Part I - 14:54
[1] The Book Opens (Jon Anderson) - 4:59
[2] Quick Words (Talk - Talk) (Anderson/Perez) - 2:54
[3] Shall We Play The Game (Jon Anderson) 3:45 -
[4] Semati Siyonpme (Jon Anderson) 3:16 -
Part II - 19:50
[5] Good Day Morning (Jon Anderson) 2:02 -
[6] Leap Into The Inconceivable (Jon Anderson) - 3:53
[7] Song Of Home (Jon Anderson) 1:11 -
[8] Building Bridges (Anderson/del Signore) - 5:55
[9] Sound And Color (Jon Anderson) 4:01 -
[10] Longwalker Speaks (Jon Anderson) - 2:48
Part III - 12:25
[11] Maazo Maazo (Jon Anderson) - 1:23
[12] Enter Ye The Mystery School (Jon Anderson) - 7:54
[13] Ave Verum (Mozart) - 3:08
Jon Anderson - Arranger, Main Performer, Cover Design
Deborah Anderson - Harmony Vocals
Charlie Bisharat - Violin
Paul Haney - Saxophone
Dan Navarro - Vocals
Otmaro Ruiz - Keyboards
Eduardo del Signore - Guitar (Bass)
Luis Perez - Percussion, Arranger, Adaptation, Research
Keith Heffner - Keyboards, Orchestration
Freddy Ramos - Guitar
Nina Swan - Vocals
David Eric Lowen - Vocals
Salo Loyo - Keyboards
Ron Wasserman - Engineer
Ric Wilson - Mastering
Candace Upman - Art Direction
Sandy DelRio - Design
Kevin Dickey - Remixing, Remastering
Tom Fletcher - Remastering
1996 CD High Street 10346
1996 CS High Street 10346
2000 CD One Way 35146
2000 CS One Way 35146
Toltec, Jon Anderson's second major release for Windham Hill,
represents the popular singer and composer's heartfelt musical
expression of mysteries absorbed from Native American culture. Having
already established himself as a masterful world music artist with the
lively Latin-based rhythms and textures of 1994's Deseo. Anderson has
fashioned a sweeping musical statement of global harmony that
incorporates such inspirations as the writings of author Carlos
Castenada, the wisdom of the ancient Toltec, and a transcendental
experience of his own. Best know as the lead vocalist of the
phenomenally successful progressive rock band Yes, Anderson has always
been a restless voyager. A native of Lancashire, England who now makes
his home in San Luis Obispo, California, he has lived in the Caribbean
and the south of France, as well. In recent years, as his travels have
taken him to Peru, Venezuela, Chile, Costa Rica, and Nicaragua,
Anderson has further broadened his musical palette. To his early
interests in ancient and indonesian music and the sounds of Trinidadian
Carnival, he added the Latin American beats and melodies so prevalent
on Deseo and The Deseo Remixes. Toltec marks an even greater expansion
and deepening of Anderson's artistic inquiries. "I was fortunate to
have what you would call a very spiritual experience," he explains,
"and it came out of singing a song." During a Los Angeles concert by
his longtime musical partner Vangelis, Anderson joined the Greek
keyboardist on stage to sing a few songs, dedicating one to the ancient
people of what is now called California. "Lo and behold, one of the
ancient people came to me that evening," he explains, " and talked to
me about the real and wonderful world of Native Americans. It was an
incredible experience." After his visitation from the ancient, Anderson
rededicated himself to his pursuit of timeless native wisdom. "Doing
this music was a way of reconnecting with the ancient people in the
hope that we all become aware of our heritage as tribal people,"
Anderson explains. "As my friend Longwalker says on the album, we must
take care of this planet in order to take care of our souls, our
ancient ones, and our future children. When people listen to Toltec, I
would hope they would close their eyes and let the music take them on a
musical adventure, wherever they want to go."
A concept album, Anderson's Toltec is made up of 13 cuts divided into
three parts. It tells the tale of the Toltec, a Native American concept
of a group of people who have been all over the Earth, existing within
different cultures throughout the centuries. They are described in the
liner as "Creators of the circles of power, color, perfume, and music
healing domes." Musically, this one is arguably Anderson's most
ambitious solo effort. It is set in a style that is definitely
progressive rock, but focuses less on the rock and more on other
elements. Among those elements are new age (no surprise as the CD was
released on the Windham Hill label), world music, electronic, and even
jazz. Anderson not only provided the expected vocals, but also wrote,
arranged, and produced the disc. The result is an album that should
appeal not just to fans of the singer, but to those into progressive
rock in general as well. It definitely isn't Yes (although it does
share some elements with their work), but it is certainly an intriguing
and entertaining work.
Gary Hill, All-Music Guide
Auf symphonische Konzeptmusik in Jon Anderson schon seit frühesten
Yes-Zeiten abonniert. Nun hat sich der Sänger mit der
Kristallstimme dem mythischen Toltec-Volk angenommen, das den Hopis und
Navajos als Vorfahren gilt. Trotz eingeflochtener Indianer-Rezitationen
ist die High-Tech-Produktion nur bedingt geeignet, Geschichte und
Spiritualität eines Naturvolkes lebendig werden zu lassen.
Magische Melodien und vielschichtige, filigrane bis pathetische
Klangbilder machen das "Toltec"-Drame aber dennoch stimmig. ** Musik:
03-04
Sixteen, sixteen
Going on thirty-two
It's a delicate time
That of knowing
Yet understanding nothing
Then being alone
Twenty-one
Be no clearer yet
Yet the first steps
Looking for the mystery school
Talk, talk is easy
Talk talk whatever it takes to know that
Talk, talk is crazy
Only can you be alive from looking within
Your heart and soul
Talk, talk is easy
Easily we get to coming
Easily we get to knowing
Quick words
Sharp tongue
Fascinate
Aglow
Bright sky
Quick words
See how
We fly
This storm
This love
Electrify
Quick words
We surely testify
Quick words, quick words
Quick words, quick words
Eighteen, eighteen, age of innocence
Thrown away to the wind
Just like a pilgrim
Twenty-one, be the key of life
Realizing how it suddenly is delivered
Shall we play the game, I ask,
I'm willing to learn
Teach me of this wilderness easily
Walk me high as I walked the mountain
Hand in hand in mystery light
Afraid of nothing, nothing can touch me
Never speak to me
I'd be the dumb one of dreams
Made passive by this searching for wonder
It abounds all around the screens
It procreates this very day
I'm astounded that I didn't know
Talk, talk is crazy
Talk talk whatever it takes to know that
Talk, talk is crazy
Only can you come alive from looking within
Your heart and soul
Talk, talk is easy
Easily we get to coming
Easily we get to knowing
Talk to me so clear
This bulge in our open space
Is dreaming by the spell by my seeing
Tis the sound of thunder makes me cry
I believe I'd laugh until I die
Transform all these messages of freedom
Distant as a distant star
He climbing the sky
Suspended on the waterfall of reason
He would shout the will to rescue me
And whisper words so easily
I'm eighteen and I don't believe
I'm twenty-one and I cannot see
Listening in the power of silence
Talk talk is crazy
One word and I'm running for the President of Life
Talk, talk is easy
Just as if you're meant to believe every word they're saying to you
Talk, talk is crazy
Only can we find ourselves from searching within
Talk talk is easy
Talk, talk whatever it takes to know that
Talk, talk is crazy
Baby!
Just as if you're meant to believe every word they're saying to you
Talk, talk is easy
How we decide on the giving of power.
Quick words
Sharp tongue
Fascinate
Aglow
Bright sky
Quick words
See how
We fly
This storm
This love
Electrify
Quick words
We surely testify
Cool wind
High clouds
Bright sun
My sky
Quick words
Sharp eyes
Do justify
This earth
This sea
This planet life
Quick words
We hear them
Everyday
Sing it to the south of me
Sing it to the north of me
Sing it to the eastern soul
Holding me in the western world
How we get along
This pilgrim's way
In search of Castenada
And the worlds of tomorrow
Shall We Play The Game
(Instrumental)
Semati Siyonpme
(phoenetic)
Ay co mana bay daba sima
Ay co mana bay daba sima
Sah bay day batama manah kabay
Pa nay dabida bay say no nay
Good Day Morning
(Jon Anderson)
Good day morning brother eagle
Good day wonder sister sky
We walk hand in hand with one love
We walk through this ancient land
Good day weather father evening
Good day wisdom Mother Life
We walk hand in hand with your world
We fly through this ancient land
Leap Into The Inconceivable
Of all the new, new numbers
Shouted out beside the mountain
Glowing in the night
I couldn't see so clear
I'd run the risk of hoping
Everything was all right
Then it hits you
Flashing faster than
Even words are no longer valid
Or reasonable in this life
The choice is mesmerising,
Contemplating, Castaneding every fear
But if the fear subsides
I take a chance and leap into the inconceivable
Wake me quickly
Wake me stealthily
Wake me quickly
Wake me up into the real world again
See me fly to escape this earthly conversation
True to form again
To extend the quietest regions
As we venture to forbidden regions
As before the sun
That dominates my movements higher
We expect it all to justify
Of all the new, new numbers
Shouted out beside the river
Flowing in the night
Make no mistake in taking chances
As you leap into the world of now
Safe religion at last declining you
All is One
Redefining your every move again
Building a bridge through where
The ship of Life pulls in
Building a bridge to set you free
We will walk this true believer
Here to honor life
Be the strength of love
And all you're meant to be
We all agreed to meet
This long hot summer, long ago
At last this song could be replayed
They say through fascination
All in all this invitation
For if we die tomorrow
Never knowing the truth
There'd be no real reason
To life without hope
Without feeling this
Precious true gift
To be able to see
Then finally come home
Song Of Home
(phoenetic)
La
Say oh day go toe ma
Say oh see go joe ah
Do what you wandaree
Do what you mandaree
Shalom
La
Tay oh day go joe ma
Tay oh see go joe wa
Do what you wandaree
Do what you wandaree
Shalom
Crue
Do ah ka baby who
Who
He ah oh he ah
Aha daddy song
Trow
Say oh day go joe ma
Tay oh see go joe ah
Do what you wandaree
Do what you mandaree
Shalom
Building Bridges
Surely like you say the more we realize
Surely there'll come a time for letting go (before leting go)
Come a time building bridges
Come a time mending all that is
Now we build the bridges that we walk upon
Now we breathe the peace that connects us (us)
Speaking with the voice of understanding
Singing in the rhythmic science of the sky
The earth is waiting for a season change
To set the role of cross-culture wisdom
Better sounds you choose never let you down
Then you might easily turn around.
Now we build the bridges that we walk upon
Now we breathe the peace that connects us (us)
Speaking with the voice of understanding
Singing in the rhythmic science of the sky
Of the sky
Good day morning brother eagle
Good day wonder sister sky
We walk hand in hand with your love
We walk through this ancient line
Good day dreamers always dreaming
Good day moonlight all is form
We dance hand in hand with one love
We walk through this ancient land
Now we build the bridges that we walk upon
Now we breathe the peace that connects us us
Speaking with the voice of understanding
Singing in the rhythmic science of the sky
Surely like you say the more we realize
Surely there'll come a time before letting go
Come a time building bridges
Come a time mending all that is
Ooh yeah yeah yeah
Ooh yeah yeah yeah yeah yeah
Now we build the bridges that we walk upon
Now we breathe the peace that connects us us
Speaking with the voice of understanding
Singing in the rhythmic science of the sky
Sound And Color
The spirit moves as I spiral inwardly
I have read about it
Don't ask me questions
How do I turn around on the spot?
Sound can acknowledge and reveal
The very nature of the body line
Color coexists as a meter to the soul
Sound can acknowledge and reveal
The very nature of the body line
Color coexists as a meter to the soul
So you don't need an excuse to be happy
Just forgive and forget
So you don't need an excuse to be happy
Just forgive and forget
They say the mystics they live in the clouds
And they prob'ly love it
They say the mystics they live in the clouds
And they prob'ly love it
Yes they prob'ly love it
Yes they prob'ly love it
Longwalker Speaks
(Instrumental)
Maazo Maazo
Mazoo mazoo,
r?scate el espinazo,
s?cate un ojo blanco,
saguata ma mai bey
Enter Ye The Mystery School
(Instrumental)
Ave Verum
See through this teaching life
Shines around my being
Out in the mists of timelessness
I see your face
Hold me closer now
Each and every feeling now is come
At last this majesty is God
Hear me through your love
See me in the light you are
Hold me closer to the earth
And all that gives (And all that is)
Now I feel your true light
Now I see your pure light
Now I hold this love within my heart
Is come
God of love of light will shine
Is come is come at last