The Hidden Land

Out of every Flecktones album that I have so far this one took the longest to grow on me. My first time through I only liked Weed Whacker Whistle Tune which are the most immediate and acsessible with raw skill and beautiful melodies, respectively. However now, as I listen to it for the 4th time I am starting to get and undertand the beautiful mysteriousness of the entire album and it is now my second favorite. If you bought this album with high expectations because of the grammy and are more than mildly disappointed, dont give up on Hidden Land entirely, listen to it a few more times with no distractions and then make your decision.

This is an ok album but in my opinion it is their least artistic and creative. Reading between the grooves it sounds like there was a contractual agreement for another album.

I think this is one of the Flecktones' top 3 albums. They really deserved the Grammy for this one!! Weed Whacker is awesome!

First of all, the album review, while not completely off mark, is overly critical of the diverse sounds from this album. In my opinion, the diversity of sounds is what makes Bela Fleck and the Flecktones one of the premier New Grass/Jazz fusion groups of the 20th and 21st Centuries. With that said, the moment the album starts with Bach's Fugue No. 20 in A Minor, you quickly realize that you are going to be treated to a roller coaster ride of different sounds and improvs. Why is this such a bad thing (directed to the album reviewer)? Hmmm, perhaps it was just too much Fleck for him/her to handle? But if you enjoy the improv, the winding and weaving of different styles, then you are going to love this album. The highlight, for me, was "Labyrinth". Rococo before nicely compliments Labyrinth, so I recommend that if you put Labrinth on repeat as I do, be sure to include Rococo so that you experience a full 10 minutes of some of the best Fleck that I have heard in a while. Some of the songs here don't belong. Kaleidoscope comes to mind. It is just too cutesy for my taste. It reminds me of the theme song for the original Super Mario Bros. video game. Who's Got Three reminds me of Driving Miss Daisy--boring. The tempo and tone just doesn't belong compared to the previous 5 songs. Chennai has some middle eastern flavor and is a nice break after enduring the sub-par Weed Whacker and Couch Potato. Subterfuge is alright. Misunderstood starts off tight and along with Subterfuge closely match the Rococo/Labyrinth greatness toward the start of the album. However, the repeating squeaky sax thing toward the end really annoyed me! It wasn't necessary and pretty much killed this song for me in terms of being a favorite. The Whistle Tune, while all right, just seemed to not fit with the rest of the songs on this album. However, I found it to be a fitting ending to a refreshing Flecktone effort.

Great cd very solid jams on here. Bela and the boys definatly deliver in this one. every song is tight in its own way but look out for kaleidoscope its a great one. pick this up if u love a good jam