Pangaea: Stay Awhile (2003)

Walter Kolosky

since 2003

Power, Passion and Beauty - The Story of the Legendary Mahavishnu Orchestra has been published by Abstract Logix Books.

Recent articles (75 total)

Published: May 5, 2004

As the creative force behind the group Panjaea, Sharam Gill has a chance to become an international star.

Gill’s lyrics are dramatically uncomplicated. He is able to communicate deep thoughts with a minimum of words. His melodies are catchy acoustic folk songs shaded ever so slightly by pop, jazz, Brazilian and Indian nuances. His voice is a mixture of the world. Among other attributes, it features the romance, without the extra reverb, of Julio Iglesias. It captures the personal storytelling style of Jim Croce. And when he asks it to, it can even swing like Bobby Darin. Gill’s is a universal voice when perhaps it is needed most.

Stay Awhile is a collection of heartfelt, simple messages delivered with great feeling by a band obviously in tune with the task. There is some fine playing and a tasty riff surfaces from time to time but this is not a collection that concerns itself with trying to push any envelope. Gill’s sister, Mitz, also has a beautiful voice which is used to great effect as the comfortable group runs through fifteen quick tunes.

It seems Gill has a talent to exploit music’s purest components to produce concise and pleasing entertainment that can easily travel across borders. This straightforwardness may be just the formula needed for Gill and his cohorts to achieve wider fame. That is, assuming that they want it.

Track Listing: Friend; So Sad; Feeling Fine; Make Believe; I Ain't callin; Darling, I Hate You; No Ladeez; Her Song; A PLace Like No Other; Long Way From Home; Feel Right; Love and Affection; Time Alone; All Gone; Baby Don't Know

Personnel: Sharam Gill- Vocals and guitar; Fred Wisdom- Guitar; Mitz Gill- Vocals, Percussion; James Archer- Percussion; Clive Cole- Percussion; Riaan Vosloo- Bass

Style: Vocal