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"Reality of the Fantasy"

In the right hands, an acoustic guitar can be just as effective as a sonically propelled electric guitar. That’s very true in the case of the 2011 CD from NYC-based James Sera. Sera’s CD Reality Of The Fantasy is one of the best instrumental acoustic guitar albums of the 21st century. Even though the millennium may be only 12 years old, you can hear the ages of musical wisdom in James Sera and his guitar. You can tell he put a lot of work into this debut CD—especially the studio sound where Sera’s guitar instrumentals are pristinely captured by famous sound man Corin Nelson in Will Ackerman’s Imaginary Road studio in Vermont. With the release of The Reality Of The Fantasy, Sera’s blend of new acoustic guitar instrumental music is being hailed as new ambient, neo-folk and even neo-classical yet whatever genre you choose to call it, his instrumental acoustic sound takes you on a scenically sonic guitar journey and brings you home again. Flashing back to Lasse Englund’s 1988 acoustic guitar CD Anchor, I was thinking there was something quite English or even Scandinavian sounding in Sera’s compositional approach—the oceanic theme (just like Lasse) underscored in the tastefully designed packaging and James on the desert island painting. For ECM guitar fans and those who were lucky enough to have been able to hear Englund’s Anchor, The Reality Of The Fantasy is also listening time well spent. www.JamesSera.com - Music Web Express 3000

"James Sera, Reality of the Fantasy – CD Review"

This is totally a bookstore album! The entirely acoustic Reality of the Fantasy is a compilation of songs to fit a variety of atmospheres, notably a bookstore or coffee house. Demanding attention but without distraction, this album is a showcase of the talents of James Sera and his time at GIT.

Each song ranging from four it six minutes long is comprised of just James and his acoustic guitar. The simplicity and intricacy of it all allow for different experiences with each track. Each person can feel something different from what is performed, each high and low, each note… Each song listed on the album also includes the keys in which each song is played. Also with each title is a brief thought from James describing what he feels the song is to him. Even the album art has a message in it as you see a lone guitarist sitting on an island with the waves resonating outward and a darkened sky. The thought put into the album is outstanding and comes across as you submerge yourself deeper into it all. Not many acoustic albums say quite this much.
- Flocked Magazine July 2011

"James Sera, Reality of the Fantasy – CD Review"

This is totally a bookstore album! The entirely acoustic Reality of the Fantasy is a compilation of songs to fit a variety of atmospheres, notably a bookstore or coffee house. Demanding attention but without distraction, this album is a showcase of the talents of James Sera and his time at GIT.

Each song ranging from four it six minutes long is comprised of just James and his acoustic guitar. The simplicity and intricacy of it all allow for different experiences with each track. Each person can feel something different from what is performed, each high and low, each note… Each song listed on the album also includes the keys in which each song is played. Also with each title is a brief thought from James describing what he feels the song is to him. Even the album art has a message in it as you see a lone guitarist sitting on an island with the waves resonating outward and a darkened sky. The thought put into the album is outstanding and comes across as you submerge yourself deeper into it all. Not many acoustic albums say quite this much.
- Flocked Magazine July 2011

"James Sera’s acoustic instrumentals are wonderful"

I am constantly in search of music that fits the moods in which I find myself. James Sera‘s Reality of the Fantasy fills a slot I’ve been searching to fill for some time: total relaxation.
Ridiculous name aside, I am enamored with every aspect of Sera’s debut. This is relatively easy, however, as there is only one aspect to his music. Reality of the Fantasy is 54 minutes of sonorous, melodic acoustic guitar instrumentals. These works are sublime; Sera isn’t out to impress with technical craft (although he does), nor is he striving to create songs that will be covered by legions in the future. He simply put out nine tunes whose melodies will cascade slowly into listeners’ consciousness.
Sera has made a concerted effort here to not make any moves that would disturb the graceful flow that connects each of these songs. The tunes play as one massive work, and I absolutely love that aspect. This is quality music that doesn’t suffer pretentiousness (other than that blech title), oversimplicity or repetitiveness. These tunes are crafted, and if they seem effortless, that’s all the more to the credit of Sera.
These tunes are beautiful, and they work wonderfully to relax to. I will keep this CD on call for when I need a chill-out. It is definitely worth your time if you like any music that includes acoustic guitar.
Posted on June 9, 2011 by Stephen Carradini.
- independentclauses.com

"Album review: James Sera-Reality Of The Fantasy"

Sometimes it is an unfortunate fact that a technically superb musician loses a certain amount of 'edge', purity and creativity through the simple act of becoming so proficient that demonstrating that ability becomes the most important and defining factor – often subconsciously – over and above creativity or 'feel' and the result can be unquestionably excellent, yet somehow lacking in soul or feeling, and at worst can be quite boring. Happily these are not pitfalls that James Sera can ever be accused of slipping into, as whilst there can be no doubt whatsoever that he is a virtuoso guitarist, there is a real passion and emotion in his work that, combined with his unexpected and inspired chord changes and melodic twists, lifts you up and carries you on a wave of instrumental beauty that transverses many moods and atmospheres, whilst retaining a raw and human element that many artists of his calibre tend to lose.
The pieces on this album are extremely emotional and very hypnotic in there vibrancy, my favorite tracks being 'A Moment In Time' and 'Chemistry In Motion', the former placing very unexpected changes in strategic places throughout the piece that can startle the listener by contradicting expectation. The latter is more dramatic, built largely around very nice minor chord changes that once again avoid the obvious, whilst never sounding unnatural or forced. Special mention should go to 'In The Evening' as well, as a nicely placed change of pace roughly mid-way through the album is a master-stroke, and whilst not being my favourite track, is a wonderful composition that demonstrates very well the versatilityof the artist.
It's a great collection of very enjoyable pieces, and I would recommend it not only to those who are drawn specifically to acoustic instrumental music, but to anyone who enjoys good reflective music.
Ashley L. Pieciak

www.somojomagazine.com - Somojo magazine- August 2011

"Album review: James Sera-Reality Of The Fantasy"

Sometimes it is an unfortunate fact that a technically superb musician loses a certain amount of 'edge', purity and creativity through the simple act of becoming so proficient that demonstrating that ability becomes the most important and defining factor – often subconsciously – over and above creativity or 'feel' and the result can be unquestionably excellent, yet somehow lacking in soul or feeling, and at worst can be quite boring. Happily these are not pitfalls that James Sera can ever be accused of slipping into, as whilst there can be no doubt whatsoever that he is a virtuoso guitarist, there is a real passion and emotion in his work that, combined with his unexpected and inspired chord changes and melodic twists, lifts you up and carries you on a wave of instrumental beauty that transverses many moods and atmospheres, whilst retaining a raw and human element that many artists of his calibre tend to lose.
The pieces on this album are extremely emotional and very hypnotic in there vibrancy, my favorite tracks being 'A Moment In Time' and 'Chemistry In Motion', the former placing very unexpected changes in strategic places throughout the piece that can startle the listener by contradicting expectation. The latter is more dramatic, built largely around very nice minor chord changes that once again avoid the obvious, whilst never sounding unnatural or forced. Special mention should go to 'In The Evening' as well, as a nicely placed change of pace roughly mid-way through the album is a master-stroke, and whilst not being my favourite track, is a wonderful composition that demonstrates very well the versatilityof the artist.
It's a great collection of very enjoyable pieces, and I would recommend it not only to those who are drawn specifically to acoustic instrumental music, but to anyone who enjoys good reflective music.
Ashley L. Pieciak

www.somojomagazine.com - Somojo magazine- August 2011

"James Sera, Reality of the Fantasy"

James Sera, Reality of the Fantasy

April 15, 2011 | by Skope

First and foremost I have to say that James Sera is a highly skilled guitar player after hearing ‘Reality of the Fantasy’. Now that I got that out of the way let’s find out more about this debut album. The new record features James playing solo on the acoustic guitar with nothing more and nothing less. Sera will amaze you with his sharp playing skills as he proves to be one impressive performer.

All nine songs on ‘Reality of the Fantasy’ exhibit an intimate quality where it seems every chord James hits has some sort of feeling & meaning. This whole scene is captured solely by the acoustic guitar without any words which is a major accomplishment. The overall vibe here is a peaceful one where you get a very relaxing, ambient feel. Sera doesn’t just play but actually brings it all to life thanks in part to his guitar and playing ability.

The ironic part here is that Sera has a history of playing as an electric guitarist in the rock realm. This talented artist was heavily influenced by new-age acoustic guitar legend Will Ackerman to change his pace & musical direction. James did just that by painting an emotional portrait by way of nine thoughtful instrumentals. ‘Reality of the Fantasy’ is well-recorded with a very crisp sound that makes for one enjoyable listening experience.

Some suggestions though would be to make the tracks shorter in length because all songs go over five & six minutes long. I personally loved hearing the longer sets because James plays so darn well but I don’t know how the general audience will react. I’d say maybe shave off 2-3 minutes on each installment to make the record more listener-friendly. Second, adding some vocals to some of the numbers would have added another interesting dimension to the whole picture. The guitar already has a voice of its own and then incorporating Sera’s actual voice could have been a very cool approach. And how about this—while still hanging onto that special emotion James tapped into here acoustically maybe mix in some electric guitar. I think that would be an excellent idea and I feel this combo could potentially take James Sera to a whole new level!

By Jimmy Rae (jrae@skopemag.com) - Skope Magazine

"James Sera, Reality of the Fantasy"

James Sera, Reality of the Fantasy

April 15, 2011 | by Skope

First and foremost I have to say that James Sera is a highly skilled guitar player after hearing ‘Reality of the Fantasy’. Now that I got that out of the way let’s find out more about this debut album. The new record features James playing solo on the acoustic guitar with nothing more and nothing less. Sera will amaze you with his sharp playing skills as he proves to be one impressive performer.

All nine songs on ‘Reality of the Fantasy’ exhibit an intimate quality where it seems every chord James hits has some sort of feeling & meaning. This whole scene is captured solely by the acoustic guitar without any words which is a major accomplishment. The overall vibe here is a peaceful one where you get a very relaxing, ambient feel. Sera doesn’t just play but actually brings it all to life thanks in part to his guitar and playing ability.

The ironic part here is that Sera has a history of playing as an electric guitarist in the rock realm. This talented artist was heavily influenced by new-age acoustic guitar legend Will Ackerman to change his pace & musical direction. James did just that by painting an emotional portrait by way of nine thoughtful instrumentals. ‘Reality of the Fantasy’ is well-recorded with a very crisp sound that makes for one enjoyable listening experience.

Some suggestions though would be to make the tracks shorter in length because all songs go over five & six minutes long. I personally loved hearing the longer sets because James plays so darn well but I don’t know how the general audience will react. I’d say maybe shave off 2-3 minutes on each installment to make the record more listener-friendly. Second, adding some vocals to some of the numbers would have added another interesting dimension to the whole picture. The guitar already has a voice of its own and then incorporating Sera’s actual voice could have been a very cool approach. And how about this—while still hanging onto that special emotion James tapped into here acoustically maybe mix in some electric guitar. I think that would be an excellent idea and I feel this combo could potentially take James Sera to a whole new level!

By Jimmy Rae (jrae@skopemag.com) - Skope Magazine

"James Sera-Reality of the Fantasy CD"

James Sera – Reality of the Fantasy (CD)

Posted by James McQuiston on April 19th, 2011 No Comments Printer-Friendly
The guitar work that begins “Reality of the Fantasy” showcases a level of emotion that is a constant throughout the 9 cuts on the album. The care taken in the creation of these arrangements will immediately endear Sera to anyone listening in, all while creating a wholly unique style that resonates through the album. The rich narrative quality of the guitar work is something that is just not heard in much current music, and showcases Sera’s skill as a musician.

“The Ascension” gives listeners a much different view of Sera, as the darker feel and slower tempo of the track is hammered home with smart repetition. Sailing through the two styles broached during the introductory salvos, Sera crafts an utterly amazing track in “Day of Celebration”. Again, the guitar is all that is needed to create a full story for listeners, and the way in which Sera does it will shock and awe fans. The tight and dense arrangements that are present in “Day of Celebration” will require a number of listens to unravel; this creates an album that is decidedly more than its constituent parts. “Reality of the Fantasy” breaks down the idea that albums are merely vehicles for a few singles and requires that listeners focus in from the beginning all the way out to the album’s conclusion.

The titular track to “Reality of the Fantasy”, the disc’s penultimate track, shows listeners that the late reaches of an album can be at least as compelling as the first half. The soundscape created during this track imbues upon listeners a sense of walking through the woods, marveling at all of life’s wonders. This track works well with the album’s final cut, “Someway, Somehow”. “Someway, Somehow” slows things further and is a strong end to an emotional and affecting disc. We at NeuFutur were not familiar with Sera before receiving “Reality of the Fantasy”, but we will be keeping our ear to the ground for news about him in the months and years to come.

Top Tracks: The Ascension, Day of Celebration

Rating: 8.5/10

James Sera – Reality of the Fantasy (CD) / 2011 Self / 9 Tracks / www.myspace.com/jamessera /
- Neu Futur magazine April 19th 2011

"James Sera-Reality of the Fantasy CD"

James Sera – Reality of the Fantasy (CD)

Posted by James McQuiston on April 19th, 2011 No Comments Printer-Friendly
The guitar work that begins “Reality of the Fantasy” showcases a level of emotion that is a constant throughout the 9 cuts on the album. The care taken in the creation of these arrangements will immediately endear Sera to anyone listening in, all while creating a wholly unique style that resonates through the album. The rich narrative quality of the guitar work is something that is just not heard in much current music, and showcases Sera’s skill as a musician.

“The Ascension” gives listeners a much different view of Sera, as the darker feel and slower tempo of the track is hammered home with smart repetition. Sailing through the two styles broached during the introductory salvos, Sera crafts an utterly amazing track in “Day of Celebration”. Again, the guitar is all that is needed to create a full story for listeners, and the way in which Sera does it will shock and awe fans. The tight and dense arrangements that are present in “Day of Celebration” will require a number of listens to unravel; this creates an album that is decidedly more than its constituent parts. “Reality of the Fantasy” breaks down the idea that albums are merely vehicles for a few singles and requires that listeners focus in from the beginning all the way out to the album’s conclusion.

The titular track to “Reality of the Fantasy”, the disc’s penultimate track, shows listeners that the late reaches of an album can be at least as compelling as the first half. The soundscape created during this track imbues upon listeners a sense of walking through the woods, marveling at all of life’s wonders. This track works well with the album’s final cut, “Someway, Somehow”. “Someway, Somehow” slows things further and is a strong end to an emotional and affecting disc. We at NeuFutur were not familiar with Sera before receiving “Reality of the Fantasy”, but we will be keeping our ear to the ground for news about him in the months and years to come.

Top Tracks: The Ascension, Day of Celebration

Rating: 8.5/10

James Sera – Reality of the Fantasy (CD) / 2011 Self / 9 Tracks / www.myspace.com/jamessera /
- Neu Futur magazine April 19th 2011

"James Sera's "Reality of the Fantasy" Really Good"

Some of the other standout selections on Reality of the Fantasy are "Chemistry in Motion" and "Awakenings." These tunes have a certain flavor to them, as if the recipe called for a mix of dance music and calming meditation hymns. Regardless, the listener will throw themselves into a self-directed story to these charming and inviting works.

Overall CD Review is B
Overall, Reality of the Fantasy gets a solid B for originality and soothing selections. What would have been better is to vary the sounds a bit; however the consistent cascading clean riffs are simply marvelous and full of wonder. Within the beauty the listener will find solace. The reality is, this album is very good.

Read more at Suite101: CD Review: James Sera's 'Reality of The Fantasy' Really Good | Suite101.com http://www.suite101.com/content/cd-review-james-seras-reality-of-the-fantasy-really-good-a367076#ixzz1KkaUooOU - Suite101.com April 2011

"Has that Lovely Takoma, Fahey inspired groove"

"Outstanding Guitarist, Has that Takoma, Fahey inspired Groove, You will be hearing more from him here on Sideways Through Sound." - Sideways Through Sound 107.3 Sydney Australia. 1-19-11