Distance [CD-single] [Import]

Distance [CD-single] [Import]

Distance [CD-single] [Import]

Track Listings
 
1. Distance [Single Edit]
2. Everyday [Demo Version]
3. Joey [Demo Version]

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Third Japanese single taken from the 2002 album, 'Bounce'. The title track Radio Edit is backed with two non-LP tracks, 'Everyday' (Demo) & 'Joey' (Demo). Universal. 2003.

Distance,Bon Jovi,Japanese Import,5"CD Singles,Hair Metal,Hard Rock,Heavy Metal,Pop,Pop-Metal,Rock
Long Distance Voyager
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • My intro to the Magical Moodies
  • Cover art trivia
  • The Moody Blues' second, and to date last, US chart topper is still excellent 25 years on
  • Welcome Back, Moody Blues
  • The Moody Blues' best album of the 80's
Long Distance Voyager
The Moody Blues
Manufacturer: Polydor / Umgd
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000001F5Y
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

  1. The Voice
  2. Talking Out Of Turn
  3. Gemini Dream
  4. In My World
  5. MeanWhile
  6. 22,000 Days
  7. Nervous
  8. Painted Smile
  9. Reflective Smile
  10. Veteran Cosmic Rocker

Amazon.com

A regular fixture on the pop charts throughout the '70s, the Moody Blues roared into the '80s with this tremendously successful record. In fact, the album sounds only slightly different than its predecessors; the synthesizer textures are heavier (thanks to former Yes keyboardist Patrick Moraz), but the band's flair for catchy, melodic compositions is still very much in evidence. In retrospect, songs like "The Voice," "Talking Out of Turn" and "In My World," while solid, don't exactly measure up to such all-time Moodies classics like "Ride My See-Saw" or "Tuesday Afternoon." Still, this is probably the last truly consistent album the band ever made. --Dan Epstein

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars My intro to the Magical Moodies.......2007-06-07

This really isn't a review, just me wanting to briefly share my sentimental feelings about the Moodies and this particular album.

Having been born in 1964 into a household that did not allow rock music, I didn't discover The Moody Blues until the Summer of 1981. I can remember so very clearly lying on the floor on a hot day and hearing 'Gemini Dream' on the radio. I was instantly in love with the sounds of the music, lyrics, and what I was to later learn, John Lodge's unique voice. I was ecstatic when a few months later I got another delicious taste of the Moodies with 'The Voice'. I have been smitten by them ever since. Before LDV, I had never even heard of the Moodies and had certainly never heard anything sounding remotely like them. Since that time I have discovered the earlier works of this great band. They never cease to amaze, enthrall and delight me. Every time I listen to a Moodies song, they take up a little bit more space in my heart, where this album holds a very, very special place.

Now that I know them, I cannot imagine a world without the beautiful music and words of these talented and wonderful men who call themselves The Moody Blues.

5 out of 5 stars Cover art trivia.......2007-03-30

Something I noticed years ago was the satellite passing through the sky on the album cover, an interesting anachronism made all the more poignant in its subtlety. Also, it's not just any satellite, but a "Voyager" that was launched in the 70s and is currently speeding out of our solar system. Indeed, a "Long Distance Voyager." It's a nice reminder of the Moodies cosmic roots and harkens back to "To Our Children's Children's Children."

5 out of 5 stars The Moody Blues' second, and to date last, US chart topper is still excellent 25 years on.......2007-03-18

The Moody Blues' tenth studio album entitled Long Distance Voyager was released in May of 1981.
The Moody Blues, by 1981, had not put out any studio work since 1978's Platinum selling Octave (which was the last album with founding keyboard player Mike Pinder). Then in the spring of 1981 saw the return of The Moody Blues, which now consisted of guitarist/singer/songwriter Justin Hayward, bass player/singer/songwriter John Lodge (bass, vocals), flute player/singer/songwriter Ray Thomas, drummer Graeme Edge and one time Yes keyboard player Patrick Moraz (whom Yes fans remember for his stellar work on their 1974 album Relayer). Many people were disappointed with Octave and called it disjointed but Long Distance Voyager saw The Moody Blues return in a MAJOR WAY!
First, the band jettisoned producer Tony Clarke and replaced him with Pip Williams. Then the band recorded in England for the first time since 1972's Seventh Sojourn at Threshold Studios in Northamptonshire, England in late 1980/early 1981. Finally, the mellotrons were gone and synthesizers were now here in its place.
The album opend with the Top 20 hit "The Voice" which its synthesizer intro showcaed Moraz' synthesizer work. The track, penned by Hayward, is a great song and worthy of hit status. Next is "Talking Out of Turn", a ballad penned and sung by Lodge. A great song. Next was the album's other big hit, the Top 20 charting "Gemini Dream", which was penned and sung by by Lodge and Hayward and proclaiming they were back, and they were. In My World is next and was the last song on the first side. The Hayward penned number is almost country-ish in sound but a beautiful track and featured excellent steel guitar work by B.J. Cole.
"Meanwhile" starts the second half of the album and was penned and sung by Hayward and is a fantastic number about love slipping through the character's fingers. Next is the Graeme Edge penned number "22,000 Days" which is about life and making the most of it and a stellar track. we follow with another Lodge penned number called "Nervous" and is another classic number. The album's last 3 tracks is a mini-suite penned and sung by Ray Thomas. The three tracks in question are "Painted Smile", "Reflective Smile" and "Veteran Cosmic Rocker" compares the music and entertainment world to the circus. This mini-suite of three songs is a great way to close a classic album.
Long Distance Voyager upon its release became The Moody Blues' second, and to date, last US chart-topper hitting #1 in July of 1981 and staying there for three weeks and was the second Moody Blues album to hit the Platinum mark in the US (meaning it sold a million or more in copies) and rightfully so because the album is flawless and saw The Moody Blues come back from a clunker to bring one of the best albums of their career.
HIGHLY RECOMMENDED!

4 out of 5 stars Welcome Back, Moody Blues.......2006-11-16

Forget the plodding, Octave. THIS is the Mooody Blues comeback album.

Most of the songs here are fantastic. The band is re-energized by the arrival of Patrick Moraz. "Talking Out Of Turn." is the best John Lodge solo vocal on any Moody Blues album from any era. "In My World" is a worthy addition to the Justin Hayward ballad catalogue. The only criticism is the Ray Thomas songs are not on par with his classic work, and, consequently, are the weakest songs on the album.

5 out of 5 stars The Moody Blues' best album of the 80's.......2006-11-10

THE BAND: Justin Hayward (guitars, vocals), John Lodge (bass, vocals), Patrick Moraz (keyboards), Ray Thomas (flute, harmonica, vocals), Graeme Edge (drums & percussion).

THE DISC: (1981) 10 tracks clocking in approximately 47 minutes. Included with the disc is a 14-page booklet containing song titles/time/credits, song lyrics, and misc info. Recorded at Threshold Studios in Northamptonshire, England. A hard-to-find gold/remastered edition released in 1997. Label - Decca Records / Threshold.

COMMENTS: I was too young to be 'into' the Moody Blues when they were big for the 1st time (late 1960's into the early 70's). "Long Distance Voyager" (LDV) was my first album of theirs... it hooked me in and eventually made me go backwards to buy much of their earlier material. Where it's debatable what album might be the best of the 60's and again in the 70's, I feel "LDV" is clearly their best album of the 80's. The thrust of their musical direction had changed since their first 7-8 albums. Leaning now toward main stream rock/pop, with less orchestration and space rock feel. "LDV" became the band's 2nd #1 album on the Billboard chart (with 2 huge hits - #15 "The Voice" and #12 "Gemini Dream"). This album also saw the departure of long time keyboardist Mike Pinder, and the entrance of ex-Yes keyboardist Patrick Moraz. "The Voice" is a great song and worthy of hit status. I was never a huge fan of the very pop-oriented "Gemini Dream"... to me, outside of the vocals, it really doesn't even sound like the band. The gems on the album though are the non-hits. "Meanwhile" is a great melody about love slipping through the character's fingers; "22,000 Days" (my all-time favorite Graeme Edge song) is a great song about life and making the most of it; and the last 3 tracks pertaining to the entertainers of the world... "Painted Smile" through "Veteran Cosmic Rocker". The album really closes with a bang. If you want to own any of the Moody Blues' many studio albums, "Long Distance Voyager" should be one of them (5 stars).
Distance
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • re: Celestial Melodies Great Work Album
  • The Interpretation of Dreams
  • Energy transfer
  • Very Soothing
  • Urban Longing
Distance
Marconi Union
Manufacturer: All Saints
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000AY2JPU
Release Date: 2006-03-14

Tracks:

  1. Sleepless
  2. These European Cities
  3. Through Glass
  4. Buildings and People
  5. Suburb 27
  6. Inter
  7. A Temporary Life

Amazon.com

What goes around comes around ambient. That's the message from a third generation of electronica artists who were just leaving the womb when Brian Eno's early works were being diffused in the 1970s. They were barely teens when the Orb rolled forth in the '90s. But new artists like Boards of Canada, the Album Leaf, and Explosions in the Sky are taking those early ambient primers and adding geometries of glitch and dream guitar to the mix, creating a melodic brand of ethereal music with an edge. Marconi Union, a Manchester duo, follow suit on a CD that travels in cinematic melancholy and textural malaise. Their songs build slowly, emerging out of a flattened landscape of static and stillness to attain a quietly triumphal beauty. Percussion is almost subliminal in journeys that pulse more than groove. It sometimes gets ominous, with an ostinato bass growl prowling through a Blade Runner landscape on "Inter." But usually they generate a quiet awe, like the slow build of "Sleepless." Expect to hear tracks from Distance in soundtracks and commercials near you soon. --John Diliberto

Album Description

Marconi Union is a reclusive electronic duo from Manchester, England. Their sound has been described as "a post rock cinematic orchestra." Distance, their first U.S. release, is unique, individual and timeless, fusing acoustic sounds, strings and pianos with electronica, post-rock guitars and even occasional nods towards jazz and dub. Described by the band as "a soundtrack to a film that has not yet been made," listening to Distance evokes the feeling of being driven silently around an unknown city at night, observing the activity and life of the urban sprawl in safety and isolation.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars re: Celestial Melodies Great Work Album.......2007-06-22

This album resonates with beauty... the music provides you with a very thought provoking journey. If you want to transcend your current time and place, just put this album on and you will be transported by the delicate yet etheral melodies.. it is an album with tremendous beauty. I cannot recommend a album more, it relaxes me and gives me insight into what I am doing. Absolutely fantastic album to listen to while at work...

5 out of 5 stars The Interpretation of Dreams.......2007-04-30

At the end of the previous century, Brian Eno's genius, expressed through his various ambient works, set an insurmountable barrier for those that they chose to follow his pattern. To put it bluntly, he set a standard that nobody managed even to come near to. (Maybe his brother came close, but he was still lacking Brian's imagination and mood to discover).

All these until Marconi Union and their Distance work. Dreamy atmosphere, almost psychoanalytic, moving in all senses. A perfect link to Eno's Music For Films sequel. A perfect step towards ambient fulfillment.

It is really hopeful that such groups exist and needless to say, we are truly looking forward to their next work.

5 out of 5 stars Energy transfer.......2007-02-13

There is an exhange of energy that takes place for me when I listen to Distance. Not only do I experience de-stressing and decompression, there also comes a palpable energy transfer while listening to these selections.

The first step in the transfer is the way Distance draws the toxicity of my day out of me, leaving me pleasantly drained. The second step of the process, then, is how the movement within each track subtly softens and salves the chisel-bitten edges of my consciousness. In the third step, as fresh fluid trickles in, I am refilled and renewed.

After a day of dying little, moment-by-moment deaths, Distance breathes life back into me, slowly, slowly, and almost imperceptibly.

If you have ragged edges, if you have wounds, this can be a balm for you.

4 out of 5 stars Very Soothing.......2007-01-24

Nice Album! Very peaceful textures that are perfect for relaxing/Yoga/Meditation etc. I would not consider this New Age, it's more modern Ambient with some modern electronics. There are quite a bit of interesting sounds here even guitars. The product description here says: "a Manchester duo, follow suit on a CD that travels in cinematic melancholy and textural malaise. Their songs build slowly, emerging out of a flattened landscape of static and stillness to attain a quietly triumphal beauty. Percussion is almost subliminal in journeys that pulse more than groove" I think that is a very good way of describing this album. Good Stuff.

5 out of 5 stars Urban Longing.......2007-01-24

Marconi Union's Distance album is a warm embrace of ambient textures with drifting melodies and haunting memories filled with dreamy longings. If you can't sleep, put this in your CD player/stereo and climb into a warm bath. The music is well suited to relaxation, reading late at night or simply dissolving into a memorable mood.

"Through Glass" is more sensuous, while "Buildings and People" has a more luminous trajectory with the feeling that a city has been left completely empty, it is almost haunting in beauty. "A Temporary Life" has shy jazz flourishes, but overall seems to be melting into the night.

The urban moods build on each other until you feel completely relaxed. This album has hints of places you like to be and it seems to call you to distant locations where you'd like to spend more time dreaming.

~The Rebecca Review
The Distance
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • The Distance
  • Very poor musically
  • Good price, good service
  • The last of the "real" Seger
  • Seger's Best
The Distance
Bob Seger & the Silver Bullet Band
Manufacturer: Capitol
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000002U88
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Tracks:

  1. Even Now
  2. Makin' Thunderbirds
  3. Boomtown Blues
  4. Shame On The Moon
  5. Love's The Last To Know
  6. Roll Me Away
  7. House Behind A House
  8. Comin' Home
  9. Little Victories

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars The Distance.......2006-10-01

No Bob Seger fan should do without this album and "Its A Mystery" The man never makes bad music. Its timeless. We need more of his style of music.

3 out of 5 stars Very poor musically.......2006-07-09

I've bought the vinyl LP version of this album, because someone had recommended it to me.
I'm not a Bob Seger's fan, but I found the music of this album much too simple, "déjà vu", and pretty boring for me who is usually into progressive rock.
I nevertheless gave 3 stars, because I might not be very objective to judge this sort of music, and I don't want to make Bob's fans too angry.
Simply put, I could not believe my eyes when seeing this record had an average rating of more than 4 stars, so wanted to correct a little bit this.

5 out of 5 stars Good price, good service.......2005-09-22

CD was at a good price and arrived in good shape and in good time.

5 out of 5 stars The last of the "real" Seger.......2004-12-15

By the early '80s, Bob Seger had established himself as a firm proponent of the guitar-heavy, rhythmically driven, classic-rock school of American music. Many consider The Distance to be his final album in that vein, and what a heck of an album it is. This is one to pop in the CD player when you first get in the car and just drive, drive, drive. This album demonstrates all of the musical categories Seger created for himself and went on to dominate. The pure, guitar-driven rockers "Even Now" and "Makin' Thunderbirds," two of Seger's most compelling tunes, start out the album; the latter hearkens back to the Chuck Berry sound he so assiduously assimilated in his earlier days, while the former represents the apex of the Bob Seger sound he went on to create. "Boomtown Blues" powers on in a similar vein, although it slows things down slightly to create (true to its name) a more bluesy feel. "Shame on the Moon," "Love's the Last to Know" and "Comin' Home" showcase another famous side of Seger's talent: the simple, soulful, almost country ballad in the style of "We've Got Tonight." "Roll Me Away," on the other hand, foreshadows a genre Seger would turn to with increasing frequency later in his career: the "rock tale." Here it's a story of a love that died as abruptly as it began, couched within the larger framework of one man's journey to find himself. Lyrically, it's an irresistibly compelling song--although it's admittedly pretty easy to miss the lyrics if you're focusing on the great beat (as I've been guilty of doing). This album has everything that makes Seger great: the simplicity and easy accessibility, the inspired lyrics, and--above all--that great Heart of America sound. It's one of his best efforts and a worthy addition to your collection.

5 out of 5 stars Seger's Best.......2004-07-17

"Shame On The Moon" is Seger's best song and this is his best CD. It belongs in any collection of American Music.
Long Distance
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • I'm afraid if I breathe it will disappear...
  • Ivy
  • Their best album even without "The Best Thing"
  • Long Distance did not come short
  • Trippy, Spacious and Inviting
Long Distance
Ivy
Manufacturer: Nettwerk Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00005LMX1
Release Date: 2001-07-10

Tracks:

  1. Undertow
  2. Disappointed
  3. Edge Of The Ocean
  4. Blame It On Yourself
  5. While We're In Love
  6. Lucy Doesn't Love You
  7. Worry About You
  8. Let's Stay Inside
  9. Midnight Sun
  10. I Think Of You
  11. Hideaway
  12. One More Last Kiss
  13. Digging Your Scene

Amazon.com

After years of postmodern pop posturing from dozens of would-be Portisheads and Bjorks, it's something more than a relief to see Ivy's third album, Long Distance, get a U.S. release. The New York-based trio's languid but richly emotional meld of trip-hop, classic French-pop touches (singer Dominique Durand is a Paris native), and indie adventurousness shine here, even while displaying the outfit's deepest melancholic vibe. Few singer-songwriters could put across a sentiment like that of "Disappointed"--Durand explains that she's bound to leave a guy--without coming off defensive or taunting. "While We're in Love" offers a similarly bleak, if enticing, future. Long Distance never burrows so far into its own melancholy as to render the effect merely selfish or cold; even if your situation is hunky-dory, you'll be hard pressed not to revel in the subtle empathy of these numbers. The sole nonoriginal, the Blow Monkeys' 1986 single "Digging Your Scene," demonstrates Ivy's ability to render a late-summer dayscape replete with slowly pushed merry-go-round and intimation of oncoming loss, all with a wink. --Rickey Wright

Album Description

Long Distance finds Ivy continuing to move away from its beginning as straightforward guitar band, exploring in greater depth the types of slinky rhythms and sounds that were hinted at on 1997's Apartment Life. Also featured on the record are James Iha (Smashing Pumpkins), Jon Skibic (Gigolo Aunts) and Brian Young (Fountains Of Wayne/Posies). 13 tracks, including a Blow Monkey's cover 'Digging Your Scene'. 2001 release.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars I'm afraid if I breathe it will disappear..........2007-06-06

Can you be haunted by an album...listen to it more than a dozen times and never tire of it, feel that it has helped you through bad times and good times, improved your heart rate and your dreams?

If you don't think so or you're not sure, you should give Ivy's LONG DISTANCE a try. I kid you not when I say it will never be away from your music player for very long. Repeated listens never dull the album, but instead enrich it.

The album is beauty in slow motion, a perfect production that is every bit as natural as breathing and it's so wonderful you might think you imagined it.

Track by track, LONG DISTANCE never disconnects. There are the vulnerable dreamboat songs like "Edge of the Ocean," "Let's Stay Inside," "Midnight Sun" and "One More Last Kiss" (this is where I almost gasp it's so wonderful. I picture myself at the beach, utterly at peace, the sky blue, the breeze a friendly tease.)

Then Dominique Durand walks on air with more uptempo (but equally relaxing) songs like "Blame it On Yourself" (very catchy!!), "Lucy Doesn't Love You" and "I Think of You."

I'm not saving the best for last (everything here is "best for last"!!)so much as I'm saving the most devastating for last...the songs that should scorch your heart with sadness, but somehow don't because Ivy reminds us that even when things are bad, there's still loveliness in life.

One example of this is the brilliantly ironic (but not cynical) "While We're in Love." In the wrong hands, this ballad could be mean-spirited, but here it is utterly beguiling and heart-wrenching with its sincere, realistic look at the fleeting happiness of relationships. It's also very mystical and alluring, two qualities familiar to any Ivy fan.

There is no poison to be found in Ivy's music, just lots of time for reverie...It even ends on a playful note with the sweet "Digging Your Scene."

How I adore this album...it's hard to explain just how transforming the listening experience can be! My review could never do it justice...All I can do is ask you to listen and then, THEN you'll hear for yourself.

4 out of 5 stars Ivy.......2007-05-08

THis was a much better Cd than i thought it would be.
I only knew the song, edge of the ocean and I am really happy with nearly all the songs.
sometimes it is a gamble buying a CD from a new artist, but I don't regret spending the money on this one.

5 out of 5 stars Their best album even without "The Best Thing".......2007-01-23

I first got into Ivy when a friend of mine put "The Best Thing" on a mixtape. I couldn't stop listening to it. That song is on "Apartment Life," the album before this one. "Long Distance" is a consistently stronger album -- the production is glossier and the songwriting has matured without sacrificing any pop catchiness. This is probably the group's most popular album: soon after its release I kept hearing "Edge of the Ocean" playing in car commercials and on tv shows like "Mysterious Ways" and "Roswell" (Where the band actually appeared and performed the song). Usually, when such media saturation happens (Blur's "Song 2" for instance), I'll stop listening to the group for a while. But I didn't seem to mind when it happened to Ivy. Perhaps, to my ears, "Long Distance" is beyond corruption.

4 out of 5 stars Long Distance did not come short.......2007-01-14

I purchased this CD for one song, basically the title song for a Stephen King Tv Series. I found however that the entire Cd was worth listening to. Worth the purchase.

5 out of 5 stars Trippy, Spacious and Inviting.......2007-01-04

If you've read the reviews, you know that this is a helluva CD. I had never heard of this group or it's French singer until someone gave me an MP3 transfer. In spite of the curtailed frequency response and other liabilities of MP3's, the emotional power and range comes through. The driving bottom end and mellow, languid singing reminds me of Massive Attack's Blue Lines CD. If you're not familiar with that CD, don't worry. Run, don't walk, and pick up a copy of this CD. You wont be disappointed.
Hero
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • A dream
  • Perfection at its Best
  • Tranquil Beauty
  • Beautiful!
  • Tranquility, Serenity, Beauty, and Superb Asian Movie Soundtrack
Hero
Tan Dun
Manufacturer: Sony
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  5. Hero

ASIN: B0002S945W
Release Date: 2004-08-24

Tracks:

  1. Hero: Overture
  2. For the World - Theme Music
  3. Warriors
  4. Gone with Leaves
  5. Longing
  6. At Emperor's Palace
  7. In the Chess Court
  8. Love in Distance
  9. Spirit Fight
  10. Swift Sword
  11. Farewell, Hero
  12. Sorrow in Desert
  13. Home
  14. Above Water
  15. Snow
  16. Yearning for the Peace

Amazon.com

Tan Dun straddles the very different worlds of concert music and film scores, winning admirers in both. He's perhaps best known for his score to Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon, which shares with Hero a visual poetry that transcends the sword-filled action film genre. In Crouching Tiger, Tan Dun's music was often striking. In Hero he often lapses into repetition and cliché, a failing compensated for by several appealing cues. The Overture, for example, begins with the mournful wail of ancient Chinese instruments set against pounding drums, a promising start that evokes ancient China and the struggles to come. There's a mournful soprano vocalise in "Gone With the Leaves," and the "Warriors" cue recalls Prokofiev's Alexander Nevsky. The plucking of the ancient Chinese lute in "In the Chess Court" evokes a timeless, peaceful mood, contrasting with the thrilling kodo drummers showcased in "Swift Sword." Itzhak Perlman gets cover billing for violin solos any competent studio fiddler could have handled. Tan Dun's admirers will want this, and audiophiles will love those kodo drummers. --Dan Davis

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars A dream.......2007-05-29

A magistral execution... close your eyes and dream.... a perfumed atmosphere will pervade you

5 out of 5 stars Perfection at its Best.......2007-01-05

I received the Hero CD in mint condition and in a timely fashion. There's a plethora of things one could complain about, and when something works how it should, sometimes it gets overlooked. Not this time! I would just like to commend Amazon.Com on a job well done...

5 out of 5 stars Tranquil Beauty.......2006-08-08

After seeing Hero, one of the (many) things that stuck with me was the evocative soundtrack. It set a perfect backdrop to the artistry and beauty of the story.

After purchasing the soundtrack, I was reminded of many of the scenes I enjoy, especially the tracks for the fight in the chess house ("In the Chess Court"), and in the yellow wood ("Gone with Leaves"). "Longing" is one of the most hauntingly serene pieces of film music I have heard.

This is not, obviously, a CD to listen to while you do step aerobics.
The theme is repeated and varied often, evoking the way the film's story is repeated from different perspectives, but those with short attention spans may perceive it as merely repetitive.

Beyond its association with the film, this soundtrack is an incredibly calming work of art. To be enjoyed with a good cup of hot tea.
5 stars.

5 out of 5 stars Beautiful!.......2006-03-19

Interesting way to present some Chinese history by convoluted storytelling. Jet Li provides a subtle, challenging performance. It's a visually stunning movie to look at, as well. In a way, it's a lot like some classic Westerns in that the gorgeously stark landscapes of China become just as much a "star" as the players.

One of the real draws is the music. Tan Dun's compositions are beautiful, sad and celebratory at the same time, and haunting. I think it was pure genius to pair his compositions with Perlman. I had to wait a few months for the DVD, but I went out and bought the music CD immediately after seeing this gem of a movie.

5 out of 5 stars Tranquility, Serenity, Beauty, and Superb Asian Movie Soundtrack.......2006-02-25

When I want to reconnect with my inner self and take a "time out" from my rat race life, I play either this CD or the sound track from "The Last Samurai". The theme from this CD stays in your head all day. If you like soundtracks, asian style muusic, classical music, and beauty, this CD has it all. I sometimes end up watching the movie again later in the week. I collect movie soundtracks and this is in my top ten.
From a Distance: The Very Best of Nanci Griffith
Average customer rating: 4 out of 5 stars
  • Fine collection, unacceptably marketed
  • ONE GREAT SONG/RENDITION
  • Somethin's Missin'
  • Fantastic Collection!
  • A terrific, remastered version of an old favorite!
From a Distance: The Very Best of Nanci Griffith
Nanci Griffith
Manufacturer: Mca Nashville
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. Other Voices, Other Rooms
  2. Hearts in Mind
  3. One Fair Summer Evening
  4. Flyer
  5. The Last of the True Believers

ASIN: B000068TO0
Release Date: 2002-06-25

Tracks:

  1. Lone Star State Of Mind
  2. Cold Hearts/Closed Minds
  3. From A Distance
  4. Ford Econoline
  5. Trouble In The Fields
  6. There's A Light Beyond These Woods (Mary Margaret)
  7. Looking For The Time (Workin' Girl) (live)
  8. I Don't Want To Talk About Love
  9. Drive-In Movies And Dashboard Lights
  10. It's A Hard Life Wherever You Go
  11. If Wishes Were Changes
  12. Once In a Very Blue Moon (live)
  13. Anyone Can Be Somebody's Fool
  14. I Knew Love
  15. Gulf Coast Highway (with Mac McAnally)
  16. I Wish It Would Rain
  17. Outbound Plane
  18. Love At The Five And Dime (live)
  19. It's Just Another Morning Here
  20. Late Night Grande Hotel
  21. Hometown Streets
  22. The Wing And The Wheel (live)

Amazon.com

Well, the title is misleading, as this collection showcases only her MCA era; a more accurate designation would be From a Distance: The Best Stuff Nanci Griffith Did After She Left Philo and Before She Went to Elektra, but maybe that's not catchy enough. What is compelling is the music itself. During the period of 1987 to 1991, Griffith wrote some of her best material. She also discovered Julie Gold's classic title song, but found herself floundering commercially in her transition from folkabilly queen to arch chanteuse. Griffith's Philo records are still the most memorable--loose and full of Texas ranginess and sawdust memories. But this compilation is surprisingly satisfying, as it ends just before she began to take herself too seriously. You can hear a tinkling banjo driving "Lone Star State of Mind" and a pedal steel guitar as hillbilly as the Grand Ole Opry on "Ford Econoline." Her little-girl voice modulates to fetching reediness when necessary and even dips into deep Texas in the spoken intros to several live performances. But what stands out is the overall quality of the writing, which turns stunning on the wistful "Gulf Coast Highway" and on "Trouble in the Fields." If the reason for Griffith's status as a cult artist has eluded you, this anthology should go a long way toward clearing up the mystery. --Alanna Nash

Album Description

Features 22 tracks from her 5 MCA albums. 96k/24-bit mastered from the original master tapes. Includes the signature tunes as well as live versions of her key Philo hits. 2002.

Customer Reviews:

4 out of 5 stars Fine collection, unacceptably marketed.......2006-10-15

Others have noted the duplication between this disc and the prior MCA-era collection. I don't have a major problem with a new collection displacing an old one, but I take an even more dim view of the way MCA has titled this project: released in 2002, the "best of" moniker is more than misleading, since these tracks are culled from only five years (the most recent recordings from 1991) and as many albums from an artist who has released gobs of music before and since.

Note that for a few dollars more you can buy "The Complete MCA Recordings", a 2-disc set which includes the four studio albums represented here *in their entirety* (this disc does include a few very good live tracks not on that set). Since Griffith has had few "hits" as such, the song selection for this set really comes down to an editor's choices; there are many equally strong songs from this period not represented here.

Having said all that, on its own merits this is a fine collection, showcasing Griffith's most fertile and appealing songwriting period, after she fully developed her storytelling skill and vocal style but before she gained elder-stateswoman status by helming the "Other Voices" projects. As one might expect from late-80s country-folk, there is a certain sameness of stylistic and production approach here and Griffith's signature woman-child voice can sometimes become cloying. But taken in small doses nearly every one of these songs has the capability to surprise and delight.

4 out of 5 stars ONE GREAT SONG/RENDITION.......2006-03-25

I REALLY ENJOY THIS ARTIST, BUT THE COLLECTION ISN'T REALLY WONDERFUL EXCEPT FOR "FROM A DISTANCE". ON THE OTHER HAND I'D BUY THIS CD FOR THAT SONG ALONE EVEN IF THE OTHER CUTS WERE NANCI READING CLASSIFIED ADS.

3 out of 5 stars Somethin's Missin'.......2004-02-28

A Nanci Griffith compilation without "Spin on a Red Brick Floor"? Without "Workin' in Corners"? Sorry. This smacks of another record company attempt to further line their pockets. I'm sure if you ask Nanci, she'd give you a whole different list of songs for this album.

5 out of 5 stars Fantastic Collection!.......2003-07-23

This CD is fantastic for fans looking for a good Nanci compilation. You get all her greatest songs, including my favorite track, which is a live version of her masterpiece "Love At The Five & Dime." In addition to this live gem, you get all of Nanci's classics, such as "Outbound Plane" and "Gulf Coast Highway," and you can hear how the Bette Midler standard "From A Distance" is supposed to sound!

5 out of 5 stars A terrific, remastered version of an old favorite!.......2002-09-04

Yes, this collection is basically an updated, repackaged version of her early '90s "Retrospective," CD, but this collection has two things going for it over the previous "Best Of" release: it includes more songs, and the music has been digitally remastered. All the songs sound great and are indicative of Griffith's work during her brief stint at MCA Records. (One question: why was "Listen To the Radio" not included in this collection?)

This is a great CD to give to a friend who you want to introduce to Nanci Griffith and it is a great replacement disc for your old, worn-out "Retrospective" CD. After all, you cannot go wrong, this is Nanci Griffith, for Pete's sake!
The Distance to Here
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • Brilliant!
  • ok but...
  • It's hard to beat "Throwing Copper", but this comes close!
  • One of My Favorites
  • I personally love it
The Distance to Here
Live
Manufacturer: Mca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:
  1. Secret Samadhi
  2. Mental Jewelry
  3. V
  4. Birds of Pray
  5. Throwing Copper

ASIN: B00001QENU
Release Date: 1999-10-05

Tracks:

  1. The Dolphin's Cry
  2. The Distance
  3. Sparkle
  4. Run To The Water
  5. Sun
  6. Voodoo Lady
  7. Where Fishes Go
  8. Face And Ghost (The Children's Song)
  9. Feel The Quiet River Rage
  10. Meltdown
  11. They Stood Up For Love
  12. We Walk In The Dream
  13. Dance With You

Amazon.com

It takes a certain kind of band in this day and age to release a single called "The Dolphin's Cry." Unsurprisingly, that band is the always earnest Live. The Distance to Here doesn't have the aura of dullness that marred 1996's Secret Samadhi, but the everybody-in-the-pool accessibility of Throwing Copper is nowhere in sight. Still walking hand in hand with producer Jerry Harrison (producer since their debut, 1991's Mental Jewelry), the Pennsylvania-based quartet go for the bombastic and naturally end up over the top. It's one thing to rhyme "shooting star" with "you'll go far," but it's another thing to think that this is a good idea. The literalness of the lyrics aside, The Distance to Here has a few moments where listeners may get caught up in a maelstrom of melody. Will they stick around for the "message?" Not likely. --Jason Josephes

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Brilliant!.......2007-06-15

This album is one of their best. I have not listened to this album in a while and while driving put it back in my cd player. I am always blown away by the writing and the music these boy's make. This cd is brilliant!

2 out of 5 stars ok but..........2007-05-13

..just a little too religious & preachy for me. Was looking for better compositions.

5 out of 5 stars It's hard to beat "Throwing Copper", but this comes close!.......2007-04-25

I respect the fact that everyone is entitled to their own opinion, but I have a hard time figuring out how one can NOT like this album! While "Secret Samadhi" was good, it wasn't great, which in itself might help to make this album that much better. Regardless, this effort has definitely paid off for Ed and the boys of Live. CDs with every song being good are hard to come by, but this pulls it off, in my opinion! Every time I hear "The Dolphins Cry" and "Run To The Water", I think back to my senior year in college and that time in my life, in general. Full of excitement but also uncertainty. Anyways, enough of the nostalgia trip, go out and get this disc if you are a new fan of life. You won't be disappointed.

5 out of 5 stars One of My Favorites.......2007-03-10

This album, LIVE fan or not, is a must buy. It's jammed packed with powerful melody that grabs you and doesn't let go. The album truly reflects the amazing talent of this group. It is one of my favorite albums. Buy it, you wont be dissapointed.

4 out of 5 stars I personally love it.......2007-02-03

As a mostly Metal minded listener, i find this cd to be purely soothing and inspirational (though i am not a spiritual person). Especially the track "Walk in the Dream". i love it. its soothing. "Dolphins Cry", "Face and Ghost", "Voodoo Lady", the title track and even the very slow yet charismatic "Dance With You". Personally, there are a couple cheezy tracks like "Run to the Water" and "they stood Up..". But i just didnt RIP those tracks.
Live went a bit off the deep end for me with IV, but this cd is great. the 3 LIVE cds of Copper, Samadhi and this were really good. I may have to try the newest release. Highly recommended to people that can appreciate a soothing release like this on a nice summer day.
Go the Distance
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • BEST ROCK AND ROLL ALBUM OF ALL TIME!!!!
  • i love it
  • WOW "Incredible" stuff
  • Absolutely BLISTERING blues guitar!!!
  • Elecrified blues rock
Go the Distance
Walter Trout & the Radicals
Manufacturer: Ruf (Idn)
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00005K27H
Release Date: 2001-05-22

Tracks:

  1. Love So Deep
  2. Outta Control
  3. Lookin' For The Promised Land
  4. Ride 'Till I'm Satisfied
  5. Go The Distance
  6. Message On The Doorway
  7. Faithful
  8. Down To You
  9. Bugle Billy
  10. Gotta Leave This Town
  11. I Don't Want My MTV
  12. Doin' Just Fine
  13. Always Been A Dreamer

Album Description

Latest CD from blues guitarist Walter Trout. Recorded in Memphis in February and March 2001. Produced by Jim Gaines. 13 tracks.

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars BEST ROCK AND ROLL ALBUM OF ALL TIME!!!!.......2007-06-28

Walter is a very good guitar player, but, he keeps playing his 'finger exercises' over and over and over! If only he would cut down on his 2200 notes per minute habit. (I got this from an Alvin Lee review.) His singing is excellent, and his songs are outstanding. I like all the material. The sound is OUT OF THIS WORLD, and Jim Gaines is in top form as the producer. My best cuts are: GOTTA LEAVE THIS TOWN--a Jimi Hendricks feel, LOVE SO DEEP, LOOKING FOR THE PROMISED LAND, GO THE DISTANCE, I DON'T WANT MY MTV, and MESSAGE ON THE DOOR. Even his slower folk/ballads are top notch. I like the way he both sings and plays the very same notes on some selections. I dare you to find a better rock record! The more you listen, the more impressed you will be! This record will BLOW YOU AWAY!!

5 out of 5 stars i love it.......2004-02-19

powerful blues band. walter's guitar play reminds me alot of kenny wayne shepherd. no, he is not srv as one other reviewer stated, but he is walter trout and one of the finest guitarist alive. a must have cd

5 out of 5 stars WOW "Incredible" stuff.......2003-10-28

Listen...Go out and buy this CD. Why did it take me so long to find this guy and his music? I don't care about any technical crap. This music is incredible. You will not be disappointed with this CD. I happen to disagree with another reviewer who stated all the songs sound alike. In my opinion that couldn't be farther from the truth. Walter brings in keyboards and the sax, but always lurking in the background is that oh so powerful guitar. So many good songs to choose from, but when I've finished listening to the CD, it seems that the lyrics from Lookin'for the promised land stick in my head. The production on that song (background vocals etc.) is powerful stuff. One last time... BUY THIS CD!

5 out of 5 stars Absolutely BLISTERING blues guitar!!!.......2003-10-09

It is hard, VERY hard, to listen to this music without being completely and utterly blown away by this man's incredible talent. Walter Trout's playing is jaw-droppingly raw and packs more emotion into a single chord than some artists can manage in an entire album! But then, this is almost to be expected from a man who has played with the true blues greats, including John Lee Hooker, John Mayall, and Canned Heat. GUARANTEED to please! I can heartily recommend this album! Seriously smokin' blues!

3 out of 5 stars Elecrified blues rock.......2003-03-14

I have about five albums by Walter Trout, and in my opinion they sound very similar to each other. The problem is that a whole album from start to finish just is too much, since there's way too little variation between the songs, and the songs are usually too long - you get bored before Mr. Trout thinks it's enough. "Go the distance" suffers from the same problem as any other Walter Trout album. But some songs are very good, especially the acoustic "Bugle Billy" and "Ride till I'm satisfied" with its powerful guitar riff. The mid tempo rocking "Love so deep" and the slower "Looking for the promised land" with nice vocal harmonies are also better than average. The same goes for the strutting traditional rock `n' roll sounding "I don't want my MTV", with the lyrics "...I don't need no choreography / I'll leave that to Britney Spears / I just wanna play it fast and loud like I've been doing for years..." And Walter Trout is certainly doing exactly what he's been doing for years. If you like the electrified blues rock genre I suppose you'll find pleasure in Walter Trout's "Go the distance".
Walking Distance
Average customer rating: 4.5 out of 5 stars
  • My first REK
  • The REK album
  • Nationally
  • Keen's Best To Date
  • Feel so good, feelin' good again....
Walking Distance
Robert Earl Keen
Manufacturer: RCA
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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  1. Picnic
  2. A Bigger Piece of Sky
  3. Gringo Honeymoon
  4. West Textures
  5. The Party Never Ends

ASIN: B00000DFSN
Release Date: 1998-10-27

Tracks:

  1. Down That Dusty Trail
  2. Travelin Light
  3. Feelin Good Again
  4. That Buckin Song
  5. I'll Be Here For You
  6. Billy Gray
  7. Theme: Road To No Return/Carolina
  8. New Life In Old Mexico
  9. Still Without You/Conclusion: Road To No Return
  10. (Silent Track)
  11. Happy Holidays Y'All/Bonus Track 1

Amazon.com

After 1997's Picnic, an uneven attempt to cross over to the rock side of the alternative-country divide, this Bandera, Texas, singer-songwriter returns to sounds and themes closer to home. Brimming with fiddle, mandolin, and slinky honky-tonk guitars, Keen's eighth album has the lyrical depth and humor of his best work. At the center is a four-song outlaw suite, beginning with Norman Blake's little-known gem "Billy Gray" and ending with the drifter's lament "Still Without You," in which Keen sings, "I climbed the mountains and I swept the plains / I crossed the border and I broke my chains / I walked the back roads till my shoes wore through / I'm still without you." And while the album closes with the bonus coda "Happy Holidays Y'All" (a hysterical sequel to his classic "Merry Christmas from the Family," presented in two giddy takes), Walking Distance finds Keen rediscovering the intense poetry of his Texas muse. --Roy Kasten

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars My first REK.......2006-08-12

This was the first Robert Earl Keen CD I ever bought, out of curiousity knowing he co-wrote This Old Porch with Lyle. It hooked me so much that I have since bought all his CD's and been to a couple of his shows up here in the northwest. The only song I could do without is Happy Holidays, but it is what it is :) All the others are just plain great. I particularly love Feelin Good Again, which sounds to me like one man's version of paradise. I'll Be Here For You is also dead on. The trilogy at the end (not counting Track 11) is the only song trilogy I've ever liked and I absolutely love it. Wish I could hear him play the whole trilogy in concert sometime.

I'm not from Texas, but I sure like all the music that passes through Austin, and for me REK is the best of the best.

5 out of 5 stars The REK album.......2006-01-14

I remember listening to this album while I was attending Texas A&M University. Since Keen is an Aggie himself, attending A&M lends itself to less than a discriminating taste for his music since - let's face it - it's hard not to cheer loudly for any performer who lets you cart your own keg of Keystone to his live show. Still, Keen is the primary reason I harbor delusions that the country music played in Texas is, unlike the drivel they peddle out of Nashville these days, still actual, honest-to-God country music, and for that I am profoundly grateful. Walking Distance is the best of the bunch from Keen, too, though I count several close friends (and fellow Aggies) who would undoutedly disagree with me. The Saturday night party calls for No. 2 Live Dinner, and the pre-live show shindig necessitates a playing of Gringo Honeymoon (if not Bigger Piece of Sky, if Keen is feeling nostalgic on the night you see him live), but pound-for-pound, give me Walking Distance for a f*ing ALBUM. I get the distinct impression (and it might just be this Texan's imagination) that this album is the result of the failure of Picnic (a good album in its own right, if not particularly memorable) to morph Mr. Keen into the country star it seems he's always dreamed of being (see, e.g., The Front Porch Song, the intro to Mariano off the second live disc, or the entire Picnic album for that matter).

I for one, judging from the brilliance of Walking Distance, am glad he didn't make it. There are far too many country pop stars coming from Nashville these days. Lord knows they are stealing our artists who used to have something to sing about (Pat Green, Cross Canadian Ragweed, and Cory Morrow among them). At least to my mind, divine Providence smiled upon Mr. Keen in his failed attempt at stardom, considering that it directly resulted in Walking Distance.

Buy No. 2 Live Dinner if you know nothing about Mr. Keen - you will not be disappointed - it's his most accessible album, something of a Rubber Soul in ostrich boots and a black felt ten gallon hat. Buy Gringo Honeymoon, Bigger Piece of Sky and the Live Album (in that order) next, and you'll see why I have the audacity to compare him to the Beatles. (Thegroundbreaking nature of each is astounding - though the Beatles accomplished their revolution on a world stage, the revolution fronted by Mr. Keen is no less important to those who value the country music tradition of Jennings, Cash, Horton, Nelson, Guthrie and Williams.) But after that, buy Walking Distance (or steal it from a friend - however you can lay your hands on it) - it is the, pardon, Revolver of Texas country - the album that you will continue to put on for its own sake, not just from which to cherry-pick tracks for your next get-together (as you might from Gringo Honeymoon), but for when you put on an album when you're alone in the house, and what you want is a musical experience, dammit.

There are those of us who believe (despite our predilection for the occasional party) that this is what music is about at its core. For me, this feeling is encapsulated in Walking Distance. I hope that, at least for some of you, that same feeling can be found in the same album.

5 out of 5 stars Nationally.......2005-09-10

This was REK's first Nationally released album, and while his sound has changed a little in this album from previous ones, fans are sure to still listen to this one repeatedly. "Feelin'g Good Again" is my favorite song on this disc, but there are so many others I find myself humming or singing at various times. Great for fans of REK, Texas Country, Jack Ingram, Pat Green, Charlie Robison, etc...

5 out of 5 stars Keen's Best To Date.......2004-12-28

Walking Distance is REK's best release to date. From the opening of the rocking "Down That Dusty Trail" through the wonderful cover of Norman Blake's "Billy Gray", to the cinematic "Road to No Return/Carolina" and "New Life in Old Mexico", Keen finally takes his rightful place among the best songwriters in the Americana genre. This album both rocks with a kick as well as soothes with rich, haunting ballads. There's not a bad song in the bunch here. I've been a fan ever since I first heard the "Front Porch Song" some 16 years ago..... ("Robert Keen, Robert Keen, can ya come help me for a minute!", to paraphrase an inside joke from the song). Keen's current band is formidable, to say the least. Keen's guitarist, Rich Brotherton, is one of the most underrated sidemen working today. This is a must buy for all REK fans and is certainly more than a worthy introduction to one of America's most unique musical talents.

5 out of 5 stars Feel so good, feelin' good again...........2004-09-26

I was turned on to Robert Earl Keen years ago by a friend from Houston who was flabbergasted that I did not know who he was -- and once I started listening to his music, so was I!!!! This is one of my all-time favorite CD's -- the kind you can just listen to over and over again and never take out of your CD player... I've had family members fall in love with it and steal it from me twice, so I will be buying it for a THIRD time now! To me, there are song on there that just tug at the heartstrings and are hearbreakingly honest and real, and some that are hilarious... I would recommend this album to any and all REK fans... and anyone who has been unfortunate as of yet to discover this Texas treasure!!!!
Pipa from a Distance
Average customer rating: 5 out of 5 stars
  • Long Road to China
  • East meets modern
  • Magnificent
  • great music!
  • The Best World Music CD in Decades has Arrived
Pipa from a Distance
Wu Man
Manufacturer: Naxos
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

ChinaChina | Far East & Asia | International | Styles | Music
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  1. Chinese Traditional and Contemporary Music
  2. Wu Man and Friends
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ASIN: B00008RV0E
Release Date: 2003-04-15

Tracks:

  1. Invocation
  2. Dancing!
  3. Ancient Shadows
  4. Journey
  5. Hangzhou Blues
  6. Vincent's Tune
  7. Crescent Moon Over The Mountain
  8. Ambushed Again
  9. Full Circle
  10. From A Distance
  11. Bonus Track

Customer Reviews:

5 out of 5 stars Long Road to China.......2006-11-14

It began for me like this, in 1989 or thereabouts, I was flipping through channels on the telly and happened upon the tail end of a documentary on China. I remember little of the program, save the ending. As the credits rolled a young Chinese woman was playing a stringed instrument that I thought at the time was a samisen (gives you an idea how long it had been since I'd seen one of those). I know now it was a pipa. Her performance was strikingly virtuosic. I was amazed at both her amazing technique and equally, the wonderful sounds she was coaxing from this unique instrument. Though I could see the pipa was lute-like, its sound reminded me of the guitar and the banjo, but with a level of sonority that dwarfed both. The player executed what American musicians would call trills and minor bends on the strings that gave the instrument an aural tactile quality that was quite haunting. I was blown away.

Flash ahead 17 years.

I was walking through the Xavier University Library near the magazine section and happened upon an issue of World Literature Today. Famed cellist Yo-Yo Ma was on the cover and there was a blurb about his Silk Road Project. Being a fan of Ma, I decided to pull the mag and check out the article. On one of the pages there was a picture of Yo-Yo Ma, and two other musicians, one of them, a woman, playing a pipa. When I saw the instrument I immediately flashed back to the closing of the documentary 17 years before. The woman playing the pipa was Wu Man. Later, I came here to seek the Silk Road recordings for samples, then on a whim clicked on the link to Wu Man, saw pipa: from a distance, listened to samples and was instantly hooked.

Pipa from a distance is a remarkable recording. Wu Man manages to give the listener a taste of tradition and the contemporary, and at times the surreal. The pipa is the lute of China, with a history spanning two millennia. Its unique voice is not unlike the American banjo at times, but the pipa's dynamic range is far greater. Wearing artificial nails taped on all fingers of the right hand, a master pipa player can coax all manner of sounds from the instrument; individual notes can burst from the instrument in a staccato cascade, picking patterns that sound like rainfall, strings are sometimes trilled as in Blues, chords can be either delicate or thunderous. In capable hands, the pipa can be a formidable means of self expression, and Wu Man conjures the magical on this breathtaking recording.

The blend of musical forms is adventurous and amazing. There is the tranquil first track, "Invocation". Man wafts over the sounds of bells and e-bowed electric guitar, with the use of sound manipulation, the piece is both meditatively traditional, yet bordering on the mildly psychedelic.

"Dancing" is a joyous tune. This piece includes banjo and it compliments the pipa well. Their voices are similar, yet so different, as they call back and forth. The didgeridoo is used to good effect here and elsewhere on the recording.

"Journey" displays the lyrical side of the pipa. Lilting and graceful, yet powerful, Wu Man glides through the piece like a bird in flight. Tabla samples, shaker and didgeridoo provide gentle accompaniment. This is one of my favorites on the CD. I often leave it looped to bask in the beauty of it.

"Hangzhou Blues" was quite a surprise. Wu Man plugs in, connecting her pipa to a wah wah pedal and into an amp. I had this image of her sitting next to a Marshall stack, pipa induced feedback rising behind her. You'd think this wouldn't work, but it exceeded my expectations. The sound is otherworldly, and massive. I had to remind myself she was playing a pipa. This track stands out from the others in sheer daring. She doesn't overplay her hand, and her technique transferred well to the electric context. Hendrix would have loved it (of course, the pipa acoustically would have stunned him).

"Vincent's Tune" is another favorite. The piece slowly builds to a climax that made me think of Meredith Monk, the screeching "toy" used at the end comes very close to sounding like a human voice. The piece exudes an almost overwhelming exuberance.

The last track I'd like to comment on is one of the solo pipa pieces, "Ambushed Again" The pipa alone is incredible. As a solo instrument one can hear how versatile the pipa can be in the right hands. Wu Man bears down on the instrument, drawing out its subtleties and its thunder. Any rock guitarist could appreciate the edgy chordal passage of "Ambushed Again". Man's rhythmic sense shines through on this piece; darting back and forth like a boxer, until the pipa sounds like its being shaken to pieces.

This recording is a great place to start for the novice to pipa music. Here it is very accessible and beautifully produced. Still, one should not overlook the classical pipa music of China. Wu Man has a two disk set of this traditional music. "From A Distance" clearly shows how well she works in collaboration, but alone she is a wonder to behold. I can only hope I get the chance to see her live.








4 out of 5 stars East meets modern.......2006-11-10

What an interesting CD. Pipa from a Distance presents an exciting blend of ancient styles and modern sounds. Very interesting to the ear. Some selections are unusual - almost irritating (but so is Led Zepplin and I own all of those CDs) - but overall a CD for the person who likes variety and sometimes the unusual.

5 out of 5 stars Magnificent.......2005-02-15

Just can't praise this CD too highly.

I usually stick with classical music (Mozart, Stamitz etc) but this CD,has opened up a whole new dimension. I just play it over and over. Never get tired of it.

5 out of 5 stars great music!.......2004-08-23

"Dancing" is my favorite song! I listen to this CD over and over, and never get tired of Wu Man's music.

5 out of 5 stars The Best World Music CD in Decades has Arrived.......2003-04-25

Wu Man is to the pipa, the Chinese lute-like instrument, what Robert Fripp is to the guitar. There are no limits, there is only walking out into the garden to greet the future. The music here is ecstatically inspired and while the Cd begins and closes with sublime traditional tones, what happens in between is the stuff of dreams, of wonder, of giving oneself over to Music so that Music may take you into its confidence.
Not since King Crimson's "Discipline" have I been so thoroughly amazed and inspired by a sustained effort throughout an entire CD. This is not to say that Wu Man is replicating Fripp's Bartok meets Hendrix in style, but certainly in spirit.The opening "Invocation" is as quietly spiritual a piece as you are likely to hear. A bit like Fripp's Soundscapes before the roar of Crimson. "Dancing" is almost Beatle-like and absolutely inspiring. All through I kept expecting to hear McCartney, Lennon and Harrison chime in, and if you're sitting all through this number, you have serious enjoyment issues. "Ancient Spirit" and "Walking to the East" begin an hypnotic, polyrhythmic journey into another culture. Surely Wu Man's participation in Yo Yo Ma's Silk Road Ensemble has given her a sense of adventure, and this sublimely sets the tone for the adventurous and blistering "Shanghai Blues", and here is where Fripp meets his match. The intensity of Wu Man's electric pipa is scorchingly awe-inspiring. This is as brilliant a display of electric blues as Hendrix's "Voodoo Chile, Slight Return." Stevie Ray, Jimi, and the remarkable Fripp would all pay homage to such protean fretwork. And it has a deep blues groove that is just fantastic. If you have ever seen Wu Man in concert, you know this girl can cook, and cook she does!
"Vincent's Tune" returns a sense of innocence to the proceeedings as it opens and closes with a sample from her young son on toy piano and voice. Very reminiscent of Yes's "Circus of Heaven." "White Crane Flying" is a zen like mesmerizing piece worthy of Takemitsu in its subtle complexities. "Ambushed Again" turns up an incendiary heat once more that is resolved in "Bamboo Dreams." Again, I would draw the analogy to Crimson's "Sheltering Sky", a polyrhythmic meditation.
As for the title track, I had steered clear of this disc for a few weeks because I dreaded the prospect that so intrepid a performer as Wu Man might have recorded the treacly pop tune of the same title. Imagine the overwhelming relief when I discovered that this is an original, as is the entire CD, composition setting a certain distance of reflection on the preceeding 50 minutes, before it closes with the hidden track that is just Wu Man singing, and her voice is gorgeous!
All in all, Wu Man has done that rare thing of advancing the art of a tradition with inspired new compositions. There are many wonderful interpreters of the canons of culture. There are few who take that culture on to an inspired new plane. Wu Man has done just that. I hope you will pick this CD up. I hope Amazon will promote it visibly on its site. This is worth the attention. All praise to Naxos for releasing it so affordably. This is the best 10 bucks you'll ever spend on music. Thank you deeply to Wu Man for sharing her vision and her art.

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