Reviews (7)

A music for the ages, a music for life
A twist of fate would fill in the void that was left in the musical world and in the collective spirit of the Argentinian people, when a bare couple of weeks after the accidental death of tango's greatest, Carlos Gardel, Mercedes Sosa was born to bring joy and hope to the Argentinian people and the world at large.

There is not a soul on this planet (with a heart) who will not feel touched when listening to Mercedes Sosa. In particular, this compilation ("Thanks to Life") of works sung by "La Negra" will come in as a drop of healing water in these times of conflict. There is not a single song in this album that is not incredible, but "Corazon de Estudiante" (Heart of a Student), the title track (in a bresthtaking and heartfelt live rendition), "Yo Vengo a Ofrecer Mi Corazon" (from Argentina's rock maestro, Fito Paze), "Maria Maria" (translation from the Brazillian classic by Milton Nascimento) and "La Maza" (from the Cuban singer-songwriter Silvio Rodriguez) stand out as the best songs in this, one of her compilations which can be counted by the dozen these days.

Too unfortunate that the album is out of stock: my best advice to you is to grab a used copy when/if you are lucky to find one.

Mercedes Sosa THE SPANISH VOICE
She's the one of the best singers in the world. This strong argentinian will transfer you to another world with her sweet strong and powerful voice through this amazing songs! A MUST-HAVE ! Soft popular songs and also strong folk performances.

beautiful music
I had never heard of this CD when a friend gave it to me four years ago. I don't speak a word of Spanish, but I listened to it non-stop. One ugly day, I lost the CD and I was devastated because I couldn't find it anywhere. When I eventually found it, after forgetting about it for a couple of years, I put it on and it still is magnificent music. She sings so powerfully and so movingly. Buy this!

A Deep Cultural Enrichment
Her music will give you a profound sense of respect for Latin American cultures, it can transport you there as well as it can touch your soul

This is truly music from the heart for the soul.
Mercedes Sosa's songs reflect her deep empathy with the people and the more difficult years in Argentina. The songs in this album are especially heartfelt even if one doesn't understand all of the words. The feeling is there and it carries through the universal language of music. ... Read more

Album Description

1999 debut for Europop artist. 12 classical influenced tracks including 'De L'Abime Au Rivage...' and 'Spente Le Stelle' plus 3 bonus tracks 'Dolce Veneno', 'Fera Ventura' and 'Discovering Yourself'. Standard jewel case. ... Read more

Reviews (50)

Not just for opera lovers
emma Shapplin has been duly praised for her wonderful soprano voice and style; however, I believe the true strength of this album is the musc as a whole. the singing is beautiful no doubt, but it's the music and the orchestration that work so wonderfully with the voice to produce what I might call a unique sound. It's not really opera, but it combines elemnts of this artform with classical and pop. Many other singers form Sarah Brightman to Celine Dion - the latter with disastrous results - have attempted to achieve something similar, but Emma Shapplin comes closest to hitting the right note and balnce between musical genres. Apart from any technical or genre considerations, the melodies are simply beautiful, while lyrics and titles evoke a romantic passion, which though overdone at times, captures the romantic immagination. Titles such as "Cuor senza sangue" (A bloodless heart) in my mind immediately evoke the characters of Puccini. I also think that song happens to be the best one of the album and all by itself worth the price of admission. It builds with a conspicuous but soft beat into an almost Rossinian crescendo expressing pathos and optimism at the same time. It's also teh song where Emma Shapplin's voice truly shines.

Yes, it does grab your attention
Another reviewer said she heard this CD playing in the background in a shop. I discovered it in a similar way, at breakfast in a guest house in Montreal. After hearing about 10 min. of the music, I HAD to find out what album it was. Bought it that day. That night, we went to see the show "From Rock to Opera" at the Casino de Montreal - fabulous show by the way - and the opening number was "spente le stelle", track 2 of the CD. Totally blew me away; got goose bumps! One reviewer, who gave her one star, complained that Shapplin's voice was not of a certain operatic quality. Well, if you're looking for pure opera, then look someplace else. If you're looking for a CD that you'll love while you're having a lazy Sunday morning breakfast or soaking in the tub with a fine glass of wine, this is it!

Move over Sarah Brightman
I have been a fan of Madamme Emma, ever since I heard the Yomada mix of Spente in a club one night. I was immediatly entranced, and bought me the CD. Her angelic voice soars high above the music. It is an excelent album, that should be in any crossover collection. Sarah Brightman? Sarah Brightman can move over and make space for Emma Shapplin.

A hauntingly beautiful masterpiece that spellbinds
I first heard of Emma Shapplin when a friend of mine recommended her music to me. I became very interested in her and soon purchased 'Etterna'. My mother got me this for Christmas, and it was a complete suprise.

This album is a masterpiece. Emma's gorgeous, soaring vocals are supported by Gregorian chants, pop beats, soaring strings, and howling wolves. The lyrics are written in medieval Italian, adding a very romantic feel to the album. I strongly urge all fans of classical crossover to grab this. Emma is one of the best classical crossover artists out there- right up there with Sarah Brightman and Josh Groban. If you are a fan of either of these two or any other similar artists, don't miss this. My vocabulary must be limited because I have trouble finding the right words for this.

Also, make sure you grab 'Etterna', Emma's most recent release. You won't be disappointed with either. Both are wonderful masterpieces.

A breathtaking album for this first time listener
This is my first Emma Shaplin cd. I have heard of her name before and just one song (from the fifth volume in the "Buddha Bar" series). I have been awfully curious to hear more music from her. Today I found a used copy of "Carmine Meo" at my favorite record store. This was the perfect opportunity for me to check her music out. Although my music tastes leans more towards techno, goth, and industrial music, I still appreciate classical music as well as [some] opera music. After having heard one of Emma's songs and being a fan of Sarah Brightman, I knew I would enjoy Emma's music. It was just a matter of finding her music. Needless to say, I was right. I loved what I heard on "Carmine Meo". Emma Shaplin has a gorgeous soprano voice, not to mention gorgeous altogether. I find it rather ironic that as a child, I despised opera music but the older I get, I find myself enjoying a good portion of the genre (Sarah Brightman, Sasha Lazard, Operatica, Opera Babes, and Emma Shaplin). I didn't find the music on "Carmine Meo" overwhelming and bombastic as opera music can often be which turns off a lot of people such as myself. The songs were all sung beautifully by Emma. I particularly enjoyed "Favola Breve" and "Cuor Senza Sangue". "Carmine Meo" definitely converted me into an Emma Shaplin fan. I just love the cd to pieces. ... Read more

Album Description

The unparalleled celestial soundscapes that Deuter is best known for have attained an even more expansive quality with the addition of the heavenly vocal stylings of Annette Cantor. The sonic textures of voice and keyboard create a profoundly relaxing musical sanctuary. ... Read more

Reviews (2)

AWESOME!!!!!
This is the best cd i own, it takes you to a place beyond reality,it takes you to a garden and beyond, I highly recommend this to anyone who searches for peace in their life, In it's meditative trance you will be under, you will find love .

Inspiration for Meditation and Creation
Myself, living in the close neighborhood of the Garden of the Gods, in Colorado Springs, this CD kind of a special gift. Till now I could see this Garden, could feel it by touching these red rocks, could walk it, even smell it. And now, I can hear it, peaceful sounds produced by Chaitanya G. Deuter (guitar, flute, synthesizer, drums, vocal) and the heavenly angel like voice of Annette Cantor. Almost a full hour to be in "the better world". The CD itself is pretty, a soft yellow surface, a tender pink for the print. After reading the titles of the 8 music pieces, I get inspired to write a poem: "Within the Temple of Silence, Gaia dreaming - herself awake ..... hearing strong words - "Felsen im Licht" .... wishing instead for a soft vision like the Kiss of a Rose - or that she would be sprung from a Seashell - like Venus rising but now awake - all vanishing like the Wind in the trees from a distant Mountain." Wonderful ! ... Read more

Amazon.com

As electronic music has been swallowed and spit back out by conventional pop, rock, and rap artists since the 1990s, the distinctions between what is techno and what is just studio-tweaked amplified guitar rock has noticeably blurred. While not as adventurous in those explorations of trip-hop and electronic music as contemporaries like Everything but the Girl or Sneaker Pimps, Olive nevertheless display a marvelous agility integrating a conventionally charming pop-rock sense with a more modern sound. With their hearts fully planted in verse-chorus-verse formats and big, hummable choruses, they still manage to twist their songs around deep, pulsing bass lines and rhythmically motivated transitions. The result is daringly melodic and accessible, yet every time the songs threaten to become too straight for their own good, bursts of electronica around the edges spice up the mix once again. Take the first song on the record, the blissed-out "Love Affair." Rhythmic depth in the chorus accentuates a simple chorus just enough, providing the spring that catapults the melody's hook into your brain. Light drum & bass colors "I'm Not in Love," a straightforward pop song save for the herky-jerky cadences and swirling keyboards that make it sound suddenly transcendent. Detractors could see Olive's music as a dumbed-down trip-hop for the masses, more "trip-pop" than Tricky. Still, when it's done with this much panache, regardless of whether it's a move forward or a move back, it's undeniably a lovely ride. --Matthew Cooke ... Read more

Reviews (49)

Either way, a great CD.
Like most of the other reviewers of this album, I thoroughly enjoyed Olive's debut, "Extra Virgin," and I was very excited about their new one. "Trickle" grew on me quickly, and I find myself liking it immensely, at least as much as the first one.

I greet complaints that it is pop-infused and catchy with this comment: so what? If Olive is a little less out there than some of the other trip-hop/electronica groups, a little more normal and down-to-earth, maybe they have the power to make the genre more accessible to listeners. I still enjoy the adventurous ones, like Sneaker Pimps, but I don't think staying somewhat conventional is any reason to deminish Olive's excellent sophomore effort. Sneaker Pimps may be more adventurous, but their sophomore effort fell short of thier debut. Olive reprises well, building on the success of their debut to create a high-quality album.

If I could give this album 4 1/2 stars, I would, only because it lacks some of the unique dreaminess on the first album, like we heard in "Miracle," "This Time", and "Falling." It takes the direction of the more direct, catchy songs like "You're Not Alone" and "You Are Nothing." But my point is that while I enjoyed the ambient soundscapes on the first one, I also enjoyed the catchy ones.

Highlights on this album include "I'm Not in Love," "Liberty," "Push," and "Beyond the Fray." I also enjoy the other songs, and in general, find this to be an album I can listen to from beginning to end. It's fun to listen to. It's far from typical pop, and if it drifts close to synth-pop, that's fine with me.

Don't let the album cover fool you.
Yes the album cover looks much like other dance/techno bands that were one hit wonders or that were just not good, but Olive is unique and you know them when you hear them. I thought this group quit, because their debut, "Extra Virgin", came out so long ago I bought it in on cassette. I loved the first record and it had a lot of unique and memorable sounds. Ruth Ann's voice is distinguished as well. If anyone remembers the hit "You're not alone", that was Olive. Their sound hasnt changed to drastically with Trickle. I'm glad they made another album. It sounds good, Olive stands out in the field of dance music. There is obviously way too much dance/pop so its good that there are groups that still make it with intelligence and emotion (Pet Shop Boys, Everything But the Girl, Olive, Moby, Underworld, etc.)

A different kind of love
Yes, this is different then Olive's first album, Extra Virgin. Do I love it any less? Do I love it any more? No. I simply love it differently.

While Extra Virgin was very much rooted in eccletic drum-n-bass beats, Trickle is more of a pop trip-hop affair .... one, i might add, composed beautifully. Ruth Ann's voice, once again, is deliciously palpable; I can think of few vocals as lucious and sweet as hers. The melodies in Trickle are more agreeable to airplay. Some may regard the new sound as more commercialized, but I humbly suggest these people are missing the finer points of this album. This is a marginally more up-beat album, and Olive makes no apologies for shedding some (note: not all) of the darker melodies of Extra Virgin. Their emotive expression has been perfectly preserved in slightly altered form; the lyrics of Trickle are more articulate, Ruth Ann's voice more refined, arrangements more calculated.

The bottom line is the beauty of Olive's first child is not lost on me with their new creation. Different? Without question (although not to the degree some reviewers here have expressed or implied). But Trickle must still be regarded as a beautiful album .... one that may likely appeal to a bigger audience then did Extra Virgin. Nothing wrong with that.

It's a different band.
I always thought Extra Virgin was very unique and it really captured my attention on every song. It's hard to explain, but in essence it was a beautiful masterpiece. Trickle is not that great when you compare it to Extra Virgin, but it is catchy. It seems like they really didn't explore sound possibilites on this one and instead tried to play it safe by not going out on a limb. All I can say is....listen to Extra Virgin and then to Trickle, you'd think it was a different band all together except for the voice.

"I would have definitley done this differently"
It is obvious that this band really doesn't have what it takes outside of there Drum N Bass attempts/collaborations. This isn't a Trip Hop album this is a POP album that is extremeley boring. There are no stand out beats with the exception of "Love Affair and The Single" Which I forgot the name of! This is the most middle of the road lack of soul or creative effort I have ever heard! This guy obviously doesn't listen to alot of different types of music. If I had to guess his cd collection consist odf mostly techno and rock/country music. Most Trip Hoppers offer a variety of influences in there music. This sounds like the Natalie Imbruglia of Trip Hop! This is O.K, but I would have done it differently, everything with the exception of the two tracks I mentioned would have been the first to go! And I just would have started over again and worked with some other people! Run from this, unless you like bland Pop, this album is the biggest Turkey in Trip Hop next to Morcheeba's generic latest attempts!

Try

Airlock-drystarr
Mandalay-Empathy and Solace
Lamb - What Sound

Mono-Formica blues ... Read more

Reviews (7)

My First Goth CD...
This was the first real goth cd I actually bought. I'd heard of a few of the bands on it from hanging around the Chamber and the Vault in Atlanta, but I'd never actually gone out and bought a CD like this one. I'm very glad I did! Previously, I had been into Type O Negative, KMFDM, Wumpscut, and the like, however this was an excellent choice to showcase more of the "pure" goth sound, instead of the industrial/metal point of view that I had previously enjoyed.
This CD had me at hello, with the poppy intro of "Eccentricity" by Magenta. I was certainly not expecting to hear something that sounded like it had crawled out of the 80's, however after 5 seconds I knew EXACTLY what gothic synthpop was. This song is truly a diamond in the rough. The next song, by "Slave" by Trance To The Sun is kind of whiny and freeform. Think of it as being the musical equivalent of one of those modern paintings...at least it makes sense to someone, right! After that comes "Vision in Black" by Advent Sleep. I like it when goth has organs in it, just because I like the sound of them, and if you're into the "organ" thing then you won't be disappointed here. Great song. Machine In The Garden offer up a great tune to keep the ball a rollin', and some really Ethereal stuff comes next (I'm not a big fan, but I really enjoy the selections here.) The next highlight here is Gossamer's "Run". Dark and dancable all in one. Definitely made for the clubs, and with amazing lyrics to boot. Jennifer Hope checks in somewhere in this part of the first disc too, her song, "The Sky Is Blushing" is amazing. "The Sky Is Blushing" is a must have for long airplane rides, looking out over the clouds and listening to this song is an unreal experience, if you don't believe in God, you probably will after you try this. Moving right along, the next selection worth mention is "My Sweet Nothing" by Second Skin. This song is simply amazing. Move over Andrew Lloyd Webber, because Second Skin just wrote a new ending for Phantom of the Opera! "Do You Believe In Angles" by The Last Dance is the next song. This song has amazing lyrics and a dancy beat. This is probably the closest to happy goth you'll ever get, and the guitars are a nice touch here, too.
The second disc begins with a song by Rhea's Obsession called "When I Was In My Prime". In all honestly, I haven't listened to this song all the way through in the 2 years I've owned the disc, so I can't really say much about it. I've listened to the intro a few times though, and they did a great job with that. "Crucifixion" by Spiritual Bats is an interesting track. It's kind of similar to the Advent Sleep track on disc one, but the singer has some kind of an accent. It could be spanish or european, I'm not sure, but it's a nice touch to a great song. "Restraining Order" by [someone] Williams comes next, it's only a minute or so long, and this is one of the only weak points on the album. This guy sounds like he's begging the gothic crowd to tell him he has a good voice. Anyway, next is Android Lust. She is simply amazing. This is a very very hard dance track with a melody that sounds like the song from "Unsolved Mysteries", only alot more spooky. If you're into cyberpunkish type of stuff this is right up your alley, definitely one of the high points of the record. The next honorable mention is "Il Regno Del Vento" by Burning Gates zips right along, and the next goodie is "Butterfly" by Tapping The Vein. Intersting lyrics and incredibly strong female vox give this dark grunge band a well earned spot on this disc's roster. Diary of Dreams show up with "You -Das You", a dancy track with some good mixing of instruments and great vocals. Bella Morte have an organ laden somber dance romp with "Funeral Night", which is another highlight of the CD. Bella Morte is definetly going places. The only problem with this track is the consistent use of a cowbell, but you only really notice it until you've listened to the song 1000 times like I have. Some instrumental Lycia-ish thing closes out the record, and is, again, a song I haven't listened to all the way through yet.
The bottom line is: Get this CD! I got it at Newbury Comics in Boston for 7 bucks. You can't beat that. It's priced very well, and well worth the price. This is a great who's who (also a great what's what if you're a newbie like I was) of gothic/darkwave/and ethereal music. This opened some new doors for me musically, and I'm definitely glad I took a chance on it!

Yes!
wanting to listen to something different from my usual extreme metal tastes, i tried this album out of pure curiosity. a double album for 11$ so there's nothing much to lose here. with that in mind, i pushed the play button. a couple of hours later came the verdict (please check the rating). I barely know about no more than 2 bands out of the 32 featured on this compilation but at least 20 of them can make some really awesome music; a quite high "quality material" ratio for a compilation. this is goth, alright, but it might be closer to a blend of dark pop and techno then to the usual "Gothic" flavor of Type o negative and the likes but still this is an essentially dark music playing here and it's sure to satisfy any gloomy-minded sicko like me.

Unquiet Grave
The CDs are both quite diverse in the music they present, but lack a certain something. Call it consistency, call it progession from one track to the next, I can't quite place it, but something came up missing for me. While some of the tracks are very, VERY good, those that are not worth the time aren't quite paid for by those that are.

Alright, Cleopatra - you NAILED it with this one
One of the best dark music samplers of the year. The low price almost seems like a mistake, but it's a terrific deal. This comp will probably jump-start three or four of the bands featured. All in a slipcase that's the same size as a regular CD (I LOVE convenient packaging!)

Instead of using up all the good songs halfway through disc 1, they're well spaced. Magenta's "Eccentricity" opens the comp with a gothed-out ABBA sound. Trance to The Sun follows up with "Slave," which sounds like Lycia doing heavy metal. Advent Sleep approaches "overgoth" with "Vision in Black." Nearly all the songs are catchy enough that you can remember them a week later. Other standouts include Black Atmosphere's semi-goofy "Love Lies Bleeding (Part Two)."

It gets ethereal with Stone 588's "Mundus Vult Decipi," Ctrl's head-scratcher "Lioc," and Jennifer Hope's gentle "The Sky is Blushing." (She's not a great singer yet, but there's a sweet innocence to her sound.) Gossamer's Depeche Mode-ish "Run (Wayne Hussey Mix)" is a deathpop gem. Brave move not to open the album with this track. Every Wiccan ceremony should start with the harpsichord beauty of Autumn Tears' "This, My Melancholic Masquerade." Second Skin's rocker "Sweet Nothing" sounds like Fields of The Nephilim. The Last Dance's "Do You Believe in Angels" is like Gossamer's "Run," but about 5% cheesier. The Unquiet Void's "Breathing Liquid Breath" is watery and cavernous; it would have fit perfectly on Lycia's "Ionia."

Rhea's Obsession starts disc 2 with the metal guitar ballad "When I Was in My Prime." Spiritual Bats' "Crucifixion" is officially "overgoth." Android Lust's "Heathen (A Thousand Thoughts)" is a perfect blend of scary whispered vocals, cinematic keyboards and a hard dance beat. Italian band Burning Gates' "Il Regno del Vento" is Nephilim with a side of marinara sauce. Soon after that comes one of the best songs:
"Butterfly." Tapping The Vein tricks you with a Switchblade Symphony-style opening, then punches you right in the face with an intense, shrieking heavy metal chorus. Just awesome. Funeral in Berlin has an echoey, mellow goth feel on "Suspense." If The Police had done a goth tune, you'd have Written in Ashes' "Nightfeast." Alchemia's "An Explained World" closes disc 2 much like "Breathing Liquid Breath," like fog moving over heated water.

When Cleopatra gets it right, you get samplers like this one or "The Black Bible." Two more Unquiet Grave sets have come out, but this one is still the best.

Unearthing The Gems
CD: The Unquiet Grave Vol. I
Band: Various Artists
Reviewed By: Mike Ventarola

The Unquiet Grave compilation released by Cleopatra Records remains one of the most important body of works to own in for fans of the gothic,darkwave and ethereal genres. This decently priced 2 CD set was painstakingly brought together with the utmost care for all details.

The Hugh Gilmour graphics which grace the cover as well as the separate slip box that encases the set, is a gorgeous work of art. It has subtle lavender hues covering a photo negative-like image to provide a feeling of ghostly mystery.
As for the discs themselves, 32 different bands are featured here that are stellar performers in their own right.

The majority of these bands are at the forefront of the dark music underground and continue to work at their craft to provide fans great sounds to accompany our lives.
Despite the fact that none of these bands receive any royalties for this disc, it remains a showcase of their talent to hopefully garner more attention from industry insiders as well as generate more public attention. These are the creators of our dark musical future.

Usually this reviewer compiles a track by track listing and analysis to broaden the expanse of the song itself and the artist's work. Due to space constraints and the amount of songs that are included in this disc, this is not entirely possible.
Anyone who is an avid consumer of dark music will recognize at least a dozen or so of the bands listed. The CD insert also provides web site information for the bands to further review their works individually.

Over the last few months, a lot of gripes were played out on the net regarding the sorry state of affairs regarding many compilations on the market. This is not ONE of them.
Cleopatra is to be applauded for their scope and foresight to feature the bands of the do-it-yourself genre. The dark music underground is primarily a market that is based upon word of mouth advertising, whose scope reaches all across the globe.

Purchasing this disc is not only a vote for the bands, it is also a vote to explore many other unsigned bands who really have great music to provide who do not receive corporate machine sponsoring. These bands function fully out of the expense of their own pocket to showcase their talent to help keep the dark music genre alive.

As the purchasing public, we owe it to all the bands on this disc to seek out their other works to let them know we appreciate the great music they are making. ... Read more

Reviews (6)

SO OLD and SOOO GOOOD!!!!!!
It's the first and the best DJ Krush lp of the lot!! Sorry if you don't agree, but, you're WRONG!!!! The instrumentals are the sweetest! As for BIG CITY LOVER..... well I'm sorry but there hasn't been a tune like it in quite some time. I think McKAY's Lp has just taken the lead on vocals!!! YOU NEED THIS ALBUM!!!

Missed it first time but won't get away this time
Well, I somehow managed to miss out on this when it was initially released but then I finally took the plunge. I got DJ Shadow's Endtroducing and chatted with a colleague at work about this CD but until now I never possesed it or rather it didn't posses me. I knew a number of tracks on it like Big City Lover which I have always enjoyed but the music is varied and certainly great for your collection. I can regret not having it in the past but now I have it there is only bliss to look forward to.

Krush's best...
There is no doubt that this album is one of Krush's best works. With a sound unique from the rest of his stuff, "Krush" gives you a taste of DJ Krush's early vibes. Jazzy, headnodding beats perfect for chilled, late night hours. The creativity put into the production and sequencing is flawless, giving birth to a perfect combination of downtempo, dub, and hiphop mixed with just enough jazz to call it smooth. Also check out the "HipJapHop Project", "ColdKrushCuts", and "Strictly Turntablized" for more of DJ Krush's best sounds. Headphones recommended...

The Greatest CD I have ever owned
I don't know of any other artist who has been able to master the art of blending tranditional jazzy horns and electronic beats as well as Krush does. He has a way of doing it with an almost ethnic flavor thats hard to discribe.

Anyone who has listened to this CD has fallen in love with it. DJ Krush's other stuff is great, but this is exponetially better then his, or any other Acid Jazz artist.

LOVED IT !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
I was managing one of the top salons in the washington,dc area when I was introduced to Acid Jazz by a co-worker and friend. I was in charge of setting the mood of the salon so that it wasn't offensive or way too much dance music. I went to a Record Store and the guy there recommended DJ KRUSH. His music is so "CHILLED-OUT". I was amazed and shocked that Acid Jazz is such a Hot Sound that is not so commen on the radio. It has it's own groove. DJ KRUSH is SO!! AMAZING !! Everyone can listen to him without making too much to do about nothing. I have since then been a devoted fan. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

In the late 1980s, as American house and techno imports flooded Britain and the Acid House movement was sweeping the nation, brothers Paul and Phil Hartnoll were busy building Britain's own interpretation of the sound. Named for the illegal "Orbital" raves taking place on London's M1, they dragged their equipment from party to party, playing live PAs of their homegrown dance music to enthusiastic crowds of revelers. Their 1990 single "Chime" was (and still is) the anthem of many a British raver, and their self-titled 1991 debut remains a classic. Opening with the exquisite mid-tempo anthem "Belfast," and containing the "Chime," "Satan," and "Fahrenheit 303" singles, this album captures the innocence and energy of the nascent rave scene. --Matthew Corwine ... Read more

Reviews (27)

is everyone COLOUR-BLIND? this is YELLOW, not green!
Orbital's first.. what can i say? this is a fun record to listen to.. very housey and trippy. there's only one disappointment: 'Desert Storm'. why is this track 12 minutes long?? it's not excellent either, but even without that song, the album is amazing. now i have the UK version, which has the better tracks ('High Rise' is a must, and the live versions of 'Chime' and 'Midnight' are longer and have a greater presence; 'Steel Cube Idolaty' is very trippy. finally, the secret track, 'I Think It's Disgusting' is quite intriguing..) plus, there's Orbital's usual chill-out-song-with-abstract-female-vocals (which ALWAYS works!), 'Belfast'. Orbital is the best music on Earth.

Very good
It's just not the Orbital I'm used to. The album, also known as the 'Green Album', is actually a collection of singles and tracks made from 1989 to 1991. I don't want to be taken wrongly - this is a good album. There are 'Satan', 'Chime', 'Belfast' and 'Midnight'. These are great songs that are "carrying" the Orbital trademark that the latter albums have. And taking a closer listen, well... it doesn't have the emotions and the "atmospheric landscape sound" of like, let's say 'In-Sides' and 'Orbital 2'.

If you're an Orbital fan and don't have the 'Green Album', than don't hesitate for a minute - this is a must have, so you'll be able to listen to the early sound (late 80's/early 90's) of Orbital's work. But not a good place for a start; rather than this get the two albums I mentioned earlier ('I-S' and 'O2') to get the full listening pleasure of the ethereal music of the Hartnoll brothers.

AI is a fan of Orbital
I just chatted with the Artificial Intelligence engine "ZolaOnAOL" on the AOL Instant Messaging network... It turns out that Zola, the AI friend, is a fan of Orbital, particularly "Chime" ;-)

I guess it's a preference from one of its authors, but fun to mention anyway...

In the beginning
Although this album has some moments that are less than exciting, people should realise that the US version includes Chime, Satan and Belfast, which are 3 of electronic music's best known anthems. In general the album mirrors the house/rave scene that the band were emerging from. They were to grow up to be the one electronic band that commanded respect, both in the studio and in their live shows, from every part of the music media.
This album is the start of a very special band indeed.

Orbital's debut album and very patchy
It can be superb in parts, for example the classic 'Chime' and the superb 'Belfast' but the majority of the other tracks show a group in its early phase, forming new and better ideas to come.

For fans of the group it is a must have. I wouldn't recommend it for an introduction to the music of Orbital for new listeners. Try 'Insides' and 'Snivilisation' first. ... Read more

Amazon.com essential recording

Long before music marketers coined the term ambient to describe ethereal electronic music that's too slow to dance to, Moby had already written several songs that fit nicely into this genre. They are included, along with newer material, on this album. Moby's more conventional song structures will appeal to those who find Robert Fripp and Brian Eno's experimentation unpalatable. "Myopia" is a good representation of Moby's ability to write accessible ambient music that never strays too far into the abstract. --Beth Bessmer ... Read more

Reviews (21)

Disqualified for danceability
Pretense: Not to suggest that Moby doesn't know what ambient music is (nor especially that I do), but this is simply not in tune to the accepted norm. If this exemplifies ambient, then every softer electronic act in existence could also be included. Every time a beat invades, or one feels the urge to get up and dance, a true ambient listener should cringe.

But on to content...This was apparently compiled quickly. This album cheats the listener out of 25 minutes of ambience that ANY other would deliver. With so many tracks, many are mere 30-second vignettes which are nice, but over before they begin. Another unmet standard is the sustained 10-minute epic. Few here last five minutes. There are highlights, such as the exquisite piano/synthwave combo on the third track, but they are almost overshadowed by tracks better suited to the s/t release. Indeed, tracks like "Mercy", "Slight Return", and "Stream" should be here instead. Popular artists as the Aphex Twin have properly interpreted the name, producing massive releases that almost no one can stand (i.e. SAWv.2). Whether Moby was above or below that, I leave to your decision.

One who buys this buys the name of the artist...NOT the name of the album. Any strictly ambient artist who released a fifty-minute album of "abstract dance" would either be ignored or chastized for contaminating the purely ethereal genre. The Amazon review correctly separates this from the Fripp/Eno stockpile, but for more accessible stuff that better fits the label, one should try a full(er)-length effort by (among others I've never heard of) Global Communication, Terre Thaemlitz, FSOL, Loop Guru, The Black Dog (and so on). Get more for ambience for your dollar and look elsewhere. Moby enthusiasts, nonetheless, will feel right at home with this. I enjoyed it.

Beautiful, Not Like Play
This album is a collection of beautiful ambient tracks (hence the title). It's pretty old, but it blows his newer stuff out of the water. Recommended for people who like his mellow songs and were completely disappointed by Play. This is the best one that I've heard so far and it's a necessity for any Moby fan.

My favorite MOBY album
Sure MOBY's albums; PLAY, I LIKE TO SCORE, EVERYTHING IS WRONG, 18, are all pretty good...But no song consistently mesmorizes me(In a good way)like the song HEAVEN does....I focus on one single instrument as the rest of the instruments play around it.. It's an awesome song.. The rest of the songs are good..I hope MOBY does another HEAVEN like song... Then I will have two mesmorizing songs instead of just one...

So what, it's not ambient
blasphemy! he called a chill-out album ambient! STONE HIM! STONE HIM!!!!! HERETIC!

you people are losers. ok, it's not quite pure ambient, not in the smallest sense, but does that make it bad?
no.
what if the album was renamed, say, myopia. would that make you hardcore freaks happy?
what are you, the pharisees of ancient israel? stray just a bit, and you are a hertic? get over it.
try to review the music for what it is, rather than what the album was named.

Disappointing outing for Moby
I'm a huge fan of Moby. I own Moby, I Love to Score, Everything is Wrong, Animal Rights, Play and 18. I love them all with a passion. I love to chill out with Play & 18, and get dancing with Moby. Sadly, I didn't enjoy this.
Probably the most major problem I have is the title.
I call Brian Eno's The Drop Ambient. This album isn't ambient. The music is quite jarring, and isn't soothing like play and 18.

Probably the most interesting thing about this album is the cover. It's the first time I've seen Moby properly with hair. ;) ... Read more

Amazon.com

Tom Findlay and Andy Cato have steadily been dismantling their chill-out crown ever since the single "At the River" floated them into coffee-table ubiquity. Love Box finally stretches the duo's eclectic tastes beyond any semblance of continuity or restraint, finishing the job started on last year's Goodbye Country (Hello Nightclub). Named after Groove Armada's bimonthly London club night, the duo's fourth album captures the excitement and diversity of pace you would expect from a masterful DJ set. While the opening track, "Purple Haze," doesn't have a sniff of Hendrix's majestic histrionics, it is certainly Groove Armada's most rock & roll moment to date. Neneh Cherry lends her sultry voice to the lusty funk-fuelled hip-hop of "Groove Is On" and the urban soul of "Think Twice," and "Remember," with its languorous beat and swirling effects, nods toward their downbeat prime. Feisty dance-floor shakers are here in force,though. "Madder," mixing the raps of MC M.A.D. with a pulsating bass and itchy guitar hook, kicks hard, and "The Final Shakedown" is an undiluted house anthem, albeit with a feisty ragga vocal. But one of the most surprising tracks is the rich, soul-drenched sophistication of "Hands of Time," a gorgeous reflection on love lost featuring the spine-tingling voice of Woodstock folk legend Richie Havens. Love Box is a disarmingly eclectic album, its infectious, maverick, party spirit defying preconceptions. --Christopher Barrett ... Read more

Reviews (27)

Armada's Best?
I bought this having heard none of the singles--I've been hooked on Groove Armada since the beginning. This record is such a mish-match of musical styles that at first listen, I wasn't sure what to think. But listening over and over has caused me to truly appreciate the changes and experiements in their sound. Don't be sad--there is still some mellow chillout ("Remember") and awesome dance ("Lovebox")--but the rock influence is nothing to sneeze at either. It's definitely a funky album, and I think it's my favorite from GA.

Groove Armada is Back! (And They Brought Neneh With Them)
In my mind, "Love Box" pales a wee bit in comparison to its 2001 predecessor, "Goodbye Country (Hello Nightclub)," but that doesn't mean Groove Armada's latest isn't noteworthy. It is. They bring on the funk on smooth cuts like the aptly named "Groove Is On," and they spin the disco ball on house-ed up jams like "Final Shakedown," "Easy," and the title track. But for me, "Love Box" is a noteable record because it marks the return of the gone-but-mostly-forgotten Neneh Cherry, who lends her voice on the piano-laced slow jam "Think Twice." But there's no need to "think twice" about getting this disc. Groove Armada have been leaders in smart, beat-heavy electro pop, and they've released a party of an album worth crashing. Open the "box," and jump in.

SOOOOOO good!
I love this CD. I love it for driving and I love it for loving. It's so grovy and funky. Very recomened!

Too much variety but still allright
Groove Armada never stops surprising me. They always have a tendency to make each and every song to sound diffrent from each other. They lack a special sound, but a few songs are really fun. This album got my attention after i heard "But i feel good" which is a fast catchy "in a happy mood" dance song, unfortunately no other songs are like that. A few songs are even close to rock, some hip hop with rap and some have lyrics and are very slow. "Final Shakedown" is a funky number, it's soul inspired with a dance sound. "Hands of time" is good but it's pure soul, more dance groove would make it better. "Easy" is undoubtly one of the highlights though and it was nominated for best dance recording. It's soulish but with a dance sound, awesome. The album got a bit too much variety, but it got it's moements and it's a decent album, some more dance sound would be a impovement though.

Very groovy: picks up where 'Goodbye Country...' left off
After the incredible 'Goodbye Country (Hello Nightclub)' the dynamic duo came back with an album that reverberates as funkier in the early stages, much in the same fashion as their counterpart DJ duo Basement Jaxx did with their latest production. However, in spite of the very soulful (perhaps groovy, should I say?) opening of the album, it has to be said that the general trend of the album picks up where their previous production left off. A good example of this are the contagious track #6, "Final Shakedown" and #8, "Hands of Time" were Richie Havens once again lent his beautiful voice to complement the Armada's work. My favorite track, hands down, is the album's closer... Pure Groove Armada.

Though it might come accross as a demanding rating, I 'only' give it four stars, because they sound very much like they did 2-3 years ago, in spite of today's evolving dance scene. There are traces of evolution, however for the most part, they got stuck in a safe place, where they know that the public will continue to love them. But don't dismiss it as a bad album! Far from that: I'd much rather stick with an average Groove Armada album (not that this is the case) than most of the dance music out there, but I know these guys have more to give than a 'Love Box'. For sure I will stay tuned for their next production. ... Read more

Album Description

Gabin's mixture of chill out, jazz and house is certain toappeal to fans of St. Germain, Dimitri From Paris, Kruder & Dorfmeister, as well as to consumers of the Verve Remixed,Hotel Costes, Cafe Del Mar and Buddha Bar collections.Astralwerks. 2002. ... Read more

Reviews (8)

Not as good as Thievery Corporation
Some songs are more inspired than others: I heard Gabin vs. Cal's Bluedo in the music store and bought the album, but some parts of the CD are just plain cheezy. The beginning of La Maison and Mille et Une Nuit des Desires are boring, elevator-music-ish crap-ola. But overall, it's groovin.

A perfect gem!
This is one those RARE CDs where every song is a perfect gem. If you like the titles that are recommended because they're "like this" -- then you'll LOVE this one. I gave a copy to a friend who is a school teacher and she said how she would rush to get in her car at the end of the day to switch this on because "it feels like climbing into a warm, relaxing bath." Plus, it has a great mix of medium- and fast-tempo tunes too--all winners!!!

GABIN'S GOT THAT SWANG!!!
I discovered "Gabin" after buying the renowned "Hotel Costes" series, volume 5 to be specific, and let me say that I was immediately hooked on these guys after hearing their rendition of "Doo Uap, Doo Uap, Doo Uap!" After looking up "Gabin" on the internet and discovering they had a CD out, I had to get it. Of course, local record stores didn't have it in stock (how did I know this?), so I had to purchase it from the illustrious Amazon.com "winkwink!" It came in the mail a few days ago and it hasn't left my CD player(s) yet! Filippo Clary and Max Bottini do an extraordinary job of mixing various styles of music from house, to jazz, to bossa nova, to funk and "swang!" "Une Histoire d'Amoure" is absolutely beautiful with a sense of summer fun--it's so good to hear male vocals for a change, even if they are in French. "Doo Uap, Doo Uap, Doo Uap" is my absolute favorite on this set. Gabin does the legendary Duke Ellington justice, just listen to those vocals and that alto sax! "BLOW, DADDY, BLOW!" Other songs of note are the bossa nova groove, "Sweet Sadness" with haunting male vocals and flawless strings and piano accompaniments. "Mille et Une Nuit des Desires" featuring Ana Carril Obiols is outstanding with a beat that is guaranteed to get you moving. If only I had taken French in college!! "Urban Nights" is a late night favorite of mine, sure to get all the lovers in the house ready for romance. And the sex...uhh, I mean, sax is awesome!! "Azul Anil" is yet another stand out track on this CD...the intro makes you think it's going to be a downtempo groove but a minute later it breaks out into one of the best house beats I've heard in a while!! All in all, "Gabin" will make a nice addition to any music lovers CD collection, especially if you're craving originality, creativity, excellent mixing and production...a quality many artists these days are seriously lacking.

Yummy!
Gabin is definitely an incredible find. This album is much much better than I expected. It's sophisticated, sexy and an absolute hit with my friends.

purrfet
if you want a fusion of jazz, swing, breakbeats,sexy house, groove...this is the album to get...it's just one of those albums that you just have got to have be it for juz lounging around or when you are in the process of cheating ur partner....if you get what i mean....it's juz purrfet.. ... Read more

Amazon.com

Composer Chip Davis projects the image of a sentimental, amiable fellow. And his easy-listening instrumental pop music (embellished with lite-classical accents), made famous by his bestselling Mannheim Steamroller Christmas recordings, closely mirrors those qualities. On Romantic Melodies, Davis (with periodic contributions from the London Symphony) creates a subdued disc that meanders for 52 minutes in search of a spark that never ignites. Davis's low-key melodies are pleasant enough, but in most cases, they're too simplistic to achieve much emotional depth. "Dancin' in the Living Room," for example, a tepid, sax-based attempt to capture the romantic charms of everyday life, sounds like something hatched by your cousin's wedding-reception band.

Things improve on the disc's second half with such tracks as "Chakra 4" (with its David Arkenstone-like rhythmic sheen) and the classical-flavored "Seven Stars of the Big Dipper." For romance, though, you could do better seeking out early releases from pianist Jim Brickman such as No Words, By Heart, and Picture This.--Terry Wood ... Read more

Reviews (10)

"romance can take on many forms in our lives"
Always following his basic instincts, Chip Davis never looks back but only to the horizon. This time the horizon is "Romantic Melodies", reminiscent of watching loved ones, birds in flight against a beautiful sky, standing before a forest of trees exploring what life is about and what is beyond. In my opinion, some of the most beautiful melodies ever written and performed by the Mannheim. Many cues begin with a light piano, percussion and moving strings---absolutely brilliant compositions.

Perhaps his greatest collection thus far, Mannheim Steamroller contains moments of quiet and almost dream-like cues, with driving rhythms mixed with counterpoints that lend to drifting over a beautiful sunset---seeing life for the very first time. Take for instance the opening track "SERENITY", blending and interwoven arrangements beautifully performed by Davis and the Mannheim gang. Chip sets his standards to the highest level with every composition---his impeccable inner feelings come through, which is the mainstay to all his fans.

Mr. Davis latest endeavor has captured the hearts of people who love good music. Found this album to be a tremendous help in my well being and state of mind. Life is so short on this planet of ours, time moves so fast we miss out on so much. When listening to "THE SIGN OF LOVE", gradually sink into total relaxation going back gently to reality, holding memories of long ago precious. Another cue is "TEARDROPS, RAINDROPS", rain as background mixes, plus the piano and synthesizers recapture the timeless moments of the past---as the listener appreciates the removable of thoughts from everyday events and concern.

As Chip has said..."Romance is in many forms in our lives". To many of us romance is falling in love, having someone tell you that you're special, holding hands with someone you care about, spending time with close friends and making new ones. And finally "Romantic Melodies", transform listeners whose "friends are quiet angels who lift us to our feet when our wings have trouble remembering how to fly". What wonderful Valentines we've become, thanks to our friends from Mannheim Steamroller.

Total Time 52:57 on 12 Tracks ~ American Gramaphone AG214-2 ~ (01/21/2003)

Great if all you know is their Christmas stuff
As other reviewers have mentioned, the great majority of these tracks were previously released. But many folks only have exposure to Chip Davis and Mannheim Steamroller through their Christmas music. If you fit that category, you'll enjoy this direction, which is a series of lush, romantic melodies. It's indeed a very soothing disc and makes for great background music at quiet, candlelight dinners. The sequencing is very good, as one track merges nearly seamlessly with the next. Highly recommended.

Romantic Musical Adventure with Chip and The 'Roller
This is collection of Davis' romantic melodies from other CD's and some added for this.

Especially fond of the beautiful oboe on "Bittersweet," "The Sign of Love," and "Nephenthe."

There is variety here, from some big-band type in "Slo Dancin' in the Living Room" for Chip's mom to nature inspired pieces of "Moonlight at Cove Castle" and "The Seven Stars of the Big Dipper."

Good mood music to set tone or just for enjoyable backdrop. These also make great special occasion pieces, as notes suggest some have even used at weddings, etc.

Steamroller fan
If you are a Mannheim Steamroller fan, like I am, you will love this CD. Even if you aren't a fan, this is a very easy to listen to CD.

Good "best of..."
Chp Davis don't have any new complete record, from FA8 (it doesn't include the summer song and bird song records, most ambient than music. This one is onlya a compilation, if you have a FA and Chip collection, don't buy it. If you don't have any, buy it, is good.

1. Serenity: Impressions
2. Sunday Morning Breeze: Sunday Morning Coffe II
3. Bittersweet: Summer song
4. Slo Dancin' in the Living Room: Romance II
5. Kanbai: Romance I

6. The Sign of Love: Impressions
7. Teardrops, Raindrops: Summer song
8. Chakra 4: FA7
9. Amber: FA3
10. The Seven Stars of the Big Dipper: FA7
11. Moonlight at Cove Castle: Unreleased
12. Nepenthe: FA6 ... Read more

Amazon.com

One of the true marks of a horror artist is to create something that is at once completely terrifying and utterly fascinating. It's not about blood, guts, and gore, as anyone who's ever seen Psycho could tell you, but about suspense, story, and the characters themselves. Edgar Allan Poe's stories rank as some of the greatest horror ever written--and that's before the likes of Iggy Pop, Diamanda Galás, Abel Ferrara, and Christopher Walken (chilling, as he reads from "The Raven") got their hands--er, voices--on Poe's words. This two-disc compilation is a success if only for treating Poe's texts in the right manner, with subtle backing music and sounds and restrained, ominous performances from the readers (other fine readings come from Ken Nordine, Dr. John, and Jeff Buckley). One reason for the album's quality may be producer Hal Willner; if you enjoy this, you might also want to check out his work on Weird Nightmare: Meditations on Mingus, The Carl Stalling Project, Vol. 1, and Spare Ass Annie. --Randy Silver ... Read more

Reviews (14)

An Amazing Tribute to Poe
If you are a Poe fan, this is a must for your collection. The title, taken from a recent theory that Poe died of rabies contracted after a dog bite, is just the beginning of the creativity behind these CDs. Christopher Walken's reading of "The Raven" is second only to Vincent Price. Iggy Pop's rendition of "A Tell-Tale Heart" is chilling, to say the least, and is definitely worth getting the CDs for. I love listening to the stories and poems on a regular basis, and have a great time setting up the fog machine and blasting these CDs from my stereo on Halloween.

I also use this in my classroom every year. Poe, in general, is great for helping resistant students discover a love of literature and this CD is specifically responsible for creating readers out of some of my most unwilling students. While I am not too fond of the musical tracks on these CDs, my students enjoy them very much and they have inspired some of them to set Poe's work to their own music. All in all, I truly feel as if I've gotten my money's worth from these CD's and find them to be both enjoyable and useful.

Reinvigorating a tormented soul
This is a mixed bag all right, the most egregious negatives being perpetual freak-fringe figure Ed Sanders' ostenisble "songs", and Abel Ferrara's too-jokey "Raven". But -oh- Dr. John's reading of "Berenice" is sheer magic. This underrated tale in the Poe canon, of incestuous necrophile dental obsession is totally buoyed by the swampy southern stylings of music and voice. It's perhaps the best recording of a Poe story ever, and I'm a huge fan of the Vincent Price/Basil Rathbone recordings of the 1960s. Ken Nordine could read a cereal box and make it sound good; I wish he had a longer selection on this CD-set. Marrianne Faithfull croaks out "Alone" with that special vocal quality that only years of smoke, whiskey and drug abuse can engender. It's all peaks and valleys - but what peaks!

What a spectacular period seven assembly this could be!!
These kinds of tribute albums are always tricky, even when they are just dealing with a musician's body of work. What Hal Willner has done on this two-CD set is amazing, though. To try to collect the pieces from Edgar Allan Poe's eclectic catalog of stories and poetry, find the write artists to read, sing, and/or interpret those works, and then to package it all appropriately was a major feat. Every track is not a five-star work, but the collection earns the five stars for sheer effort and uniqueness. From the cover art by Ralph Steadman, appropriately weird and spooky-looking, to the fabulous liner notes by Charles Baudelaire and Willner, himself, this CD set has been an indispensable part of my Grade 11 English (American Literature) curriculum since its release.

Everyone is going to have his or her favorite tracks/stories/poems, but here are mine:
1. Gabriel Byrne reading "The Masque of the Red Death" -- great accent, cool music and background noises; nicely understated, Byrne lets the story tell itself.
2. Diamanda Galas reading "The Black Cat" -- smoking five packs a day does pay off for some people. . . . I almost wet my pants when I first heard her read the opening line of the story.
3. Dr. John reading "Berenice" -- not the typical Poe selection, very cool New Orleans accent and grovely voice.
4. Iggy Pop reading "The Tell-Tale Heart" -- classic story, great voice and interpretation.
5. Marianne Faithfull reading "Alone" -- again, great voice and creepy effects.

I'm leaving out Ken Nordine, Jeff Buckley, and Christopher Walken, all of whom turn in outstanding performances.

Weak points aside, this CD earns five stars for the total package. The cover art is very cool, the liner notes are very interesting and informative, the sound production is superb, and a vast majority of the renditions maximize Poe's eccentricities and creepy weirdness. The musical artists and actors put themselves somewhat at risk with these alternative performances, and their risks pay off big time! If you are a fan of Poe, this is a must-have CD set. If you are a fan of any of the performers, you likely won't be disappointed either. If you are just a fan of creative and alternative works, this is well worth a try. Everybody wins!

Rythm, mesmerizing
What makes Poe's poetry so gripping? It is not the words themselves, but rather the rythm and beat they create. His poems are just begging to be read and these cd's do just that. A great piece of work.

chilling
I'm a huge Jeff Buckley and Poe fan, so I HAD to have this. His reading of "Ulalume" is excellent, his speaking voice is just as beautiful as his singing voice. Christopher Walken's take on "The Raven" is spooky, but what else would you expect from Walken? But Iggy Pop's "The Tell-Tale Heart" really takes the cake. I could do without Debbie Harry's "performance", but what the hell. Very cool CD to have. ... Read more

Amazon.com's Best of 2001

Often proclaimed as electronica's one true genius, Richard James, a.k.a. Aphex Twin, returns with a double CD that showcases his cleverness as well as his inevitable inscrutability. Still, amid macabre birthday songs, unsettling screams, and other bizarre touches, Drukqs offers the most technically accomplished and beautiful tracks of Aphex Twin's career. Every aspect of the Aphex brain is on display here, from stark pieces performed on sampled piano and zither to Squarepusher-styled drum & bass implosions, all informed by that peculiar Aphex treatment of bittersweet melody and unparalleled programming. For an artist once engrossed in homages to his dead twin brother and grotesque videos, Drukqs shows James getting by purely on music alone.

"Mt. Saint Michel Mix" starts as maddening drum & bass, but is soon transfixed by glowing tones, hand drums, and police sirens. "Vordhosbn" is all acid beats and mad synths matched with fart-bombs and haunted cries. "54 Cymru Beats" sounds more like the tweaked-out, goofball techno of Wagon Christ than Aphex, while "Taking Control" goes metaphysical with cerebral synth-drums and muddled vocals. If Drukqs is the result of medication James has been imbibing during his three-year hiatus, then this is indeed better living through chemistry. Regardless, his music is still as beautiful and frothy as ever. --Ken Micallef ... Read more

Reviews (138)

Richard D. James revisited...
Richard D. James has been around the electronic music scene for quite a while now. Under the guise of Aphex Twin, he basically founded the gnere of iDmb, and released critically acclaimed works such as "Selected Ambient Works", "Richard D James Album", and "Windowlicker" EP. His compositions are so musically diverse, so surreal and schezophrenic, that many people have seemingly forgotten that Richard D. James is a human being.

In "Drukqs"--which is said to be Aphex Twin's final commerical release by many--James embarks on a journey of self re-discovery through his old sound mediums. "Drukqs" is filled with his classic signature sounds: the broken twitter box, dizzy drum n' bass, and distorted sound effects. The only difference this time, is that all the songs sound much calmer. James seems to be at a point of reflection in his career, and it is as if he was trying to find peace and solace with himself. Even his drum n' bass tracks seemed to lack the usual jubilancy and driven cynicism that we are so accustomed to.

What is really touching, though, are the piano works that he decided to include in this album (Most notably "Avril 14th" and "Nanou2"). They are all delicately simple, yet shows a emotional side of Richard D. James that we never knew for all these years. And while the sample of James's parents wishing their young son happy birthday (in "Lornaderek") is hilarious at first, it also makes your heart ache at the same time. Perhaps James' endeavors as Aphex Twin for all these years was a diversion to calm his sense of lost identity, or a search for his truest soul.

Have Richard D. James finally reached a state of grace with himself? We'll probably never find out...

Back in the saddle.
Let's go: After 4 years of dissappearance, Richard D. James alias Aphex Twin hits back the scenery with a new album called "drukQs" (drug use ?). There have been several innovative groups (Autechre, Luke Vibert's "TEK 9"), new projects (does drum 'n bass still exist ?) and groundbreaking new styles (two step !?) in those 4 years, and at a first glimpse it seems "drukQs" can't quite compete with RDJ's earlier stuff, which was always the most interesting, innovative and best electronic music at the time.
But:
"drukQs" is full of magic moments and contains everything you'd expect from an Aphex Twin recording, such as: sweet and tender melodies over brutal drum 'n bass breaks, complicated loops, clever samples and so on (there's also a "Happy Birthday to you" piece, which was sung by RDJ's parents (!) for their son's 28 birthday. There are many so called "interludes" in a way only Erik Satie could have made them. These piano pieces were entirely composed and created on a computer, simulating the illusion RDJ really could play the piano. They are not only beautiful, they also fit great into the whole concept and make the 102 Minutes (!) of playtime more even more "enjoyable".
You really should spend some time with the album and if you are familiar with Aphex Twin's earlier stuff (or Polygon Window, or AFX, or The Dice Man, or....) you surely won't be dissapointed.
RDJ's mother can be pround of her son's work.

?????
My friends and I listen to s*** loads of music of all kinds, but the only thing we never talk about is this. It quite simply excapes description. But, what the heck...
Every track a masterpiece, this presentation pulls the attentive listener through Richard James' consicousness, revealing the expanse of his emotions. Truely one of the few "electronic" albums which has the capacity to toy with your soul, it exudes personality of all tones; from the delicate, fine and gentle, through the cheeky, quircky and mundane, to the revelationary, infinite strata of hyperspacial reality - this recording truely has as much depth and content as the spectator could wish to find or even suppose. To put it another way, this is as close as those who havn't discovered the potentials of the inner landscape will currently ever get to experiencing the kind of continually evolving subconscious patterns that stir within us all. Drukqs exhibits a kind of artistry comparable to all the great masters that display a coherant understanding of the transcendent; and the personality of this genius displays a human originality of which will impact the art world as a strong reference for years to come.

great
Just great. I am a fan of his music for quite a while and all of his records are special in their own way. Tracks with a little twist only RDJ can add. Sometimes a bit sinister, but thats ok for me! Most of his tracks are sertainly refreshing and energy boosting. A philosopher teacher once said: "to enjoy and appreciate the quality of sertain aspects (of whatsoever) you have to have rotten spots besides it". In case of some of the tracks ("ventolin" (medicine for asthmatic patiens) for example in which you hear a sample of a person hyperventilating), annoying bleeps, cracks and sounds are added in such way that when they fade away in a track you almost feel a releef....a contrast between serenety and rotten (no offence)

a little twisted
Just great. I am a fan of his music for quite a while and all of his records are special in their own way. Tracks with a little twist only RDJ can add. Sometimes a bit sinister, but thats ok for me! Most of his tracks are sertainly refreshing and energy boosting. A philosopher teacher once said: "to enjoy and appreciate the quality of sertain aspects (of whatsoever) you have to have rotten spots besides it". In case of some of the tracks ("ventolin" (medicine for asthmatic patiens) for example in which you hear a sample of a person hyperventilating), annoying bleeps, cracks and sounds are added in such way that when they fade away in a track you almost feel a releef....a contrast between serenety and rotten (no offence) ... Read more

Amazon.com

If it hadn't been for keyboardist Steve Halpern, the New Age genre may never have been born. His 1975 release, Spectrum Suite, marked the debut of a music whose compositional structure was free and intended for relaxation. Halpern built an entire career around this concept and thanks to his serenely inspired tinkling, along with the genre it spawned, thousands of listeners have found a musical way to unwind and heal from the stresses oflife. Nowhere is this more apparent than on Halpern's Serenity Suite, a 1999 release that marries the sounds of tweeting birds and mountain streams with a gentle piano and warm electric keyboards. It's like a soundtrack to a camping trip, or rather, it captures the quiet contentment you experience when camping. Select tracks include airy flute, harp, and violin, which flow effortlessly within Halpern's pleasant atmosphere like stream water over mossy rocks. This album isn't for those who crinkle their nose at New Age music, but it certainly is for those interested in achieving serenity. --Karen K. Hugg ... Read more

Reviews (1)

Sleep tight
I have fibromyalgia and have a very difficult time sleeping. I put "Serenity" on and listen with my earphones. It gently rocks me to sleep. A must have for relaxation! ... Read more

Amazon.com

Slabs of dub, slices of surrealism, and disembodied "found" voices make their appearance on the latest offering by ambient dub commandos The Orb. Bicycles & Tricycles offers little in the Orb oeuvre that wasn't stated back on Orblivion and it's not the seismic paradigm shift of "Little Fluffy Clouds," but that's not to say there isn't plenty left in that fertile cumulus to explore. There's the Augustus Pablo melodica and dub bass on "Towers 23," and "Abstractions" lifts Frippertronics, something The Orb has been doing for over a decade. Except for a rap by MC Soom T on "Aftermath," the Orb has abandoned the trip-hop vocals of Cydonia. Instead, Bicycles & Tricycles returns to the original Orb concept which isn't about songs, but lysergic landscapes. Industrial grinds propel you through one moment, only to be untethered into infinite space the next, before being snagged into synchronicity by a dub groove. This album has been available as an import for a while, but the Orb's founder and master controller Alex Patterson has re-sequenced and re-mixed the disc into one of what are probably infinite permutations of flow. --John Diliberto ... Read more

Reviews (1)

The most brash, amazing Orb album yet?
OK, so first off... BRASH-Full of fresh raw vitality
NOW! With that said, This is the most awesome Orb album in YEARS! I was unsure of their most recent work, on account I thought it seemed forced... that is until this album came out. It should go down as one of the Orb's finest hours! A whole new and unclassifiable genre of music is, once again, created by the Orb. The album blends Trance, Ambient, borderline Hip-Hop, Acidy beats with masterfully placed samples, to create a once in a lifetime masterpiece. I really tried to find a highlight to this album, but the whole thing is
1) So hard to peg into one category, and thus difficult to say X is better than Y
2) So good that one song can't be picked
Any one who has ever been to a party (read as rave) will love it, and for anyone who likes the Orb... You owe it to yourself to get every version of this album you could find. There's just enough remixes on each to make them ALL worth having. ... Read more