"Ambience With An Attitude" is the tagline on Dino Pacifici's latest CD, "Acquiescent Resonance." The follow up adds, "A Positive Attitude." And this pretty well describes the type of music heard on this, Pacifici's fifth CD.
In an attempt to address the lack of description cited in this newsgroup of late, I will make an attempt to describe the music, as one might expect to find such a thing as "Ambience With An Attitude."
Dino Pacifici is a Canadian guitarist of some reknown. Voted a finalist in the first annual New Age Voice Awards in the space/ambient/electronic category in 1997, Pacifici's ability to create unique musical expression continues to grow. His earlier albums, such as "Random Factors" and "Urban Oasis" were more of the smooth/light jazz flavor, peppered with bouncy, catchy rhythms and hooks. Then came "The Journey," which was a personal expression, which took on a more laid-back, ambient approach.
Now we have "Acquiescent Resonance," in which Dino has stretched his musical roots to include the "dub" effect. In his own words, "'dub' is word used to describe an added rhythmic undercurrent to what is an ambient, spacey composition of long textures and colours... It can be hip hop, techno, jazzy, tribal, whatever."
There's a lot of "whatever" on this album. Some cuts, such as the title, "Acquiescent Resonance," sparkle with Pacifici's fluid, jazz-flavored guitar stylings. Other cuts, such as "Weird Science" are definite candidates for those Dub/Dance compilation CDs that pop up in
the music stores, tinged with their electronic drones and samples. Pacifici plays electric guitars, analog and digital synths, Roland S760 Sampler, drums and percussion, programming and vocal phrasing. He also co-produces and records in his own studio; the man is a one-man-gang. Make no mistake, there's a professional polish on each cut, and each of his CDs shines with the care laden upon it.
Each track on "Acquiescent Resonance" has a flavor of its own, yet the entire CD works somehow. The tracks seem to flow logically from one to the other, yet manage to retain their own unique flavor. Is this jazz? Is it ambient? Is it dub? Yes, yes, and yes. I'd like to say that I hear influences in Pacifici's music, but to attempt comparison would be to diminish both. Suffice it to say that Pacifici has accomplished a rare feat: he has successfully married several musical styles to create a number of aural landscapes. Sometimes they are foot-tapping melodies, other times they are drifting, hazy, intertwining themes. One time you will hear the unmistakable stylings of a studio guitar player, another time you will hear the intricate rhythms and expressions of an accomplished keyboard artist.
It is difficult for me to try to put into words the feelings and emotions this music evokes in me. It's not "kick-ass" music in the way the headbangers would have it, but nevertheless, there's a kick-ass quality to it. This very well could be what Pacifici means "Ambience With An Attitude."

Fred Puhan - Music For New Age
"if it sounds good, it IS good." -- Duke Ellington Music For A New Age: http://www.his.com/fjp/music.html