Album Description

Pure Chillout Moods is the very finest in laidback grooves!

All the biggest names in Chillout are here with Groove Armada, Nightmares On Wax, Smith & Mighty, LTJ Bukem and many, many more selected especially to relax your mind body and soul. ... Read more

Reviews (26)

Brillant and Unique CD
Serart is the collaboration between Serj Tankian from System of a Down and Arto Boyaciyan. The cd far exceeded any of my expectations. It is a true aural trip for the listener. It is truly an eclectic mix of music from tribal drum rhythms to Middle Eastern beats. In a few of the song you even get a jazz feel (esp. in Cinema, one of my fav., and the Walking Experiment). Tankian and Arto voice are interwined throughout the album complimenting one another. Tankian's voice never fails to amaze me. Leaving Melody Counting Fear the combination of Arto and Serj's voice make this my favorite song on the CD. Narina is also driven by the vocals Arto and Serj are joined by Jenna Ross. Black Melon has a primal feel that can take you back to the dawn of time. Facing the Plastic is should be noted for the great beat and vocals. Claustrophobia is a spoken word track. As Tankian trademark the words throughout the album are thought provoking
Tankian said when he heard Arto for the first time he thought of the sound was pre-civilization. Well, the two have them have capture the feel the cd is trip through time, space and regions. The songs are often hauntingly beautiful. This is true a unique cd and with each listen seems to reveal another layer. By far one of the best cds I have heard in a long time.

Flawless, beautiful, a great journey of music
Serart is everything I've wanted in music. It incorporates African drum rythms and Arabic ones as well. It has touching vocals (very little english here but it doesn't matter for those of you who are actually open when it comes to music), and so much more. Everything about this album is flawless save the fact that it ends. This is NOT for System of a Down fans, as it's in a whole other league of music. There are no driving guitar/bass riffs, rapid beats on the snare drum, screaming vocals (I'm a huge SOAD fan- since they were "SOIL" but I'm just saying...), it's all mostly traditional music with a few "new" elements. Plus the DVD that comes with the CD provides images to some tracks (14 minutes total of video). And what powerful images they are. Sadly, most new System fans (those who started listening to them when Toxicity came out) will pick this up and expect another rock album. This will lead to a failure when it comes to sales, so please, have an open mind and buy this CD with no expectations. If you have no respect for the Arabic/Middle Eastern culture, stay away from this. I hope that more albums like this are to come from Serjical Strike Records.

Amazing.
Serj Tankian's form of expressing him is amazing -- whether it be making up words or created amazing melodies, etc.

arto and serj
both this guys, arto and serj , are very talented. their performance are unbelievable. i first heard name of arto tuncboyacyan in "deliveren" album of turkish diva sezen aksu ,on which arto have a great contribution. i really recommend "deliveren", too. the songs of the group of arto (night ark) are also increadible

Five stars are not enough!
Serart's music is unbelievably, unearthly beautiful. This is art in its purest form. I made the mistake of taking my first listen while on an hour-long drive, and I say "mistake" because I don't remember the trip. I felt as if my skull had opened up; the music was a cool, refreshing breeze blowing across my brain. For hours afterward I was just in awe. I have unwittingly searched my entire life for this album.

A caveat: if you are an old-school SOAD fan, you will appreciate this, because you understand at least a little of Serj Tankian's quirkiness and artistry. If you are already a fan of Arto Tuncboyaciyan, this is right up your alley. But if you are looking for another nu-metal release or if you have little respect or understanding of art or of Armenian culture, don't bother with Serart. I don't say this to alienate anyone, but you must truly open your mind and have no expectations but of a beautiful journey to enjoy this album. ... Read more

Album Description

Deuter's newest album is like a walk along an empty shore. The timeless rhythm of waves on the ocean meld with fluid, ethereal keyboards and Deuter's soulful flute to create a magical soundscape ideal for massage and deep relaxation. Sail to distant shores and venture to the depths with the latest from a master composer with over three decades of healing music to his credit. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

So Peaceful!
I love this CD! I have loved Deuter's music for a long time, but I never got his more recent CDs -- I just listened to classics from the 70s like "Ecstasy." But this new one is AMAZING! What makes it special compared to other New Age or Ambient recordings? Ultimately, I have to say it is the feeling of genuineness, authenticity, and joy that suffuses it. There's other music out there which is totally "chilled," but Deuter always feels like he REALLY MEANS what he's saying with his music. He sounds like he is really in the spiritual "place" that his music expresses. And that gives it a totally different feel; it's not just relaxing, it's "describing" a spiritual destination of joy and peace that really exists. There are no dark undertones as there are with some ambient music, no ambiguity; this is really "realm of light" music, but not in an abstract way, rather in a very concrete way, sounding very personal and real. In a nutshell: this is New Age music in a league of its own. If this is your cup of tea, buy the CD for sure.

Deuter's best!
I have been listening to Deuter off and on for years, and I feel that this is his best music so far. Perfect for dreaming, meditation, and/or leaving your body, moving away from planet Earth, out into the Void and the foreverness of infinite space! Soft lapping water sounds, lovely rich deep silence, and the haunting longing of simple melodies carry you up and out into the higher frequencies. Yes!
Thank you. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Countless copycats have landed on the bandwagon since Josh Davis's debut, Endtroducing..., wreaked havoc in the dance and hip-hop world. But Davis, a.k.a. DJ Shadow, kept on top of his game with various collaborations--Blackalicious, U.N.K.L.E., Cut Chemist--and superlative 12-inches like "High Noon" and "Pre-Emptive Strike."

Now, a full six years later, he's back with a follow-up that is every bit as impressive as his debut, albeit in a different way. Once again, the producer has pushed his sampler to the limits, but this time he's brought with it a deeper, hungrier, more bad-ass spirit that's rarely found in modern dance music. There's a fabulous '80s vibe throughout (principally on tracks like "Monosylabik" and "You Can't Go Home Again"), along with the expected forays into b-boy culture (check the growling, massive "Treach Battle Break" and the funky-ass "Mashin' on the Motorway"). While it's identifiably Shadow, it ain't Endtroducing...Part 2. It is, however, a worthy and imaginative follow-up, with humor, wisdom, and musical understanding aplenty. --Paul Sullivan ... Read more

Reviews (58)

4.5 stars. The Shadow is back ! (First Spin Review)
I'm a big fan of Endtroducing. It a classic for electronic, jazz and soul music out there. I've just picked up Private Press a few hours ago and i'm currently writing this review under a "first spin" perspective. First impressions are...

1) Definitly still has the "Shadow Theme" that means listening to it I can still pick up all the Shadow signiture. Piano and spoken work bits are still visible. Rustic vinly sound still prominant in some songs. However, the sound feels more refined compared to Endtroducing. The songs sounds more "processed". I don't think this is a bad element. Its just a different side of the Shadow's artistic skills.

2) It's not as dark as Endtroducing.

3) Shadow's "epic" song structures are still intact.

4) Feels less cohesive. Not a bad thing ! Private Press unlike Endtroducing is more diverse in its soundscape. Endtroducing had one theme running through teh album where as Private Press is more diverse in themes. But don't get me wrong it's still a cohesive album just more diverse in sounds compared to Endtroducing.

5) The latter part of the album exhibits a slight 80s groove. However altered to sound fresh.

conclusion: Great Album... I can already tell that the second spin should reveal even more intresting tidbits on this album. The album definitly sound like the Shadow. It still has the structure of Endtroducing but refined to open a whole new soundscape for the Shadow

Magnificent
I find this album as beautiful as endtroducing. It doesn't have the consistency of endtroducing, but there are pieces which have more depth. Of course, there are some irritants too in here, but there are majesty and grandeur too. here's a song by song.
Tracks 1 and 14: Openers and closers respectively. Fillers.
Track 2(Fixed Income): Vintage shadow. Fat beats. Tight production. Good melody. Gets one star for the album.
Tracks 3 and 4: Barely listenable. Maybe shadow tried experimenting. But its a failed experiment. Doesn't quite appeal.
Track 5(Giving up the ghost): Awesome beginning. Builds majestically till about 3 minutes 16 seconds when the irritating organ comes in and jarrs on the nerves. Mr. shadow, please don't destroy such a beautiful idea by experimenting midway with it next time. And please keep producing songs of the level of the first half of this song. This song alone made me a fan of your music. (I listened to endtroducing later). Earns the album a star and a half in rating.
Track 6 (Six days): Good song. Would have been a hit if it got more airplay perhaps. but isn't a warm song. fits well with the album but somehow doesn't end up standing well on its own. Earns the album half a star in rating.
Track 7 and 8: No idea why its two different tracks. Time-pass music. Doesn't lead anywhere after what seems to me to be a promising beginning.
Track 9: Forgettable back-ground music. I thought "Shadow seems to have run out of ideas at this point".
Track 10 and 11: Irritating. I thought"I am sure shadow has run out ideas. My money has all gone waste".
Track 12 (Blood on the motorway):the track that earns the sobriquet "Magnificent" for the album. the track that made me a life-long fan of shadow. I agree that the sepulchral voice put me down initially, but the piano and the strings in the later part of the song are ABSOLUTELY GORGEOUS. Uplifting, organic, spiritual music. No one can listen to such music and not be stirred. Mr. shadow, thanks for this AMAZING song. Please produce more like it. Earns atleast two stars for the album in rating.
Track 13: Nice track. But stops abruptly when it is building in complexity. Earns the album another half star.

Overall, an album to be cherished and treasured. And Mr. shadow, please don't make your fans wait another five years for a new solo album. Please give us something introspective and inspiring as u gave with this album, we need it!!

The Best Kept Secret in the Music Industry.
For his second real album (I think of Preemptive Strike as a compilation rather than a cohesive unit), DJ Shadow delves even deeper into his fascination with eerie samples and odd voices. The Private Press is not quite as brilliant as his debut, but DJ Shadow still knows how to put together a gorgeous, torpid patchwork of sound that is instantly identifiable as his own.

The first song on the album, "Fixed Income," is classic DJ Shadow. He takes the march of a drum beat and marries it to some mysterious acoustic guitar samples (including something that may have come from a Spaghetti Western) and an ominous bass. Throw in a voice here and there and you've got the direct descendant of Endtroducing's "Midnight in a Perfect World." Wicked and addictive.

Skipping ahead, "Giving Up the Ghost" is a tough name for a song to live up to, but Shadow delivers in spades. Disenchantment, disillusion, doubt, regret -- all conveyed by one sample in a loop that makes up the first sixty seconds. I find that this song gets stuck in my head when I get in that kind of a mood. Extremely evocative and more than a little sad.

This is followed by the shimmering torpor of "Six Days," and the fast-paced but downright creepy "Mongrel...Meets His Maker." A single meandering guitar ties the song together, augmented by a flute, a piano, and a ringing telephone(!) Along the same lines, "Blood on the Motorway" brings to mind the morbid transcendentalism of "What Does Your Soul Look Like, part 2," but with some decidedly 80s-ish samples used to achieve the effect. That three-second silence speaks volumes, like the transition from life to death or ignorance to knowledge. Hypnotizing and profound without being maudlin or heavy-handed.

Shadow provides some up-tempo sounds as well ("Walkie Talkie," "Mashin' on the Motorway") but let's face the obvious: he's at his best when gazing at his navel. I don't know if he is hip hop, trip hop, or just a renegade genius. But there is no one else like him making music today.

Very impressive.
I'm not a huge fan of this style of music, but I love this disc. So many different styles are explored by DJ Shadow on this disc and it all works very well to keep me entertained. I'm giving it four stars and, although I am certainly not an authority on electronica/techno/house, I do enjoy many of these modern sounds and DJ Shadow is among the best I've heard.

A worthy successor
DJ Shadow is perhaps the most innovative musician of the latest decade, at least of those, who received relatively noticable attention. With his debut, "Endtroducing", he created a whole new genre of instrumental hip-hop music entirely made of samples. His rare talent and attention to details ensured that even now "Endtroducing" stands as a template for such music, and nobody succeeded in getting anywhere close to it. Following such a success often proves impossible for artists. Did Shadow manage to do it?

On "Private Press" Shadow leaves that specific retro-feel of "Endtroducing" behind him, and goes for a modern sound. It results into more variety to tracks, and even addition of a vocal part in a couple of them. He strays further away from hip-hop and funky rhythms of his debut, successfully adding a touch of rock, and electronica beats. DJ Shadow tries to create an aural adventure, a sonic movie of sorts, and I'd say the results are fairly good. Spoken samples add to the "adventure feel".

But on the down side of this variety, this record doesn't sound as consistent as the debut, because not all the ideas really work. To me, personally, the addition of a singer is a very questionable novelty (it's what killed the creativity in Chemical Brothers). While Shadow manages to pull it with taste, the tracks "Walkie Talkie" and "Six Days" are not equal to the rest of the album. And somehow they spoil the flow of the musical adventure. Other than this relatively small gripe, the album is very good. It's great to see Shadow is still as creative and perfectionistic musician, as he proved he was in 1996. I'm looking forward to hearing more from him in future. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Perfect for Khemetic/Pagan/Meditation devotees
If I could give this a 10, I would!

I've been on the quest for good sacred space/meditation music for quite some time. I took a risk since, I really couldn't tell by the sound bytes if I'd like it. I brought it home, lit some incense, candles and got comfortable whilst I pressed 'play'. For me, it was like magic. "At first, the metallic-stringed harp reminded me of Japanese music, but as the album moves along, there's something not quite Asian, African or Middle Eastern -- but definitely mystical. I would think Markoe tapped into the "Eternal Now" so aptly put on the first track of the CD. My small, cramped bedroom was turned into a temple and I, its priestess. Well done! The great thing is that each track can apply to a specific ritual or practice and their names reflect that. The first song, I used for meditation (simply programmed to repeat over and over). The next one is great for morning or "pre-dawn devotion" as described and so on. Quite versatile and yet it doesn't command one's attention, so you can easily meditate, sleep, do yoga or journal to it without being mesmerized by the melodies. ... Read more

Reviews (7)

Original Mozart Style
i receive this cd form amazon.com, i love the first clip, the arranged for the music of Mozart are beautyful, very inspirational, nice version of very artist like Bela Fleck, his version of this sonata are magnificent, very original, and other way to hear mozart music, maintenance the essential of the music author, buy this Cd if you love the classic music, and the jazz music same, the fussion are excellent and for sleep moment is nice hear this album

Mozart as you never heard it before.
Just when you think there is nothing more that can be done with Mozart, along comes this album. The interpretations are so fresh and different that I felt I was relearning Mozart. I think he would be very proud.

A Different Mozart -- The right title for a delightful CD.
If you love Mozart, try this album. Interpreters such as Bela Fleck give us a chance to appreciate the enduring beauty of the music, and all of the selections are beautiful in their own way. Each of the pieces is too short for my taste, but that does allow for many different interpreters on the CD. I'll definitely buy the follow up to this album.

This More-zart CD should be 10 stars out of five.
I have been listening to this CD for quite a while and I still like it. It never bores me. First, the transcriptions are done ingeniusly. Second, all the works are done by different musicians and thus the the play styles are all different. This is really QUITE A DIFFERENT More-zart. For example, Ruhe Sanft is an aria in 3/4, but it is beautifully transcribed in 4/4. At first listening, I didn't know what it was, but it sounded like I heard it before, and I couldn't figure it out. Only after I checked the song list and tried second careful listening, I was able to be aware that it was indeed "Ruhe Sanft mein holdes Leben". Every piece in this CD is beatiful. I am sorry that I can give only five stars. I will definitely give it 10 starts out of five. I wish there would be "A Different Mozart II".

wonderful hommage without being too "new agey"
This is a great cd for when you are looking for the essential experiance of classical music while still having it sound fresh and interesting.

The serenade(s)10 & 12 are particularly beautiful! ... Read more

Reviews (14)

Ist muy OK for me
This album is solid. Simon Greene's music seems to me to be a bit more grounded than his Ninja Tune cohorts, but he can still tune you in and space you out. I like the mood swings from song to song. Each song is unique, but it all seems to tie together with one smooth vibe, almost feels like a film noir soundtrack.
Pick Up, Wayward Bob, and Nothing Owed are instant classics.
Listen to this on a rainy day. There's no fluff on this CD, its all good.
You must buy this CD, BUY BUY BUY.

one giant leap
Dial M for Monkey is one of those albums that leaves you in awe of the creative ability of the human mind. The depth of each track seems endless, every time I listen to this CD I find something new in the music. According to Ninja Tune, Simon Green played, sampled, and sequenced every instrument on the CD, which has allowed him to apply his perfectionist's touch. This is instrumental hiphop with an informed understanding of music, something like if one of the great classical composers had grown up in the late 20th century with a sampler.
Don't let the musical depth of this album lead you to think it will put you to sleep, because every track bumps with some tight beats.
Especially notable is the playful complexity of "Flutter", and the bluesy harmonizing and fiery flute solo of "Pick Up".

simplicity spells beauty
This album is definitely a different sounding album than animal magic. It's catchier, simplier and also shorter in song length. The interesting thing about this album is it keeps you wanting more after it's over. The songs remain in your head way after the music is over. I hear he's coming to this festival in San Francisco this fall, think sept 26th, here's the site I saw it on-- www.futureforwardfest.com I'm definitely gonna check it out and you should to if you're into Bonobo.

Not new, simply excellent
If you're looking to hear Bonobo on some new
exotic chillout flambe, you might be dissapointed
in this CD. My friend told me it was hardly worth
a listen but I bought it anyways, because Bonobo
has proven to be an excellent producer. This CD
is not the freshest material. You can hear similar
music on over 50 CD's I own. However, the disc is
excellent due to Bonobo's production skills. The
entire CD is laid back, solid beats with chill
melodies and head nodding percussion. Nothing new,

but it will blow your mind.

If you respect incredibly tasteful music, produced
finely with a solid sound, this CD will please you.
From front to back, it is one of the more solid CDs
I own, and that's amongst a LARGE pool of artists.

Stunning Work
"Dial M" simply astounded me. downtempo Brit Simon Green has done it again. It's an album you will want to listen to over and over again without getting bored. Especially the track titled "Nothing Owed" is incredible. Wonderful music! After the no new ground breaking "Animal Magic" this album is definitely a giant leap forward. Go out, buy it and enjoy it for the rest of your life... ... Read more

Reviews (9)

Beautifully Stange
I just heard this CD a few nights ago at a friends dinner party and it grabbed my attention right away...(in a subtle way, that is).

It is a strange sonic mix of electronics, primitivism and jazz. The mood is predominately VERY subtle and hypnotic; if I remember correctly, there is not a bar faster than andante on the entire CD. But trust me, this is a good thing.

And so is the fact that Ry Cooder produced it...

Best of Outside Ambient
The opening amazingly beautiful reading of "Nature Boy" is so stunning when Ronu Majumdar's flute begins it's circling run around Hassell's
solo trumpet. wow. we know we are in for something unique and amazing.

This is Hassell's first CD to include covers and as a fan, I welcome this as a trend. This CD is at once beautiful, odd, provocative, and
occasionally challenging. I suppose you could expect that with a meeting of Hassell, Cooder, Majumdar, and Terrasson.

Like most Water Lily cds, it's Recorded live to stereo master in that Santa Barbara seminary with all that fetishist tube gear as usual. Music like
this sums up the underlying vibe of Santa Barbara.

Perfect
Misty like a winter evening. Gradually, evening images give their place to night dreams. It is incredible that such things can happen on disc.

It's True.
Even though this disc was released some time ago, I have just come to it. I recall reading a piece about it in a music industry magazine at one point. As it turned out that written piece was really more about the actual recording process and the Waterlily Acoustics label's approach to sound than anything else. Still, I was intrigued as to what it would sound like (as an "ambient recording" process captured in a church with all tube analog stuff).

I should mention that I know of Mssr. Jon Hassell's work from 'back in the day' --- as a soloist on the classic beautiful albums "Remain in Light" by Talking Heads and "Brilliant Trees" by David Sylvian. Sometime during the 1990's I was able to track down a couple of his solo records. I must say that he is unique in the world of music. Of course this is no newz to those who know, and I am most likely preaching to the choir already with this, nevertheless, Jon Hassell knows about transcendance and how "that" relates to what we tend to call -- Music.

Mssr. Hassell is actually well beyond The Trumpet. The fact that his chosen instrument happens to BE The Trumpet is both lucky for us, the listeners, and meaningless to everyone concerned, because in the end His Heart and His Mind are coming from a place of Tone, of Frequency, and of Vibration. These "things" are certainly not contingent upon blowing The Trumpet. You see? One could choose to play the zither or the udu or the mouth organ, no matter in the hands of one who knows to reach Beyond (where the Music dwells). And once one would reach that "place" and to then share THAT, well now we're talking. And we ARE talking about Jon Hassell here for the moment (and in fact most of the folks involved with this particular CD). Kind of.

OK, so speaking of that place.......the last track on Fascinoma.......Estate (Summer).......is truly.......it is truly.......well.......there are no words. No words at all.

Just listen for a while. You'll know.

What's That You're Listening Too?
This is the sort of CD which would certainly grab my attention if I heard it in the background at, say, a coffee shop, even if I didn't recognize it as the work of Jon Hassell. And yet, when I listen to it closely I am ambivalent about it. I have not really been keeping up with Jon Hassell's career (the only recordings of his I own are old ones: Dream Theory in Malaya and the Fourth Worlds, Vol. 1 album, which I partiularly like), but I bought this understanding, and looking forward to, the fact that it was going to be somewhat of a departure.

One thing I definitely do not like here is the rhythmic aspect of the pieces, which seems a bit leaden to me. There is no reference to any electronic percussion being used, yet that is what it sounds like on some tracks.

Hassell sounds good here, though there's still something a little cold about the sound. The real stand out passages, for me, are the those in which Jacky Terrasson (a pianist with whom I was formerly unfamiliar) peforms. At times he brings a welcome jaggedness to the atmospheric mood, without completely undermining it.

This is my third Water Lilly Acoustics CD. I can't quite figure this label out. I like the fact that they are producing analog recordings. I like the fact that they are bringing together musicians from different parts of the world. But the CDs that I have heard seem somehow too perfect, the performances virtuosic in a way that leaves me, most of the time, unmoved. ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Exotic
Simply, I would recommend everyone to buy this album. Of course I know that my musical taste isn't identical to everyone else's, but since Natacha Atlas probably is the most addictive music I've ever come across, it is saying a lot as there actually is lots of music out there.

OK, this music sounds quite different at first listen unless you're not already into ethnic music, but don't worry; it is accessible. 'Halim' is a most rare musical masterpiece. The blend is too perfect: Natacha Atlas' voice, so delightful and sexy, and the beautiful Arabic language(yes, it is very beautiful when sung by Natacha Atlas). The exotic rhythms, and sometimes the good techno feel (however this album isn't very technoish). High-class arrangements, without any flaws as far as I can hear.

After having bought 'Diaspora' and 'Gedida' I didn't expect 'Halim' to be as good as my first two superb Atlas purchases, but I was very impressed by how strong and mature the songs on this album are. The opening tune 'Marifnaash' is really full of go and always takes me into ecstasy (like all of the tunes), 'Ya Weledi' and 'Andeel' are other stand-outs. Also, I appreciate very much the tracks on which the melodies get cheesy (for example 'Amulet', 'Moustahil'), because the 'cheese' works excellent with Natachas voice. Each one of the tunes here has its own charm.

'Gedida' is my favourite Natacha Atlas album, but 'Halim' comes very close and belongs to the essential cds of my record collection that I have to listen to once (at least) a day. Buy it.

It is Natacha Atlas and she is...
I loved Natacha Atlas from when I heard 'Diaspora' but this record 'Halim' it was it even better you could listen all day without hassle. To listen to the funkadelic musics of 'moustahil' and 'marifnaash' with its riffs and rumbles it would make me happy to hear. 'Ya weledi' to listen all the way is spine tingling and thoughts that never came before. I definetly this album to recommend as anyone would be happy to hear it. However to appreciate most listen to 6 times or sometimes more for some persons.

come and see.....
i think this album is really great, but i only gave it four stars because the first few tracks are awsome, easy to dance to and thouroughly enjoyable (read cross-cultural appeal), then most of the rest of the album slows down, and gets a little more "traditional". this in it's self isn't so bad, but many of the tracks are very long (5+ min.), which in turn makes the whole album long, and can leave you feeling a little emotionally spent if you listen to the entire thing from beginning to end.
still, it's worth every penny.

Beautiful.
Just beautiful. If you're on the fence - buy this CD, you won't be sorry.

Take me with you
This is a MUST buy if you're an Atlas fan because to me, this album has a totally different feel from her other work like Geddida. This has less of a european production feel to it, more faithful to middle eastern instruments and sounds. If you've not owned an Atlas record and you enjoy most of the Six Degrees stuff, this is for you.. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

My daughter loves this CD!
My seven year old is quickly progressing at piano and is playing simple pieces of Bach. She had previously only appreciated Bach (with a Bach children's tape) but now is true to Mozart. Plays every morning on our way to school--what a way to start the day!

This music sets the mood.
I play this music for my art classes. I teach Kindergarten through 6th grade art at an elementary school in Connecticut. All classes respond to this music. It seems to be calming and helps them to focus on their art work. I explain that the music will make them more creative. One third grade boy said "This really works." ... Read more

Amazon.com

Prior to the breakthrough success of their second album, Vertigo, Groove Armada (Tom Findlay and Andy Cato) were better known as successful club DJs, plying their trade in clubs the length and breadth of England, from Tangled in Manchester to the End in London. For their first mix CD they eschew uptempo dance-floor tunes in favor of a far more laid-back repertoire--think "At the River" rather than "If Everybody Looked the Same." It's an eclectic mixture of classic and modern--from Barry White to Tears for Fears, stopping at all stations along the way. Unlike many of these kinds of compilations, there's not a duff track on here, and standouts like Al Green's "Light My Fire" and Tony D's "Piano Grand" make the cherry on top. Vertigo was justifiably lauded as the Best Chill-Out Album at the U.K.'s Ministry Magazine Awards in 1999; Back to Mine is a worthy heir to the throne. --Helen Marquis ... Read more

Reviews (15)

Excellent mixed compliation CD with easy mellow grooves
I can't really recall why I bought this CD - I think that I had heard good things about Groove Armada and didn't realize that this CD was a compliation of songs that they like via the Back To Mine collection. The first time that I listened to this CD- I instantly liked every song. The variety of tunes is great, but really well mixed together. It listens like a complete album all the way through. If you like mellow but slightly upbeat R&B with a little bit of techno, then this album is definitely for you. Great for listening while doing stuff at home or at work.

mellow, juicy, sexy
This is my first Groove Armada cd and I have to say I was expecting something a little more mixed, but this cd has not left my player! I love it, I don't know about any of their other works, but if you are lookin for some downtempo, juicy, groove you have found a winner. You cannot go wrong with Barry White and Al green will never let you down. A great cd to chill to, with a glass of wine at the end of a long day. Also this cd will not get "played out", like some newer music sometimes does. These are classics you can keep forever.

About as good as ambient music gets.
I have bought this CD at least 5 times. Two of them are still in my custody (one worn and scratched to near oblivion), the rest, well, all given away reluctantly or borderline "stolen" by those that "have to have" this CD.

I entertain allot, this almost always makes rotation for pre-dinner appetizers, or post dinner games (of the board kind). I wouldn't do at dinner time because there are a handful of songs that are a bit too hard (this CD isn't 100% chillout, there are a handful of uptempo tracks). Nevertheless, this CD is a winner.

Their newer CD (Love Box) is excellent, but in my opinion not as good as this one. If you love the downtempo element of this CD, I'd recommend Air (the group), or Zero 7. If you like the uptempo aspect, I'd take a look at some cool Mushroom Jazz (like Mark Farina).

Hope this was helpful.

Christian Hunter

One of the best chillout CDs
In my opinion this is one of the best chillout CDs to come out of the "back to mine" series. The collection here is simply captivating (say eclectic?) and if it doesnt get your head bopping 3 minutes down the first track then I cant help it. If you are a big fan of Chillout or even if you are not but need a CD to play for one of those after-party group who come to your place at 4am to finish off your chardonay then this would be the bomb to play. I have 12 of the 16 BTM CDs released so far and this one ranks #1 in the list. Tom and Andy have definately shown their best musical taste here and if you are a GA fan then this collection will show you what exactly they listen to and like.

50/50 I agree
I agree with what another reviewer said about this CD being 50/50. I loved half the songs, but the other half got on my nerve endings. Overall, it wasn't worth keeping, so I turned around and sold the CD after listening to it once or twice. I was dissapointed and would not recommend anyone buying it. ... Read more

Reviews (28)

Always always improving...
I've been a fan of Deep Forest since their first album, and I was also very impressed with Boheme, their second release. However, over time I found their first album became rather simplistic, and Boheme somewhat uneven. However, COMPARSA, their third album, is without peer.

What is fantastic about this CD is the incredible attention to detail. There are MANY tracks of sound throughout, including dazzling arrays of complimentary keyboard work, deliciously intricate percussion, and expertly weaved vocal lines. The boys have become very adept with their computers, and the samples are spliced with infinite care and virtuosity. Simply marvelous!

Uniquely Enjoyable
This CD has a flavor all its own. Deep Forest is one of my favorite groups. They mix obscure ethnic sounds with modern synthesized sounds, beautifully. Comparsa is as good or better than their first album, Deep Forest. It's hard not to think of their first album as their signature album which is why it's less popular since fans have a preconceived notion of their sound. The first album, Deep Forest, had an African/Tribal type ethnic sound, the second Boheme has a sort of Eastern European/Native American type sound, and this one, Comparsa, the third album has a definite south american/aztec sound. All 3 are trademark Deep Forest, a blending of old/forgotten and new/innovative. This is in fact my favorite album of all three. Have an open mind and enjoy.

their best, IMHO
I like the first CD, Deep Forest, and I *Really* like this one. It really does justice to the World Music idea by incorporating folk sounds into a very upbeat sound.

What helps is the influence of the folk sounds adds naturally to the dance flavor of the CD, rather than being forced.

This was one of those few CDs that I put on "Repeat All" and listened to non-stop for several days after I got it.

Unique
This album is a very good album. The songs that are in it are different and carry their own styles in music. You might not understand the language but like the music. Its very unique in its own style. Its good to have something that is good and unique. I liked the album alot, also there is for Deep Forest the album "Boheme", which I think is very good.

Amazing
if by nothing else than successfully mixing so many genres of music together and making it coherent, if not relevent! all of deep's work are great, alongside their engima cohorts, this group is at the forefront of 'new age' ... Read more

Amazon.com

Despite his dedication to free speech, Frank Zappa once dismissed music criticism by likening it to dancing about architecture. No surprise, then, that the British duo Autechre draws critical approbation by making music, seemingly, about architecture. With its pulsing, pneumatic beats, its favor for geometric rhythms, and its utterly mechanical sound sources, Autechre revels in the brittle, the desolate, and the mundane. Tri Repetae++ ranges from the Doppler effects of "C/pach;" to the elastic irritants of "Rsdio." Characteristic of its mission, the CD's scant liner notes admonish listeners: "Incomplete without surface noise." Not quite true, since the album provides much of its own noise, even in the relatively pure realm of digital playback. The U.S. edition includes two earlier EPs, "Anvil Vapre" and "Garbage." --Marc Weidenbaum ... Read more

Reviews (83)

Absolutely Astounding: One of the Best Albums of the 1990's.
"Electronika" had never sounded like this before its release in late 1996. Tri-Repetae++ came as somewhat of a shock, dividing critics left and right. There was never an album quite like it before. Many dismissed it as being repetitive, while others saw the complexity of the album, acknowledging its sheer beauty and architecture. Even six years after its release, the album still sounds fresh. This album changed the course of ambient music, if not ALL of electronic music, after 1996 and even now, it is universally accepted as the definitive IDM album. And for two discs, not once do Autechre step wrong. Tri-Repetae++ was easily the best album of 1996, and is also one of the greatest albums of the past decade.

A song-by-song review of this album is pointless. The album must be taken in as a whole. It is incredible and is guaranteed to change the way you perceive music. Tri-Repetae++ is truly a masterpiece.

Grade: A++

Lethal Anatomical Efficiency!
TRI REPETAE was originally released as a single disc in the U.K. in November 1995. Disc 2 contains two previously released EPs: ANVIL VAPRE and GARBAGE. Autechre: Sean Booth, Rob Brown. With TRI REPETAE, Sean Booth and Rob Brown's music undergoes a quantum evolutionary leap from the relatively muted modular mathematics of INCUNABULA and AMBER into a tortuous, insectoid cybernetic funk. Menacing robotic mandibles and steel-plated wings now render the electro tics and hiphop scratches, as though Booth and Brown have decided to work exclusively in the medium of rusty Erector-kit mechanics. For many Ae-heads, this third album and the EPs that preceded it (GARBAGE and ANVIL VAPRE) represent Autechre's pinnacle achievements. TRI REPETAE++ combines all three desirable items in one generous double-disc package. Such album tracks as "Clipper," "Rotar," "Leterel," and "Gnit" are like oversized cricket automatons--hulking scrap-heap assemblages of melody and shearing wrought-iron armature too ungainly to do more than flex a leg joint or twitch an antenna. In comparison, ANVIL VAPRE's "Second Bad Vilbel" and "Second Scout" are models of lethal anatomical efficiency. These are hydraulic super-ants, built for speed, purpose, and determination using the scant workshop remains of nosebleed-techno tracks and dismantled monster trucks. The melodically exquisite GARBAGE dovetails neatly with the album's less flattening moments ("Dael," "Eutow," "C/pach," "Overand," "Rsdio"), the circuit-board tweakings mimicking dub ("Piobmx19") or disclosing the human ghosts in Autechre's machine.

the best autechre album hands down
definitely the best autechre album i have heard - their best work yet. beautifully and intricately mixed - the electronic complexity of it all makes for one of the best experimental cd's i've heard.
and not without variety either - tracks such as 'leterel' and 'stud' compare to leftfield's 'rhythm and stealth' album while 'rsdio' sounds like a bass test track with middle eastern influenced percussion.
the general feel of the cd however is very experimental, with a distorted, noisy sound, very sweet drum beats to ride to (perfect for cruising or chilling) and still a unique, unexpectedly french flavor all to its own.
if your looking for that new, underground, experimental sound this is it.

Gripping electronic music
The first notes of the opening number recalled very early Human League to me, but then the track settles into a mechanical beat, like a conversation between machines. Clipper has a fuller sound, with bubbling beats and a slow, mournful melody, whilst Leterel is an impressive symphony of whooshes and Rotar is an edgy number, again with a melancholy tune over the jerky beats.

The next one, Stud, has moody synth loops and a slowly building ambient structure. My favorite is the hypnotic Eutow with its rousing synth lines, droning undertow and gripping arrangement, a challenging but compelling piece of music. Gnit, a charming sound collage of funky whirrs and burblings, follows the percussive industrial sound of C/pach. Overand is a soft gentle ambient piece and the album concludes with Rsdio, a mid tempo track with an impressive sonic and rhythmic mix.

The second disc provides further successful experimentation although no one track really leaps out at the listener the way that Eutow, Rsdio or Clipper does. Although complex, Autechre's evocative techno is surprisingly accessible. Tri Repetae is a feast of atmospheric sounds and varied rhythms, a most intelligently structured album of electronic textures.

Perfect IDM. . .
Autechre is the epitimy of IDM music. Tri Repetae ++ is a great way to start getting into IDM. For one, it has a full-length on the first disc and 2 EPs on the second disc. This way you are getting essentially 3 Autechre cds for the price of one. This was actually my first IDM music and I have now moved on a little bit and I think that Peel Seesions 2 is even better than TR++.

I have to say that IDM is a little bit of an aquired taste (my parents normally turn it off if I have it on in the car) but once you give it a real chance, it is really worthwhile. I was listening to this cd earlier today and I thought, wow. These guys have put so much effort into making this cd as good as they can make it and I think that there isn't much more room for improvement.

Tri Repetae (as with all of Autechre's music) is mechanical, it sounds as if robots are chattering and meeting (I know that I haven't made that up myself, but it is a perfect description of what it is). If you think that you want to get into IDM but only want to buy one album to start with, then this is the one to get! ... Read more

Album Description

Brian Eno says, "The experiments on this CD sometimes try to simulate existing bells, and (perhaps more profitably) imagine different sorts of bells, bells which may indeed be physically unmakeable."

Profits from the sale of this record will be donated to the Long Now Foundation. The first prototype of the Clock is working and on permanent display at the Science Museum in London. This CD has fifteen tracks and a total playing time of 75 mins 43 seconds. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Biased rave
I find this new work of Brian Eno's as compusively relistenable as his famed "Music for Airports." I've observed others having the same response. Like all of Eno's ambient work, the music can provide a soothing background yet at the same time reward close and intense attention.

My bias is that I'm a friend of Brian's and have been around for the two years of research and composition that went into the CD. Furthermore all proceeds from sales goes to The Long Now Foundation, where I'm president. The foundation is building the 10,000-year mountain Clock for which Brian created his bell sounds. ... Read more

Amazon.com

In Japan and China, New Age music is often produced with the same attitude they've applied to robotic manufacturing--and it sounds like it. The artists are faceless and the music is generic. But a label called Pacific Moon may be changing that. Jalan Jalan's Bali is one of the most haunting albums of the year. This Japanese group takes the sounds of the Balinese gamelan (although the slow cadences are more Javanese), and with pianos, flutes, small percussion, and environmental sounds, they loop melodic cycles into a deftly subtle fabric. There's an austerity and simplicity of form that owes much to Brian Eno's Music for Airports, with its sense of elegiac repose and resigned melancholy, particularly evidenced in tracks like "Firefly Sanctuary." The canon form, in which most of these pieces are written, and its stately pace make this music seem like it could go on forever, and you wish it would. --John Diliberto ... Read more

Reviews (12)

Better and cheaper than a vacation to the Island!
The haunting sounds of Jalan Jalan first caught my attention in a yoga class; my teacher told me the name of the CD and I had to have it! The serenity and peace communicated in these pieces is hard to describe, save that I hadn't heard music like this since the soundtrack of "The Year of Living Dangerously". Whether for driving, doing yoga, or simply as mood music, I cannot recommend this CD highly enough. Also, Jalan Dua, Bali's second album is just as good as the first!

fans of the chill unite!
this ,needless to say,is one of my favorite "relax"cds out of my collection of nearly 900 discs.it ranks right up there with shrin terrai,aphex twin's ambient cd,buckethead's "colma","electric tears",and death cube k albums,robert rich,and steve roach.if any of these rings a pleasent tone to you,get "bali" by all means!!!
ps:this music will help you save $-you'll never need sleeping pills again!

Lovers of ambient, you MUST buy this cd!
As a huge consumer of REAL ambient music (you know, minimalist, space music, new age, buddhist stuff--not the trip-hop crap that touts itself under that category) this is one of my most prized possessions. If you're a fan of transoceanic, 2002, Constance Demby, or any of the other ambient gurus, THIS is the CD to buy. (You gotta love the incense sticks that come packaged within the spine of the CD case--better buy it new to get these.)

Just Be Still...
I've put off reviewing this album for too long. I've owned it for nearly a year now, and I still listen to it in sheer awe.

So many albums promising a relaxing atmosphere end up falling through with blatant repitition, quirky sound effects, nature sounds that absolutely drown out the music, or an overall lack of substance. Jalan Jalan's "Bali" is absolutely not one that falls prey to such trivial discord.

"Jalan Jalan" means "to walk" in Indonesian, and I would travel with this music anytime. "Ocean Blue" and "Water Garden" in particular give me visions of walking on sunset beaches in Bali. "Sun-set" tends to give me the feeling of walking down the stairs from a temple, high in the mountains of Japan as waterfalls cascade down around me.

However, the stand out track of the whole album requires absolutely no movement at all. "Firefly Sanctuary" will probably remain among my all-time favorite songs for quite a long time with its gentle rhythms alternating between flute and gamelan, backed by a soft synthesized harmony. Take the eight minutes and set them aside to listen to this song in the quiet darkness. If you're like me, you can see the fireflies dancing among the trees as you swing in a hammock with your significant other at your side.

If I could give this album more than 5 stars, I would. If you need to relax, you need this album.

No sudden movements....
Way too many of these disks that claim they are soothing or relaxing seem to have been created only to ruin your mood. You'll be relaxing with your lover and feeling the warmth between your bodies - and BLAM - CLanK - BUMP. Just as things get nice - they take a jarring turn for the worse with silly noises or voices. Every other relaxing CD I have bought or sampled has had one of these disturbing moments. _____NOT "BALI"_____ This CD is the most impressive relaxing CD I have heard. No sudden jerky movements, no silly sounds of any kind. The only problem you will have with this CD is that everybody and anybody (even punks, electroheads, metalheads, and hip hoppers) will want to borrow it. A relax classic! ... Read more

Amazon.com

With her fourth solo recording, Ayeshteni, Egyptiansongstress Natacha Atlas putsher voice dead center, coming on snake-hipped, seductive, andsophisticated with a feral emotional core. Made in Cairo (with someassistance from her TransglobalUnderground mates, whom Atlas has collaborated with since the early'90s), the songs swell shaabi style, incorporating trippy beats,guttural cries, sinuous strings, and a disturbing yet undeniable beautythat brings no one to mind so much as musical kindred spirit Björk.The latter is perhaps most evident on the artist's bewitchingscratch-filled take on Screamin' Jay Hawkins's "I Put a Spell on You" and theJacques Brel classic "Ne Me Quitte Pas," infused here withNorth African-by-21st-century fervor. Elsewhere, Western listeners need notfear the Arabic language; Atlas's focused delivery and challengingarrangements are more than tastefully tuneful, rather they are socompelling as to transcend language and cultural barriers. This ismusic of the cells, the body, and the roaming spirit; yet another wayto free the mind and have the flesh follow. --Paige La Grone ... Read more

Reviews (23)

A Beautiful Voice
Another excellent CD by pop star Natacha Atlas, this one again combines Egyptian pop music with western styles to make something that both westerners and fans of Arabic music can appreciate. This album definately shows some of the influence that the Trans-Global Underground had on Natacha, but it is still uniquely her. Her voice is so seductive and wonderful that nobody could listen to her music and be unmoved. If you like Arabic music (well at least Arabic pop music), then this CD will definately be right up your alley. Perhaps the most interesting thing on here is her cover of "I Put a Spell on You". It was sort of out-of-style for Natacha, but it was still pretty sensual so its definately worth listening to. The vast majority of this CD is in Arabic and French, but you'll still appreciate her singing even if you don't know what shes saying. Its music that works without needing words.

Natacha Atlas's 'most Arab' album
I got an advanced copy of this CD last week. Initially, I was disappointed with the general sound, except a few songs, but one week later, I like most of the songs, my favorite songs being Screaming Jay Hawkins cover 'I Put A Spell on You' and 'Soleil D'egypte'.

This album was recorded almost entirely in Cairo, with Egyptian musicians, so it comes as no surprise that it is Natacha's most Arab album. Most of the songs are in the popular Egytpian shaabi style. And in order not to totally alienate the Western audience, who are more 'Diaspora'(her club-friendly debut album) than 'Halim' (her more Middle Eastern sophomore effort), a few world-electronica songs are thrown into the mix. (particularly 'Soleil D'egypte', partly produced by multicultural French band Zebda and has a nice drum'n'bass rhythm and 'Manbai', which is remixed by Nitin Sawhney.) I expected 'Manbai' to be more lounge-y like most of Nitin Sawhney's stuff, but this track uses a standard dance beat, which I found very uninteresting, but the way the Natacha Atlas's voice is brought into the mix makes this song interesting.

Natacha Atlas covers two very well-known songs in this album. Screaming Jay Hawkins's 'I Put A Spell On You' and Jacques Brel's timeless 'Ne Me Quitte Pas' are both given an Egyptian treat. I think 'I Put a Spell On You' works really well, with Arabic instruments, vocals and male choir. 'Ne Me Quitte Pas' is not bad either, but Rai singer Faudel already covered this song with better results, in my opinion. Natacha's version is very similar to Faudel's, and I think Faudel sings this song better.

The rest of the songs are sung in Arabic. Initially, they all sounded very similar to me, but they grew on me later on. Each song has its own interesting moments. 'Shubra' has the great male choir singing, 'Ashwa' is a nice sexy song that has an interesting refrain where I like the way Natacha plays with her voice, 'Ayeshteni' has a nice string section (but that doesn't save the song, this is the most mediocre song here). 'Mish Fadilak' and 'Fakrenha' stand out as the best Arabic songs in the album. 'Mish Fadilak' is an exhilarating song that with a great melody and is the song that is most fun to listen and dance to. 'Fakrenha' is also very good with the great string arrangements.

I would recommend this album if you liked Natacha's Halim or Gedida. If you liked Diaspora but not aforementioned two albums, this is definitely not for you. Fans of Arab singers such as Khaled, Cheb Mami, Fairuz, Amr Diab will also enjoy this album.

In my opinion, this album also indicates that Natacha has come a long way since she sang for Jah Wobble's album. From being a exotic vocalist in ethno-techno circles (I even read recently that in 80's, she was in the goth crowd!) , she paved her way to being a full-fledged Middle-Eastern diva. Once described herself as 'human Gaza strip' with her multicultural (Sephardic Jew- Egyptian-British and what not) background, this album shows that she is Egyptian at heart, no matter what her background is.

Got dock a star for Spell
I'd like to weigh in on Natacha Atlas' choice of I Put A Spell on You as a cover. It starts off well, with the scratching and ominous beat. Then, when she sings the first line, her voice sounds a bit on the thin side but I am still OK. Unfortunately, she falls back on "la-la-las" as bridges between the lurics and this comes, off as a crutch, i.e., she does not feel comfortable with the silences so necessary to blues phrasing. If she really felt it was necessary to do THIS song and really had to do the la-la-las, then she should have cut them out during the final mix. I mean, they're recording this in digital, right? So it would not difficult. Cutting out those la-la-las would have left her voice sounding exposed and vulnerable and this song would have worked in an exposed/vulnerable way. As is, it is a bit embarrassing and I will be programming this song out when I listen to the CD. Oh. One last thing: another reviewer was right about the last track "Manbai." It does come off as one of those dance remix bonuses and is out of character with the rest of the songs. I like what Natacha does, so will cut her a bit of slack and only deduct one star, although the two aforementioned tracks are mistakes. Natacha: stick to Arabic (although the French is OK in a kitschy sort of way. It is a beautiful language. You sing it beautifully.

great music
this is a great cd of natacha's... [we both have the same name [and spelling] so of course i like her...:)] nevertheless, in this effort, she tries yet new things, and this cd shows change from her previous records... the standout tracks include "shubra", "mish fadilak" and "lelsama"... and of course i cannot fail to pay tribute to our jacques brel, and her remake of his classic "ne me quitte pas"... she adds in her arabic feel to it, for a great final song altogether..... a cd for all natacha atlas fans :)

I can't write sanely about this woman
I just can't. I realize that she is a more-than-talented vocalist, and that she effortlessly spans the gap between Arabic pop and world beat. But the sad truth is that when I listen to Natacha Atlas, I am totally lost in the overwhelming sexiness of her voice. It's like cream, it's like butter, it's like honey. It undulates with pure sensuality. I don't listen to Natacha Atlas; I am overcome by her.

It's just not right, I know; I should be commenting on the clever arrangements, on her exotically wrong-but-right take on "I Put A Spell On You," on her gift for drama without bathos, of her wisdom in knowing when to illustrate the songs with vocal filigree and when not to. I should be commenting on all of this. But it's useless; when I listen to her I am transported to some nonexistent fantastic place, a tent in the middle of a desert, the air smoky with incense, someplace lit with fires instead of electricity, someplace with the undercurrent of earth and sky and fire and lust, the heartbeat of lust, desire and heat rising, as the dancers spin and undulate...

you see? I told you. I can't write sanely about this woman. It's impossible; it's hopeless. Just buy the damn CD. ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Recommended by my Yoga Teacher
"Healing" is the perfect compliment for a yoga session on a saturday afternoon. ... Read more

Album Description

Ultra presents the 4th installment of the hugely successful series that has pioneered the 'chillout' concept inAmerica. Featuring tentative tracks from Weekend Players,N.E.R.D. (Zero 7 Remix), Goldfrapp, Bent, Wax Poetic feat.Norah Jones, Caia, Gotan Project and more. Slipcase. 2003. ... Read more

Reviews (3)

Weakest chilled CD
I am a chilled CD fan, but I found this to be the weakest CD in the series. Most of the tracks are slow and uninteresting. I had a hard time finding a single track that I liked. I am surprised that other reviewers rated it so highly; so I had to give my opinion, since I bought it on their recommendations. The only track I liked was the one with Nora Jones doing background, but it alone is not worth the price of the CD. For a much better compilation, check out Ultra Chilled 3, which has many great songs.

Whoa!
This is a great compilation! Every Ultra Chilled has blown me away. These albums take a few listenings to really wrap your mind around, but when you do they will be the ultimate chill out. I don't really even listen to this music very much! This supports the theory that hard-core listeners and people coming from a more mainstream taste can both enjoy this C.D.
I have Each one and they are ALL incredible.

Ultra Chilled is back
After the debacle and compilation'o'crap that was Ultra Chilled 3, I was ready to swear off the series as a great thing that had been cloned two too many times. However, the fourth installment truly dives back into ambient waters and delivers some fab music. There are a few blips on the album, but the makers have redeemed themselves. It's worth the money. ... Read more

Reviews (33)

A few future club hits mixed with some mediocre filler
For the last couple of releases, Covenant has steered away from the industrial sounding style in favor of a more synthpop/light EBM sound. The composition of many of their songs has become more simple, and their lyrics no longer possess the sentient wisdom of their older hits like Tabula Rasa and Winds Of The North. Like Apoptygma Berzerk's releases, it seems now only bits and pieces of Covenant's albums have that powerful high energy feel that we've all come to know and love. Northern Light is no different. Call The Ships To Port and We Stand Alone are awesome high bpm songs. Bullet and Invisible & Silent are good examples of Covenant's ability to produce appealing and thoughtful slower songs...but the rest of the album just lacks flavor. If you enjoyed Covenant's previous album United States Of Mind from start to finish, go ahead and get this CD (it's as good as if not better than that release). For the rest of the industrial/EBM fans out there, Northern Light is still worth a purchase for the few great club hits it does have...just don't expect a stellar experience through and through.

A fine expansion within their own sound
Northern Light is another example of how bands are pushed out of the limelight when they stop producing "sounds good on the first listen hits": the average listener with a 30 second attention span stops listening. If one were to remove the blinders that prevents one from looking for a repeat of past musical stylings, one would find a briliantly executed and focused collection of songs. Northern Light is the first venture in my opinion into a cohesive Covenant music style. If anything, it casts shadows on their previous works: making them look choppy with big club hits strung together and incongruent fillers inbetween. Why do people suffer from this preconception that bands always sounded better in the garage and then sell out when they gain recognition.
Northern Light is a beautiful example of how a band has come into its own style and sound and then taken it to the next level. Sure it doesn't have the "jump and move onto the floor" dance hits, but on a third or fourth listen to the album, one will find a matured sound that only becomes better with future playings.

This is Covenant's best album
If you are wondering which Covenant album to buy, buy this one. It's the most touching, the most beautiful by far. I love all of their albums, but this one is by far the most accessible and wonderful. The song "Invisible and Silent" is probably their best track ever.