of electronic arpeggios which glitters adrift. The electronic envelope spreads its influence made of charms and surprises to percussions of which the acoustic gallops run to support the Chinese harmonies of Josie Quick’s violin. Light and lively, “Dreaming Helsinki Esplanadi (Walking a Beautiful World)” proposes the work of three synthesists (Jim Combs, Tony Gerber and Otso Pakarinen) who court, by presenting miscellaneous tones of wind instruments, a violin which knows skillfully how to measure its emotions.
“Missing Viejo” is a first crush here with a rhythm structured well on a good work of percussions. The electronic and acoustic ingredients melt themselves in a very musical sound mass where Dave Coustan’s trumpet does very Mark Isham. We stamp of the foot, the bass is also very good, and we enjoy this meshing of electronic and acoustic instruments which get lost in our imagination. Is it a synth? A saxophone? A violin? All living with a symbiosis of the most melodious.
The electronic effects of “Jomo Jet Lag” throw themselves into “Bad Ass Nairobi Land Rover” and whose ambiospherical road goes slowly towards a fascinating and very bucolic Southern Rock.
Each album of Sensitive Chaos possesses its pearl. “Rain Falls Down Like an Ocean in the Sky” is the one of “Walking a Beautiful World”. A wonderful ballad in a musical texture full of new developments, at the level emotion, where all the instruments converge on an ear-catchy, because of its intensity, electronic Folk.
“Gift Hill Respite” proposes a very ethereal introduction to “Takeshita Street vs. the Jeepney”. And running away from a sound romance gone up on a bed of carillons, this title proposes a spasmodic structure forged with rhythmic arpeggios and with percussions sometimes sober and sometimes livened up by a desire to blow up a rhythmic proposal which increases its depth with Ryan Taylor’s good bass. His guitar also scatters its musing, more present than the discreet violin, on this tight meshing which flows like a rivulet of clanic trance. A convincing and very catchy surprise!
“Mercado San Telmo” is another cheerful hymn where a street of New Orleans gets embellish of festive music. The violin and Brian Good’s soprano saxophone have a great time on a purely electronic structure where the chords and the riffs of synth play with our sense of hearing like the uncertain steps of a cat a little bit drunk.
“Spirits Between Bourbon and Royal” is a surprising title which reminds us in of a good Beck. The mixture of Funk and Folk, with riffs of rather cosmic guitar, shines here with a sound aestheticism as complex as very catchy. The bass is more vicious than the collection of jerky riffs of the guitar.
“Hypnotica Muríca” is a strange title, a little like a music without identity, which could be as well produced by Beck or by Brian Eno in Nerve Net. The music is rich and the tonal aestheticism make a good menu for my Tribe Tower. Funk and Southern Rock, with an approach of collective joy, the rhythm skips with the cawings of a bass and a series of very acid riffs which forge a jerky and bipolar tempo. Voices of a man and of a girl decorate a panorama very near a psychedelic without borders with sound effects which abound around the violin which crumbles some American patriotic airs and a very rock guitar of the former 70’s.
On a structure of circular rhythm which hops up and down with hundreds of crazy steps, and which gets back constantly, “Last Day Song (World Walking Again)” offers a melodious ritornello with a very creative synth at the level of its choice of flute. It’s Sensitive Chaos at its purest level with an approach of minimalist tornado which swallows all the sounds on its passage.
When I told you that “Rain Falls Down Like an Ocean in the Sky” is the pearl of this album …The gang of Jim Combs even made a radio edit version.
A way as another one to hear this wonderful title twice rather than one and which is taken from a “Walking a Beautiful World” rich and creative at every level. A top notch album my dear Jim!
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CHRONIQUE en FRANÇAIS
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Avec le temps, j’ai fini par devenir un inconditionnel de Sensitive Chaos. Pourtant, ce projet de Jim Combs est à des années-lumière du modèle Berlin School, même si elle est construite essentiellement autour des synthétiseurs et des boîtes à rythmes. Mélangés adéquatement à des instruments plus conventionnels, tels que guitares et basse, et à des instruments acoustiques tels que trompette, harmonica, saxophone et violon, cette musique électronique atteint un autre niveau qui devient encore plus étonnant lorsque les styles ciblés vont du Jazz à du Folk avec une touche du Sud-Ouest américain. En fait, c’est le côté très éclectique du modèle de la Pacific School mais avec une vision plus enjouée où des parfums de Robert Rich et Forrest Fang traînent mélancolie et créativité au-delà de ce que l’on pourrait imaginer. “Walking a Beautiful World” est un 9ième album et surtout un journal de voyage en sons et en tons que Jim Combs a effectué autour du globe ces dernières années. Inspiré par des rencontres avec des habitants de la Finlande et de l’Europe, de même que de l’Amérique du Sud, l’Afrique, l’Asie et finalement chez lui dans la région d’Atlanta, le troubadour sonique aux milles idées revient avec un album aussi étonnant que son long voyage. Et son immense brochette d’artistes invités donne autant de couleurs que d’émotivité à un splendide album immensément musical.
Cette tonalité si cristalline à Sensitive Chaos fend le silence avec des arpèges hésitants qui se connectent à un autre clavier et à un ruisselet d’arpèges électroniques suspendu et qui miroite à la dérive. L’enveloppe électronique étend son emprise constituée de charmes et de surprises avec des percussions dont les galops acoustiques courent afin de soutenir les harmonies chinoises du violon de Josie Quick. Léger et entrainant, “Dreaming Helsinki Esplanadi (Walking a Beautiful World)” propose le travail de trois synthétistes (Jim Combs, Tony Gerber et Otso Pakarinen) qui font la cour, en présentant divers tonalités d’instruments à vents, à un violon qui sait habilement doser ses émotions. “Missing Viejo” est un premier coup de cœur avec un rythme bien structuré sur un beau travail de percussions. Les ingrédients électroniques et acoustiques se fondent en une masse sonore très musicale où la trompette de Dave Coustan fait très Mark Isham. On tape du pied, la basse est très bonne aussi, et on apprécie ce maillage d’instruments électroniques et acoustiques qui se perdent dans notre imagination. Est-ce un synthé? Un saxophone? Un violon? Tous cohabitant avec une symbiose des plus mélodieuses. Les effets électroniques de “Jomo Jet Lag” se jettent dans “Bad Ass Nairobi Land Rover” et dont la route ambiosphérique aboutira vers un fascinant Southern Rock très bucolique. Chaque album de Sensitive Chaos possède sa perle. “Rain Falls Down Like an Ocean in the Sky” est celle de “Walking a Beautiful World”. Une superbe ballade dans une texture musicale pleine de rebondissements, au niveau émotion, où tous les instruments convergent vers un séduisant Folk électronique.
“Gift Hill Respite” propose une introduction très éthérée à “Takeshita Street vs. the Jeepney”. Et fuyant une romance sonique montée sur un lit de carillons, ce titre propose une structure spasmodique forgée avec des arpèges rythmiques et de percussions tantôt sobres et tantôt animées d’un désir de faire exploser une proposition rythmique qui alourdit sa profondeur avec la bonne basse de Ryan Taylor. Sa guitare éparpille aussi ses rêveries, plus présentes que le discret violon, sur cet étroit maillage qui coule comme un ruisselet de transe clanique. Étonnement convaincant et très accrocheur! “Mercado San Telmo” est un autre hymne de fête où une rue de la Nouvelle-Orléans se décore de musique festive. Le violon et le saxophone soprano de Brian Good s’en donnent à cœur joie sur une structure purement électronique où les accords et les riffs de synthé jouent avec notre ouïe comme les pas incertain d’un chat un peu saoul. “Spirits Between Bourbon and Royal” est un titre étonnant qui nous fait penser à du bon Beck. Le mélange de Funk et de Folk, avec des riffs de guitare assez cosmique, rayonne ici d’un esthétisme sonore aussi complexe que très séduisant. La basse est plus vicieuse que la collection de riffs saccadés de la guitare. “Hypnotica Muríca” est un titre étrange, un peu comme une musique sans identité, qui pourrait être aussi bien produite par Beck ou par Brian Eno dans Nerve Net. La musique est riche et l’esthétisme tonal font bien paraître mes Tribe Tower. Funk et Southern Rock, avec une approche de défoulement collectif, le rythme sautille avec des croassements de basse et une série de riffs très acides qui forgent un tempo saccadé et bipolaire. Une voix d’homme et de petite fille ornent un panorama très près du psychédélique sans frontières avec des effets sonores qui abondent autour du violon qui émiette des airs patriotiques américains et une guitare très rock ancien aussi fougueuse que dans les années 70. Sur une structure de rythme circulaire qui trépigne de cents pas fous, et qui revient en boucles, “Last Day Song (World Walking Again)” offre une ritournelle mélodieuse avec un synthé très créatif au niveau de son choix de flûte. C’est du Sensitive Chaos de ce qu’on connaît le mieux avec une approche de tornade minimaliste qui avale tous les sons sur son passage. Quand je vous disais que “Rain Falls Down Like an Ocean in the Sky” est la perle de cet album…La gang à Jim Combs en a même fait une version pour la radio. Une façon comme une autre d’entendre ce splendide titre deux fois plutôt qu’une et qui est tiré d’un “Walking a Beautiful World” riche et créatif à tous les niveaux. Un superbe album mon cher Jim!