Fresh Aire 7
	Produced by Chip Davis
	Released on 1990
	US CHART POSITION #77 . . . US NEW AGE CHART POSITION #2 . . . GOLD RECORD . . . GRAMMY for BEST NEW AGE ALBUM (1991)
	Find it at GEMM
AGCD 777 cover [high resolution scan]

T he Grammy-winning seventh edition of the Fresh Aire series, brought to you by the number 7. My job as the lofty author of Progrography (and wielder of such heavy words as “septemfluous”) is to tell you how New Age is an unholy alliance of classical minimalism and the schlockiest of tv soundtracks, fit only for mental patients and aging hippies. But 7 caught a lucky break; I love it. Not so crazy about the booklet, which references Aristotle, Chaucer and merlot (the holy trinity of weeniedom, they), yet it illustrates how this collection is a work of calculated (not accidental) genius. “Seven Colours of the Rainbow” maps out colors (oops, sorry, “colours”) to frequencies to instruments, “The Seven Chakras of the Body” represents each of the seven chakras as individual musical creations, etc. All of which would collapse like so much conceptual nonsense if the music weren’t fundamentally strong. (Even a lofty goal couldn’t save Wildlife from feeling forced, for example.) This world of numerology and speculative science is clearly a comfortable one for Davis, frolicking on the fringes of magick (“Conjuring the Number 7,” “The 7 Metals of Alchemy”) or exploring the medicine of the mind. Not coincidentally, these are some of prog’s favorite haunts, which may be why it resonates with me more than a Yellowstone or umpteenth Christmas album. I wrote a review of this for All Music Guide too, which features such unforgettable word combinations as “childlike wonder” and “uncorking a bubbly bottle of musical champagne.” If I had longer arms, I would punch myself.

AGCD 777 gatefold sleeve

TRACK LISTING

1. CONJURING THE NUMBER 7    3:59
2. SUNDAY THE 7TH DAY    3:50
3. THE 7 COLOURS OF THE RAINBOW    5:28
4. THE 7 C'S    0:22
5. THE 7 METALS OF ALCHEMY    3:21
6. THE 7 CHAKRAS OF THE BODY
   CHAKRA 1    1:16
   CHAKRA 2    4:15
   CHAKRA 3    3:20
   CHAKRA 4    5:30
   CHAKRA 5    4:22
   CHAKRA 6    3:40
   CHAKRA 7    3:54
   
7. THE 7 STARS OF THE BIG DIPPER    3:02
   
   Composed by Chip Davis

CREDITS

CHIP DAVIS -- 20th century digital upright, conductor, photography
Caroline Ashton -- soprano soloist (6)
AWR-Music Orchestra -- orchestra
Jackson Berkey -- harpsichord
The Cambridge Singers -- choir
Bobby Jenkins -- oboe & English horn
Arnie Roth -- concert master
John Rutter -- choir master
Louis J. Stout -- orchestral assistance
Bill (Wires) Ackley -- production assistance
Louis Davis, Sr. -- keyboard technician
Wayne Jesz -- production assistance
John Boyd -- engineer, mixing
Bill Bradley -- engineer
Campbell Hughes -- balance engineer
Hirsch Design -- art direction
Rick Harrig, Sharon Davis, Dennis di Cicco -- photographers
D.L. Cramer Ph.D. -- illustration

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