In celebration of Earth Day, it's 50th, I'm reposting a review by Kris Larsen of the album, Echoes Within The Forest. It's a long read, but it captures the essence of my '85 journey throughout Brazil, and why rainforest conservation is so important for us all. Thanks, Kris!

ViniVitiVinyl, a DJ Klar production, presents: 
Album Review #6 – Kevin Schrandt – Echoes Within the Forest - 1988 

Just in time for Earth Day 2020 comes the re-release of Echoes Within the Forest, a passionate musical conservancy project, produced and launched nearly 35 years ago. With climate change in the middle of today’s political spotlight, Kevin Schrandt’s early commitment to the environment, conservation and natural preservation solidifies his leadership position in this important area. His preferred medium for supporting this cause, specifically and more personally in the Amazon Basin, is through that which he knows best – his music. 

Kevin first visited the Amazon in the mid-Eighties with a team of like-minded environmental activists he had met in Boulder, CO to document the complex life, and impending decline, of the world’s largest circulatory system; the tropical rainforests of the Amazon River Basin in Brazil. A source of life that ultimately affects people, plants and animals as well as commerce, economies and politics far beyond the South American continent – Kevin sought to better understand and share what he learned about this rapidly changing environmental ecosystem and its effects on our world. Armed with cameras, recording instruments, guitar and inquisitive minds, Kevin and his team began their journey of documenting and recording the sights, sounds and experiences of this incredibly mysterious ecosystem. 

Echoes Within the Forest, like the Amazon itself, is a rich, varied and energetic album that brings together songs of many different styles. As one glides through this musical estuary, the influences of Pink Floyd, Steely Dan, Yes, the Stones, Marley and Zeppelin, among others, lend themselves to a wonderful collection of music that ultimately can be described as World Music – a nod to Kevin’s objective of elevating his cause to one that is global. The bouncy, beachy and even happy 'So Won’t You Come to Rio?' is the album’s opening song, inviting the listener to join him as he frolics in the waves (amongst beers and bikinis) of Brazil’s world-famous beaches. Despite the levity of the song it became clear to me that this would be the jumping-off point to the seriousness of his project. 

'To the Waves' is a big pop ballad that brightly tells the story of laboring policy and half-hearted ideas “crashing around”. 'Ominous Day' then launches into a trance-like bongo beat supported by cautionary lyrics of uncertainty and concern about the future. Just when we are feeling a bit down, we are ushered into the beautifully melodic 'Flight of The Peregrine'. It’s as if we went around a bend in the river and were greeted by rays of morning sunlight and dew-kissed leaves. Clean, refreshing, hopeful. 

'Keepers of The Forest' tells the story of the responsibility bestowed upon all of us, past and present, to care for this precious habitat. 'Cry for The Hunted' blasts out big and tall guitar riffs and dares us to ‘stand up and see’ and realize that we have so much to learn (and do). And what might be considered the centerpiece of this album, 'Amazon' lays down a thoughtful reckoning, a 'come to Jesus’ moment before it’s too late. 

Further into the album we are offered a glimpse of hope with the uplifting 'The Calm Before the Storm', a carefully blended acoustic guitar, flute and wooden percussion medley gently guided by vocal streams. This flows right into Big River, a heavy ballad about a journey along the river of life. It’s a story of birth, life and death depending where one chooses to disembark. 

The final songs on the album return us to 'The Sands Of Copacabana' for a bit of reflection about the modern world before sending us forward (today as when first written nearly 35 years ago) with 'It Changes By The Day', a beautiful piano piece, reminding us again that as the days go by, we need to challenge ourselves to do our best to respect, preserve and conserve our earth. As Kevin rightfully writes, the earth changes by the day, but it’s up to us to manage change in a way that doesn’t lead to destruction and disappearance of the beauty and necessary resources around us. 

As I mentioned earlier, this is a collection of very different styles of songs that demonstrate Kevin’s diverse musical skills, his writing talents and his unwavering commitment to this cause and the environment in general. 

After listening to Echoes, what occurs to me is that, despite the complexity of his music, everything is blended with and bound by the natural sounds of the Amazon Kevin recorded - birds, tree frogs, lizards, insects, animals, and yes, even its indigenous peoples, as well as the sounds of man-made change and global expansion (riverboats, tractors, machinery and more). In the end, it is they who are the true stars (or villains) of this album. Listen. Think. Act. And hope this album is not the only way to experience the rich sounds of the Amazon before you have the opportunity to experience it yourself.

Production note: Reinforcing Kevin’s early commitment to carbon footprint reduction efforts, this album was deliberately produced digitally, in CD format only instead of vinyl, much to the chagrin of ViniVitiVinyl, to avoid use of oil-based materials.

          Tin soldiers and Nixon coming

          We're finally on our own

          This summer I hear the drumming

          Four dead in Ohio

Perhaps no other song encapsulated the tumultuous times of that late spring of 1970 than Neil Young’s opening verse to 'Ohio'. Nationwide protests on college campuses against the United States’ participation in the Vietnam War culminated in this shooting at Kent State. Young would later be quoted as saying, “probably the biggest lesson ever learned at an American place of learning”. 

Equally uprooting at that time was concern for the environment, which was reeling from misuse and abuse, in the form of pollution, oil spills, and very little, if any, controls in place to curb its spreading. Protests focused on environmental ignorance, and from many of the same college campuses mentioned above, Earth Day was born on April 22, 1970 as the genesis of the modern environmental movement. 

From the Earth Day website: The first Earth Day launched a wave of action, including the passage of landmark environmental laws in the United States. The Clean Air, Clean Water and Endangered Species Acts were created in response to the first Earth Day, as well as the creation of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA). Many countries soon adopted similar laws. 

“Despite that amazing success and decades of progress, we find ourselves facing an even more dire, almost existential, set of global environmental challenges, from loss of biodiversity to climate change to plastic pollution, that call for action at all levels of government,” said Denis Hayes, the organizer of the first Earth Day and Earth Day Network’s Board Chair Emeritus. 

In 1970, Earth Day related protests / marches across the U.S. included some 20 million persons, or roughly 10% of the population at that time. Today, the Earth Day Network mobilizes more than 1 billion people globally (~13%), with thousands of partner networks in 190 countries. Its mission is to build, educate, and make active, the largest environmental movement to drive transformative change across the planet. 

Enter COVID-19… 

For its 50th anniversary on April 22, 2020, the Earth Day Network had planned to mobilize its 1 billion activists in local marches, as well as community earth restoration projects, all over the globe. Sadly, many of these gatherings have been postponed to the fall of 2020, or canceled altogether. Yet, when your plan A stalls, it’s time to launch plan B, or C, etc. 

In recognition of safe social distancing mandated by coronavirus, the Earth Day Network is taking its initiatives digitally, in perhaps the world’s largest online event to date. If interested in this movement, visit Earth Challenge 2020. 

Although we cannot gather as groups at this time, if even for projects out-of-doors, please remember one important fact: As individuals / consumers of goods and services, our voice, vote, and common collective action makes a huge difference. We all wield tremendous power and influence, so if inclined to participate, don’t let today’s lockdown and/or isolation prevent you from doing so. 

For example, the KSM public performance plans to present the 35th anniversary of the Amazonas ‘85 Expedition, my first journey into the tropical rainforests of Brazil, were also canceled. As plan B, I converted my analog films of songs from the Echoes Within The Forest project, to digital. Thereafter, I built a KSM YouTube channel to help continue its awareness, via social media and proper social distancing. To reiterate, when best laid plans stall, a bit of creativity and desire to find another path can go a long way. 

In closing, and in an unintended benefit of COVID-19, pollution, smog, waterways, et al, have all seen improvement, as a result of a lack of economic activity, because there are far less individuals scurrying about the planet. Yet, when we finally curb this pandemic’s stranglehold, and we will, the earth will require even more attention going forward. So please, let your voice be heard, and your efforts become visible.

To celebrate my birthday month, I want to serve up a Neil Young cocktail (Old Man circa 1972), with a new twist:

Young man, look at my life
Fifty-four and there's so much more

Yeah, okay. I just said it... I'm no longer "twenty-four with so much more," but rather the above. However, that doesn't mean that someone at my age doesn't / can't have so much more, for we do. It's all in your perspective.

And yes, Neil, regardless of age, everyone needs "someone to love them the whole day through."

So why the confession? Because youth is overrated, basically wasted on the young. To me, age is a problem between the ears. We make excuses as to why we can't do something, or set caps on our abilities, which limits our potential.

Check out these common inconsistencies and misconceptions about getting older, albeit a little tongue-in-cheek:

• As toddlers, parents want us to walk and talk, and when we finally do, we're told to sit down and shut up!
• Teens want to be 27 when they're 17, and then 27 again when they reach 40.
• When growing up, at what age are we, well... 'grown up?'

In a nutshell, many of us are unhappy and/or dissatisfied at the age we are or will become. So why is age something we hide and/or are ashamed of?

Here's why I'm loud and proud about my age:

1. I can shoot my age on a golf course, if only for 9 holes.
2. I've outlived the infamous 27 Club of rock lore. In fact I've doubled it! (The 27 Club includes those rockers that perished prematurely at age 27 due to drugs, alcohol or other questionable life decisions. Members include Jimi Hendrix, Jim Morrison, Janis Joplin and Kurt Cobain, to name a few.)
3. I have experience, expertise and, most importantly, wisdom. I had hardly any of those qualities at twenty-four.
4. I'm a survivor, whether of Milli Vanilli or later, Y2K (look it up... it happened!).
5. Have you ever read about or seen a picture of an American Indian chief or tribal shaman without a few gray hairs?
6. And... I have no choice. I'm that old whether I like it or not.

The key to a healthy perspective on aging is to always continue 'doing, growing, and exploring'. We remain valuable and relevant as a result. The minute we let our minds concede to the thought of growing older, we're one step closer to extinction.

Welcome to the KSM blog, which perhaps unlike other blogs from musical artists, will chronicle a journey in pursuit of a better life, liberty and happiness.
 

Oh how cliche! Agreed, but bear with me...

What it won’t do is give you a diary of life on the road because, well, I’m not touring.

What it won’t do is give you a snapshot of celebrities because, well, I’m not famous.

And what it won’t do is try to sell you something. Unless, of course, you want to buy… something.


So what will it do?

What I hope to deliver upon is a notion, a notion that although my experience is no doubt different than yours, it’s common in that I bet we’re both after the same things. (Reference above: a better life, liberty and happiness.) So perhaps we can help one another.


Here are some other reasons as to ‘why’ you should read:

Reason #1 : ‘Cause you might learn something. You stop learning, you stop growing.

Reason #2 : ‘Cause nostalgia still rocks! Literally. Call me old school. Guilty as charged. There’s a lot of great music coming out today but I’m biased. Some of the best music - ever! - was written and released from the mid-60s to the late 80’s. What’s your era?

Reason #3 : ‘Cause I have more in the tank. Do you? Hopefully I can be an inspiration and vice-versa.

Reason #4 : ‘Cause posts will be short, sweet and infrequent. My two minutes of prose won’t infringe upon your social media viewings, much, and can be enjoyed while listening to music or enjoying a beverage.

Reason #5 : ‘Cause I bet, you’re like me. A husband; a father; a friend; a mentor (to someone); mentored (by someone); a business associate; whomever; and similar if from the opposite sex. And like you, I’m trying to navigate the commitments, expectations, social interactions, pressures, anxieties, et al, that we call ‘life’.

So that’s why you should read and hopefully along the way, enjoy life with Kevin Schrandt Music!