Tomorrow the World

The newest work of Ponzek and Pressman is their most ambitious and thoughtful to date. It starts with a gentle and pedestrian “Garden Path” that winds to the “Way Around” drawing the listener into their classical southwestern instrumental world that is almost a forgotten genre in today’s prepackaged cookie cutter music business. Ponzek’s guitar is almost always dry and intimate in the mix, making you feel he is right at your side, while Pressman’s piano and vocals are drenched in reverb and lush effects, placing her on a pedestal to be admired and contemplated. “Forever and a Day” seems to evoke personal remembrances and had me daydreaming until the start of “Wide Open Spaces” which seems constructed backwards, with a wide open samba beginning - - evolving into a complex melodic dance of hammered piano octaves which abruptly stops, zeroing in the open space to a final surprising musical exclamation point. “A Drink From a Waterfall” quenches your need with its solemn pulsating drive to a river of rich harmony and floating vocalize. The title cut, “Tomorrow The World”, a new age James Bond theme, is pulsing and it’s melodic theme is quite haunting. The bridge builds and slides you to a new driving reprise down to the last “I Spy” conga roll. “One Small Step” is more -- one big step - - in the majestic return to chamber music inspiration. The arrangement which features Allen Ames and Bob Lashler’s excellent string work are a refreshing use of the medium which has long been overlooked and rarely heard except for classical student recitals and movie backgrounds. It is one large step that Pressman and Ponzek should explore more - - beautiful and rich, lightly elegant but substantial. Secret Poodle Dance – A tongue-in-cheek 21st century tango, worthy of reenacting the Mamoushka scene from the 1991 Addams Family Movie, moves you quickly to “No Wonder” – a Steely Dan-like walk through tomorrow’s countryside. “Awaken to a Dream” – floats like a waltz but stays grounded with the subtle drum brushwork. The angelic vocals arrive midstream transforming the dream to reality at bliss. “Mission at Tumacacori” is an acoustically guitar driven meditation and musical story and prelude to a trip across the border in “De Pura Casualidad” whose lilt and whiff of Brazil with a refreshing interlude floating around before reprise which make the final cuts of the CD rush to conclusion. The dense textures of “Sudden Mercy” are contrasted immediately by the CD’s final “Happy Hipster” which weaves the hybrid highway of tomorrow with a smile as the piano, harpsichord and vocals provide a musical conversation sure to put anyone in a good mood. I recommend the CD highly, it should put you in a good mood to take on the world.