Music
The best kept secret in music
Press
By John Threlfall
Feb 13 2008
It’s A Journey (independent)
Yet another entry in the almost-too-good-to-be-local category, Niel Golden’s It’s a Journey is a beautiful package, both visually and sonically. Perhaps best known for his work with local world music outfit Saffron, Golden has crafted a solid solo album that should stand the test of time. Filled with gentle sounds of the tabla as well as staples of both the world music (djembe, tamboura, kora, oud) and roots (guitar, accordion, harmonica) scenes, Journey sounds a lot like a Windham Hill release—and indeed, Golden’s music would be perfectly suited to the glory days of that fabled label. Most of these 12 tracks are originals by Golden (the notable exception being the quirky and charming cover of the Stones’ “Paint It Black”), but the savvy inclusion of a more rootsy sound broadens the audience for this album immensely, helped along by the likes of Harry Manx on the mohan veena, guitarist Ken Hall, bassist Scott White, vocalist Emily Braden, Jamie RT on fiddola and busy co-producer Wynn Gogol on accordion. For example, the traditional Indian Bhajan “Hari OM” is a great meditative track that’s much like a journey down an exotic rail line, but just when you’re getting tired of those mystical tabla sounds, he downshifts to a jauntier Celtic-influenced track like “Celtickle.” It’s A Journey is well worth taking. - Monday Magazine
Excerpt:
The producer of 'La Sirène' was Wynn Gogol, at 1 Ton Studios in Victoria. "I was working with sort of a pop-rock-country sound," she said. "But then I had Samuel Sixto playing with me, and he brought in a European influence. He's from Switzerland. Wynn looked at all the different sounds and saw that it really wasn't working."
In the end, Gogol told her she should experiment more. "What I had done wasn't really me," Allard said. "I'm glad that Wynn had the guts to scratch five songs and work to find what was my true sound. I feel like in the process I've discovered something really fresh, and much truer to myself." - Peak Online
Discography
Projects produced and/or mixed by Wynn Gogol
-Harry Manx, 'West Eats Meet', 'Mantras For Madmen'
-Sarah Noni Metzner, 'Something Beautiful', 'Daybreak Mourning'
-Niel Golden, 'It's A Journey'
-Glenna Garramone, 'seasky-starsong'
-Josee Allard, 'La Sirene'
-Kitangus, 'A Jug Of This/That'
-Dave Clarke, 'Reunion'
-Steve Marriner, 'Going Up'
Photos
Feeling a bit camera shy
Bio
Wynn Gogol apprenticed as an arranger at the tender age of seventeen, going on to major in music at the University of Calgary (B.mus). He has completed jazz theory and arranging studies at the Eastman School of Music in Rochester, NY., and as an arranger has written for ensembles ranging from big bands to to small orchestras and sax quartets.
After university, arranging for commercial recording dates led to a gig as a full-time composer, where Wynn worked with clients such as The Discovery Channel, CMT (Country Music Television), and Telus.
In 1996 Wynn left commercial composition and opened 1 Ton Studios, which moved from Calgary to Victoria in 2001.
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