Distances [Enhanced]

Spacelab, SynthpopAvenue
Beautiful melodies & catchy tunes dressed with the futurepop synth-sounds & emotional vocals. "Distances" distinguishes NamNamBulu from the "Synthpop crowd.

Product Description
After only 2 short years of being together, NamNamBulu is poised to take the world by storm! First discovered by VNV Nation, added to a tour with Melotron, and a strong following in Europe, NamNamBulu (NNB) are now ready for North America! Combining catchy hooks, strong vocals, and intense lyrics, they somehow make every song a dance floor hit and introspective ballad at the same time. For fans of Assemblage 23, VNV Nation, and Camaflouge.

Distances [Enhanced]

Distances,Namnambulu,Nilaihah Records,Combining catchy hooks, strong vocals, and intense lyrics, they somehow make every song a dance floor hit and introspective ballad at the same time.,Dance Music,Pop

Average customer rating: Ranges from dull to fairly entertaining, but never really stands out above the crowd of modernists 2-disc set of the British serialist The Phenomenal Birtwistle.

The British Music Collection: Harrison Birtwistle Sir Harrison Birtwistle Manufacturer: Decca ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Concertos | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music Electronic | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music | Computer Cleveland Orchestra | ( C ) | Featured Performers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | R&B | Styles | Music The Decca Records Store | Specialty Stores | Music Similar Items: Pulse Shadows The Ligeti Project II: Lontano / Atmosphères / Apparitions / San Francisco Polyphony / Concert Românesc - Berlin Philharmonic Orchestra / Jonathan Nott Harrison Birtwistle: The Axe Manual The Ligeti Project III: Cello Concerto / Clocks & Clouds / Violin Concerto / Síppal, Dobbal, Nádihegedüvel The Music of Elliott Carter Vol. 7; Boston Concerto, Cello Concerto, ASKO Concerto, Dialogues ASIN: B00005IA6D Release Date: 2004-03-09

Tracks:

1. Trageodia: Prologue
2. Trageodia: Parados
3. Trageodia: Episodion: Strophe I - Anapaest I
4. Trageodia: Antistrophe I
5. Trageodia: Stasimon
6. Trageodia: Episodion: Strophe II - Anapaest II
7. Trageodia: Antistrophe II
8. Trageodia: Exodos
9. Five Distances
10. Three Settings Of Celan: White And Light - Christine Whittlesey
11. Three Settings Of Celan: Night - Christine Whittlesey
12. Three Settings Of Celan: Tenebrae - Christine Whittlesey
13. Secret Theatre

Tracks:

1. Endless Parade - Hakan Hardenberger/Paul Patrick
2. Panic - John Harle/Paul Clarvis
3. Earth Dances - The Cleveland Orch/Christoph Von Dohnanyi

Customer Reviews:

Ranges from dull to fairly entertaining, but never really stands out above the crowd of modernists.......2007-02-07

Harrison Birtwistle, one of England's few overtly modernistic figures, is one of the most unlikely composers to appear on a Decca recording, but here he is thanks to the "British Music Collection" series.

The first disc contains four pieces performed by the Ensemble Intercontemporain and Pierre Boulez, a reissue of material which originally appeared on Deutsche Grammophon in 1996. The early "Tragoedia" (1965) is the most interesting of them. A reference to Greek ceremonies connected to Pan (being literally a goat, trag- song, -oedia), the eight movements of the work follow classical nomenclature, write strophes, anapests, and antistrophes. It moves from soundworld to soundworld along its twenty-minute span, from simple Romanticism to a minimalistic ostinato reminescent of some Reich, to the sort of smooth modernistic textures of later composers like Lindberg. Yet, it's still remarkably coherent.

I wish I such much positive about the other pieces on the disc. "Five Distances" for five instruments (1992), a wind quintet, has nothing especially upsetting, but lacks direction and resembles the generic modernism of Lieberson, or Eotvos as his worst. The "Three Settings of Celan" for ensemble and soprano, here Christine Whittlesey, are taken from a total set of nine such pieces composed between 1989 and 1996, manage to make a poet as intriguing and bizarre as Celan dull and forgettable. Finally, "Secret Theatre" (1984) promises to finally escape this "serialist assembly-line" as a fellow reviewer has called it, and seems to build at something with the low instruments, but never manages.

The second disc contains more entertaining material, beginning with two concertante works. "Endless Parade" for piano, vibraphone, and strings (1986-87) is performed here by the BBC Philharmonic conducted by Elgar Howarth, with Hakan Hardenberger as soloist. Based on a visit Birtwistle made to Lucca during a time of festival, the piece could be seen to portray a man, here the trumpet, walking through a procession and examining the action from various angles. It's fairly entertaining, with a mood much like Peter Eotvos' similarly-inspired trumpet concerto "Jet Stream".

The following "Panic" for saxophone, drum-kit and orchestra (1995) is perhaps Birtwistle's most notorious piece. Performed at the last night of the 1995 Proms, a time usually reserved for populist and patriotic traditional English music, it provoked an uproar among the conservative audience. It's no surprise why when the piece veers between sounding like an explosition in a jazz club and orchestral attempts to get a word in edgewise. The same musicians who premiered it, the BBC Symphony Orchestra and Andrew Davis with saxophonist John Harle, record it here.

"Earth Dances" for orchestra (1986) tames the savagery of the preceding piece somewhat, containing a clear line through, but portrays a world of orchestral forces never entirely reconciled to each other. The Cleveland Orchestra conducted by Christoph von Dohnanyi give a competent performance, and I found the music enjoyable, but rather forgettable after it ends.

All in all, I could only give this all three stars. Birtwistle's only real crime is the dullness that pervades much of his work--he's certainly less guilty than the truly bad composers I might venture to name--but I can't recommend too highly his work when others have engaged modernism to produce truly exciting music.

2-disc set of the British serialist.......2004-07-09

This 2-disc collection of Birtwistle is now available in the U.S. 3 years after it was originally released in the U.K. (My copy was obtained through amazon.co.uk in 2002.) The first disc contains 4 pieces conducted by Boulez and performed by his Ensemble Intercontemporain. (This disc is still available from DG, under the title "Secret Theatre.") The best of these is "Trageodia" from 1965, which established Birtwistle's characteristic sound and reputation. The other 3, from the mid-'80s to early-'90s, sound like products of a Serialist Assembly line, and are painfully dull.

The second disc is much better. "Panic" with saxophone was apparently a scandal at the Proms a few years back, though you'd think the scandal would be playing the same 19th century stuff over and over and over again! The highlight is the 37-minute "Earth Dances," written in 1986 and performed by Cleveland with Christoph von Dohnanyi conducting. It is powerful, dissonant and forbidding.

A new recording of "Earth Dances" was released in 2004 in the DG 20/21 series, with Boulez conducting the Ensemble Intercontemporain, but for some reason it hasn't been released in the U.S., which is hard to understand since all the rest of the DG 20/21 series has been distributed here. You can order it from amazon.co.uk, but with the exchange rate, it'll cost you double the price. Maybe it'll be released in three years...

Based on this disc, I'm not overly impressed with Birtwistle. However, his reputation in the U.K. is largely based on operatic works, and I have yet to hear any of these. The electro-acoustic "Mask of Orpheus" is at the top of my list for further listening.

The Phenomenal Birtwistle........2004-04-21

The music of Harrison Birtwistle is suprisingly hard to get on record in America. As one of the most important British composers of the 20th century after Britten it would seem that access to his music would be easy and yet it is incredibly difficult. I am not sure if this is a problem of American distribution/interest or if he is just a rarely recorded artist.
Either way this amazing recording makes amends. Six large, crucial works are represented here performed by world class artists producing what can only be considered definative performances. Especially nice about this collection is that works from the composer's entire (and long) career are presented, offering the listener a chanceto hear where the composer came fromand where he's going.
Names like Ligeti, Maxwell-Davies and Feldman come to mind. The music is huge in scope and emotional power and leaves the listener drained. "Birtwistle's music sounds like planets colliding, even if he's only using five instruments."
If you enjoy this CD listen to AGM which can be found on a wonderful collection of works conducted by Boulez.

Average customer rating:

Nouvelle Musique Pour Saxophone & Piano Maurizio Guerandi , Manuel Angulo , John Anthony Lennon , Michael Nyman , Caroline Charriere , and Visvikis Manufacturer: Doron ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD All Works by Nyman | Nyman, Michael | ( N ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Saxophone | Reeds & Winds | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music ASIN: B00000DFHR Release Date: 1998-11-01

Tracks:

1. Towards
2. Bisonante
3. Distance Within Me
4. Shaping The Curve
5. La Voix Meurtrie
6. Mondes Irises
7. Towards

Average customer rating: Masterpiece Top-notch musicians making beautiful music Bravo!

Brillance Manufacturer: Equilibrium Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Bolcom, William | ( B ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Gotkovsky, Ida | ( G ) | Featured Composers, A-Z | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Saxophone | Reeds & Winds | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Similar Items: Caprice le saxophone Francais ASIN: B00003XAWK Release Date: 2000-01-25

Customer Reviews:

Masterpiece.......2004-12-17

This album is absolutely stunning. I had a student of Clifford Leaman (when he was at furman university with Derek Parsons) as a teacher for highschool and i was introduced to this CD. Leaman is truly one of the most amazing Saxophonists in America today. As stated above, Kilstofte's Sonata for saxophone and piano, debuting on this album, is simply amazing. I only wish i can perform someday. The slaptongue is so tough to accomplish, he slit his tongue one performance and had to finish a recital with it. This album will NOT dissapoint.

Top-notch musicians making beautiful music.......2002-08-20

Pianist Derek Parsons (Furman University) and saxophonist Cliff Leaman (University of SC) team up to form the Ambassador Duo on this CD, which showcases some of the repertoire available to advanced saxophonists and their pianist friends. Leaman and Parsons work well together, and their synergy expresses itself through their playing. Every single work recorded here deserves to be praised for its legitimacy and musical value, but I will only point out in particular the Kilstofte Sonata, presented here for the first time. Mark Kilstofte is a young rising star in the composition world, having received more awards (including a Goddard Lieberson Fellowship, the Aaron Copland Award, the Charles Ives Scholarship, and the Frances and William Schuman Fellowship from the MacDowell Colony) than I can list or even shake a stick at. The Sonata for Alto Saxophone and Piano exemplifies Kilstofte's masterful control of compositional styles and techniques, including extended saxophone techniques (extreme altissimo, slap tongue), prepared piano, and external effects (one movement uses a Dr. Beat metronome for rhymthic obligato). For music theorists, this window dressing takes second place to the composer's emphasis on form and structore, which is quite classical in its rigid constructionism. Parsons and Leaman perform it (and all the pieces on the CD) with equanimity, technical facility, and most importantly a great deal of spirit and heart. Highly recommended!

Bravo!.......2000-10-03

This recording has some difficult pieces played beautifully. Leaman's tone is amazing and his command over the saxophone is astonishing. I recommend this CD to others!

Average customer rating: Namnambulu is one of a kind... Catchy Tunes but Grows Tiresome Rather Quickly Monotonous Another victory for this swiss duo

Expansion Namnambulu Manufacturer: Nilaihah Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Electronica | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Indie Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 Dance & DJ | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music 4-for-3 All Music | 4-for-3 Music | Stores | Music All Bargain Titles | Dance General | Dance & DJ | Today's Deals in Music | Formats | Music Similar Items: Artificial Illuminate Blinded Wrath Gelb ASIN: B00024DORU Release Date: 2004-05-10

Tracks:

1. Faces
2. Game
3. Zeit
4. Forgiving
5. Perspective
6. Transcending
7. Faces (WHS Remix)
8. Forgiving (Transformation Remix)
9. Memories (Club Remix)
10. Surviving (Synth Amok Remix)
11. Now or Never (Dopamin Remix)

Album Description

After their mega-successful debut album ''Distances', the Swiss duo NamNamBulu return with a stunning 11 track EP. 6 brand NEW songs, 3 new clubmixes and 2 bonus tracks are included on this discount EP. A melodic Electro/Futurepop release with catchy hooklines and rich male vocals. For fans of Assemblage 23, VNV Nation and Camouflage.

Customer Reviews:

Namnambulu is one of a kind..........2005-11-08

The 'Expansion' album by Namnambulu is one album that I cannot say enough about. The exotic sound cuts into me with a sense of emotionalism and energy. The lyrics are facinating dealing with feelings and thoughts. Pop tarts looking to shake their Jenny Craig challenged rumps to moronic crude words and over repititious beats may not want this in their collection. Namnambulu is unique, a Swiss duo who sing in English, and yet they almost have an Eastern sound to them. Check this album out, it's as good as 'Distances', if not better.

Catchy Tunes but Grows Tiresome Rather Quickly.......2005-09-16

Nearly any futurepop aficionado will recognize NamNamBulu as the Swiss band discovered by VNV Nation's Ronan Harris on one of his jaunts through the Continent. Merely being linked with such legends generated great positive hype for NNB. Well for the most part that hype is unwarranted.

While the duo have little trouble writing melodic tracks that pump, they have serious issues with making it work for more than 10 minutes at a time. As the more negative reviewer accurately suggests, this grows monotonous very rapidly. The vocals are standard Euro-synth with that smooth, deep tone that ends up sounding stilted and snobby as opposed to passionate; it works sometimes but grates on you before long. The music is a bit to straight-out-of-the-can as well lacking creative spark. I'll admit that "Faces" and "Game" are very strong singles with harmonious lyrical flow and make me want to hit the dancefloor, however it's difficult to leave the disc on much longer. The collaboration with the excellent electro industrial group [:SITD:] is interesting on its own, but its harshness is an extremely odd placement alongside the other songs - really a fish out of water.

Generally speaking NNB are an overrated band whose sound doesn't stick with you well enough to work as powerful pop and isn't daring enough to work as art. I pop it in for 2-3 tracks from time to time for dancefloor, singalong fun and it works on that level. Still ultimately this is an artistic failure.

Monotonous.......2005-08-09

Both the singer and the keyboardist lack imagination. One song blends into the next and into the next. Slight variations in pace, and pitch do little to add interest past the second track. It's the same disease that afflicted Evil's Toy.

Another victory for this swiss duo.......2005-02-24

After first hearing about namnambulu and listening to "Distances" I was hooked on their sound.I have not heard a song I have not liked yet.EXPANSION is another one of those.It is only a ep so being only 6 tracks and a few remixes making it 11 total.Faces is a good song strong in melody and vocals.Game is another great song as is forgiving which is a duet with sitd.The remixes are very dancey and club worthy.Namnambulu is futurepop at its best,If you love vnv nation,assemblage 23 or apoptygma berserk this ep should be part of your collection.

Average customer rating:

The Music Tree: Solo Songs by Betty Roe Manufacturer: Somm Recordings ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music ASIN: B000006B6T Release Date: 1998-03-31

Average customer rating: buy this cd!!!!1 Outrageously Good The best besides VNV Nation!

Distances Namnambulu Manufacturer: Minuswelt Musikfabrik ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music Dance & DJ | Imports | Stores | Music ASIN: B0000A2YEF Release Date: 2003-07-21

Tracks:

1. Memories
2. Beaten
3. Now Or Never (Distant Remix)
4. Guardian Angel (Distant Remix)
5. Deception
6. Surviving (Distant Remix)
7. Hunting
8. Answers
9. Pause
10. Ignorance (Distant Mix)
11. Apart

Customer Reviews:

buy this cd!!!!1.......2004-04-01

I came across NNB while surfing the web.I listened to a few samples and it blew away.Wow what agreat undiscovered band.If you love the likes VNV NATION you need to buy this cd ..

The cd starts with a killer track memories.And it doesnt let up with songs like beaten,now or never,deception.The last is a beautiful ballad apart.Henricks voice is amazing and fits music so well.Lyrics are great too.Give NNB a listen ayou wont be disappointed.Visit their website for more info they have samples and bios and info on the band if your not sure..

Outrageously Good.......2004-01-21

Nobody is buying this album in the U.S. and that's a shame, because this is the best album to come out from a group like this since VNV Nation's Empires! There isn't a single song that isn't great. This album should be remembered for a long time. Everybody buy ten copies! Now!

The best besides VNV Nation!.......2004-01-13

So if you like VNV Nation, you will love this CD. My tip is to buy it today!

Average customer rating:

John Anthony Lennon: Chamber Works Manufacturer: Composers Recordings ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Quartets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Saxophone | Reeds & Winds | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music ASIN: B000005TUQ Release Date: 1994-04-20

Tracks:

1. Voices
2. Ballade Belliss
3. Echolalia
4. Seven Translations: I. On The Grass
5. Seven Translations: II. Lament For Hathimoda, Abbess Of Gandesheim
6. Seven Translations: III. Star And Dead Leaves
7. Seven Translations: IV. Since Worms And Dust Must Be Your Fate
8. Seven Translations: Rain On Castle Island
9. Seven Translations: VI. Come, Make An End
10. Seven Translations: VII. In Praise Of Wine
11. Distances Within Me

Average customer rating:

Three Distances: Irregular Signs Priam Manufacturer: Musea ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General | Rock | Styles | Music ASIN: B00004VGFS Release Date: 2006-06-01

Album Details

Priam was the Revelation of the Corbigny Festival, Held in August 1998, Due to a Memorable Live Performance in which Previously Unknown Musicians Unveiled to an Astonished Audience their Icy and Tense Ambiences in the Style of King Crimson, which also Becomes a Hot Delirium of Anglagard (A Group Which, Incidentally, was Discovered and Appreciated by the Four Members Only a Short Time… After). Their Leader Guitarist Chris Casagrande is No Doubt About it the Most Faithful Follower of the Works of Allan Holdsworth, as Well as of the Three Steve of Progressive Rock (Hackett, Howe and Rothery). The 100% Instrumental Formula Adopted for "…three Distances - Irregular Signs…" is a Little Different of the One Shown During Live Presentations, but it Still Remains Full of Energy and Creativity. Still Dominated by an Amazing Guitar with a Definitely Mastered Technique, Priam's Music Can Blend the Hot and the Cold, and it Becomes Each Time More Lyrical and Quiet. The Virtuoso Passages Are in the Sty

Average customer rating: Note from OANegrin

Sonata Saxophone/Distances Within Me/Re Maslanka , Lennon , and Keefe Manufacturer: Mark Custom Recording Service ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000038A2A Release Date: 1999-11-09

Customer Reviews:

Note from OANegrin.......2003-10-01

Note to fellow saxophonists:

The saxophone soloist on this CD is Jamal Rossi, the dean of the school of music at University of South Carolina.

OANegrin

Average customer rating:

Harrison Birtwistle: Refrains and Choruses Manufacturer: Deux-Elles ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD Quintets | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music Chamber Music | Forms & Genres | Classical (c.1770-1830) | Historical Periods | Classical | Styles | Music Clarinet | Reeds & Winds | Instruments | Classical | Styles | Music General | Classical | Styles | Music ASIN: B00005KC9R Release Date: 2002-11-26

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