Apurimac (album)
Encyclopedia
Apurimac is an album by the German
andean new age
band Cusco
. Though their sound has certainly matured over the years, this was the breakout album by the band, garnering their first major international success with its release on the Higher Octave
music label.
The album was originally written in 1984 and released to select markets in 1985, but it was not until 1988 that the project was finally released worldwide via the new signing with Higher Octave
. This album would become the first album in a trilogy, with the second and third installments being released in 1994 and 1997. Despite the name of the band implying an ancient South America
n sound, this was the first album that focused specifically on bringing together native Incan instrumentation with traditional European rock music
structures (synthesized pan flute
sounds, which previously were used only sporadically, are brought to the forefront here).
Inca Dance has been used as the closing theme of the radio show Coast to Coast AM
, and other tracks have been used as bumper music
for the same show. Several songs from the album, including Inca Dance and Flute Battle, have been used as background music at the Epcot
theme park at Walt Disney World Resort
. In addition, Tupac Amaru still receives radio play in certain markets today.
Germany
Germany , officially the Federal Republic of Germany , is a federal parliamentary republic in Europe. The country consists of 16 states while the capital and largest city is Berlin. Germany covers an area of 357,021 km2 and has a largely temperate seasonal climate...
andean new age
Andean New Age
Andean New Age is a product of Peruvian flute and Paraguayan harp music. The Peruvian roots stem from the Inca influence circa 1200–1532 CE. In Peru, two important flutes are used: The quena, a flute much like the common recorder; and the zampoña, a pan flute. The Paracas culture, located south...
band Cusco
Cusco (band)
The following note applies to many of the individual album pages as well, though they are not individually tagged:Cusco is a German andean new age band named after the Peruvian city of Cusco, which at one time was the capital city of the ancient Incan Empire...
. Though their sound has certainly matured over the years, this was the breakout album by the band, garnering their first major international success with its release on the Higher Octave
Higher Octave
Higher Octave is a sub-label imprint of Narada Productions, which is part of EMI's Blue Note Records label group, located in New York.Higher Octave was founded in 1986 as an independent record label specializing in a wide variety of uplifting music, including smooth jazz, New Age music, Latin music...
music label.
The album was originally written in 1984 and released to select markets in 1985, but it was not until 1988 that the project was finally released worldwide via the new signing with Higher Octave
Higher Octave
Higher Octave is a sub-label imprint of Narada Productions, which is part of EMI's Blue Note Records label group, located in New York.Higher Octave was founded in 1986 as an independent record label specializing in a wide variety of uplifting music, including smooth jazz, New Age music, Latin music...
. This album would become the first album in a trilogy, with the second and third installments being released in 1994 and 1997. Despite the name of the band implying an ancient South America
South America
South America is a continent situated in the Western Hemisphere, mostly in the Southern Hemisphere, with a relatively small portion in the Northern Hemisphere. The continent is also considered a subcontinent of the Americas. It is bordered on the west by the Pacific Ocean and on the north and east...
n sound, this was the first album that focused specifically on bringing together native Incan instrumentation with traditional European rock music
Rock music
Rock music is a genre of popular music that developed during and after the 1960s, particularly in the United Kingdom and the United States. It has its roots in 1940s and 1950s rock and roll, itself heavily influenced by rhythm and blues and country music...
structures (synthesized pan flute
Pan flute
The pan flute or pan pipe is an ancient musical instrument based on the principle of the closed tube, consisting usually of five or more pipes of gradually increasing length...
sounds, which previously were used only sporadically, are brought to the forefront here).
Inca Dance has been used as the closing theme of the radio show Coast to Coast AM
Coast to Coast AM
Coast to Coast AM is a North American late-night syndicated radio talk show that deals with a variety of topics, but most frequently ones that relate to either the paranormal or conspiracy theories. It was created by Art Bell and is distributed by Premiere Radio Networks. The program currently...
, and other tracks have been used as bumper music
Bumper music
Bumper music, or a bump, is a term used in the radio broadcasting industry to refer to short clips of signature or theme music used to buffer transitions between programming elements. Bumper music is commonly employed when a syndicated program takes a break for local station identification or...
for the same show. Several songs from the album, including Inca Dance and Flute Battle, have been used as background music at the Epcot
Epcot
Epcot is a theme park in the Walt Disney World Resort, located near Orlando, Florida. The park is dedicated to the celebration of human achievement, namely international culture and technological innovation. The second park built at the resort, it opened on October 1, 1982 and was initially named...
theme park at Walt Disney World Resort
Walt Disney World Resort
Walt Disney World Resort , is the world's most-visited entertaimental resort. Located in Lake Buena Vista, Florida ; approximately southwest of Orlando, Florida, United States, the resort covers an area of and includes four theme parks, two water parks, 23 on-site themed resort hotels Walt...
. In addition, Tupac Amaru still receives radio play in certain markets today.
Track listing
- "Apurimac" – 3:43
- "Flute Battle" – 2:35
- "Tupac Amaru" – 3:03
- "Flying Condor" – 5:02
- "Inca Dance" – 2:43
- "Pastorale" – 2:22
- "Amazonas" – 3:47
- "Inca Bridges" – 3:21
- "Andes" – 3:51
- "Atahualpa - The Last Inca" – 3:51
- "Fighting Inca" – 3:22
- "Apurimac II" – 1:29
Album credits
- Kristian SchultzeKristian SchultzeKristian Schultze was one half of the German New Age band Cusco. Schultze has partnered up with Michael Holm and the two have produced numerous new age albums...
– KeyboardsMusical keyboardA musical keyboard is the set of adjacent depressible levers or keys on a musical instrument, particularly the piano. Keyboards typically contain keys for playing the twelve notes of the Western musical scale, with a combination of larger, longer keys and smaller, shorter keys that repeats at the... - Michael HolmMichael HolmMichael Holm is a German singer, musician, songwriter and producer.He is primarily known as a Schlager singer. Although his first appearance in the hit parade was in 1962 , he had his first big hit in 1969...
– Keyboards, producer, photography - Todd Canedy – drumsDrum kitA drum kit is a collection of drums, cymbals and often other percussion instruments, such as cowbells, wood blocks, triangles, chimes, or tambourines, arranged for convenient playing by a single person ....
- Hansi Strohr – BassBass guitarThe bass guitar is a stringed instrument played primarily with the fingers or thumb , or by using a pick....
- Billy Lang - GuitarGuitarThe guitar is a plucked string instrument, usually played with fingers or a pick. The guitar consists of a body with a rigid neck to which the strings, generally six in number, are attached. Guitars are traditionally constructed of various woods and strung with animal gut or, more recently, with...
- Johannes Walter – Photography
- Dee Westlund – Art direction
- Murry Whiteman – Design
- Tom Baker – Mastering
- Jochen Scheffter – Engineer
- Cusco – Performer