Kaia

Kaia

Track Listings

1. 19

2. Test

3. Salamander

4. Madame

5. 16

6. HMPPHH

7. Statue

8. Delilah

9. No Sides

10. Memory

11. Julie of the Wolves

12. Mudball

13. Keep Us Empty

Tracks:

Litany To Thunder: How Can I Recognize My Home
Litany To Thunder: Singing Aboard Ship
Litany To Thunder: Curse Upon Iron
Litany To Thunder: The Singer's Childhood
Litany To Thunder: Songs Of The Ancient Sea
Litany To Thunder: The Bishop And The Pagan
Litany To Thunder
Litany To Thunder: The Lost Geese

Amazon.com

This startling record begins with two sopranos and a gentle piano sounding for all the world like Enya singing Satie; two tracks later we have a hair-raising chorus and drum hurling curses upon iron (which makes the tools of work and war). It's all the work of Estonian composer Veljo Tormis, who uses simple, even primitive melodies and ancient folk poetry (perhaps too simple for some listeners, especially those who understand no Finnish or Estonian) with exciting, sometimes atonal but always accessible accompaniment for chorus and/or instruments. The results can be plaintive and calm or vigorous, even feral. The effect is rather like Orff's Carmina Burana with less symphonic glamour but more musical substance. The most entertaining piece on the disc is "The Bishop and the Pagan," which retells (in a way) the story of St. Henry, who was martyred on a frozen lake in 1158 by an angry peasant with an ax. An alto and two tenors sing a medieval Latin poem in praise of Henry to a very chantlike melody in parallel fifths; meanwhile, baritones and basses pound out (softly at first) an ancient Finnish lyric told from the peasant's point of view. (You can guess how things end up.) The highlight is when the Henry trio is reduced to a wordless on-pitch howling while the peasant's chant is at its strongest--followed by a surprisingly witty ending. Not coincidentally, the next piece on the record, "Litany to Thunder," depicts the sacrifice of an ox to the god of thunder and rain. Frankly, it's terrifying. --Matthew Westphal

Customer Reviews:

More primeval and minimalist than "Forgotten Peoples".......2007-05-20

Partly based upon previous experience with "Forgotten Peoples," and under the influence of other reviewers' enthusiasm, I purchsed "Litany to Thunder."

Portions of the work are rather like "Carmina Burana" as a previous reviewer indicated, and I also found some of it akin to another Orff work, namely the opera "Antigonae" or perhaps even Stravinsky's "Les Noces."

Nonetheless, although "Forgotten Peoples" was truly a major musical discovery for me (with very few drawbacks), I cannot say the same for "Litany to Thunder."

It's a fascinating work, but the first and last pieces on this disc are irritatingly repetitious. In spite of this, the novelties of the combined vocal/instrumental combinations in all of the music are very expressive of austere power, a constantly-shifting runic starkness with raw percussiveness, from near-lullabies to full-throttle timpani.

I'd say overall that it's worth buying, but it would not be my first choice for a Veljo Tormis disc. That would be "Forgotten Peoples."

Estonian Music.......2004-09-22

Why anyone would expect Tormis to sound like Arvo Part just because they are both Estonian is beyond me. No one is surprised that Steve Reich sounds nothing like Aaron Copland. If anything, Tormis' music is more "ethnically" Estonian than Part's, whose music is structured more after the Eastern Orthodox Church and his own unique "tintinnabuli" style. Tormis works in the area somewhere between the faithful recordings of an enthomusicologist like Alan Lomax, and a composer like Zoltan Kodaly (or Aaron Copland!) who took his inspiration from the native music of his country and added his own interpretation to it.

It would be unfortunate if anyone avoided this music out of a discomfort with so-called "Paganism" or "Shamanism." This music is valuable and needs to be heard. "Curse Upon Iron" especially is brilliantly imaginative. "The Lost Geese" achieves an almost hypnotic effect through the simple, repeated melodic line. I have had both songs running through my head since I heard them and it has not been unpleasant. The other works on the CD are memorable as well. This music is the real thing -- authentic and powerful.

fell beauty.......2003-07-25

One of the best classical CDs I have heard, ever! haunting and beautiful!

To put it simply - Beautiful.......2003-02-07

I heard the song "How Can I Recognize my Home?" as I was flipping through different radio stations driving home last night. I've always loved the type of music that has a choir singing in Latin, especially the sopranos. It was so beautiful, I had to pull my car over and wait until the piece ended so I could write down the name and buy it as as soon as possible. I'm a filmmaker, and I could see this vision for my next movie accompanied by this piece. It was so beautifully sad; the emotion in this music is simply beyond words. I highly recommend that everyone listen to this music.

Unbelievable 'Curse upon iron'.......2001-09-29

I heard (and saw) one piece from this CD performed live under direction of Kaljuste (but not with the same choir). It was just unbelievable and though I've heard many amazing choral performances before, this was just so different than anything else. 'Curse upon iron' by Veljo Tormis is obscure and brilliant at the same time, so one should listen to it without prejudice. Then it can be pure joy.

Average customer rating:

Arvo Pärt: Da Pacem [Hybrid SACD]

Manufacturer: Harmonia Mundi Fr.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000H0MGV4
Release Date: 2006-10-10

Average customer rating:

Lovely
Unspeakably Awesome
Kaia is an awesome chick who keeps the mood light. Love her

Kaia
Kaia
Manufacturer: Chainsaw Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B00000219N
Release Date: 1996-08-27

Tracks:

19
Test
Salamander
Madame
16
Hmpphh
Statue
Delilah
No Sides
Memory
Julie Of The Wolves
Mudball
Keep Us Empty

Customer Reviews:

Lovely.......2001-05-26

Kaia's self-titled solo album(she's the lead singer of the group the Butchies) is a simple, lovely acoustic folk effort. I still get the shivers when she sings "...these chairs...they hold me like I wish you would hold me" in "16," and the "I'm still waiting for you" part in "No Sides." Good stuff.

Unspeakably Awesome.......2000-07-07

It has some of the most beautiful love/love lost songs. Great songwriting, a gorgeous voice and spot-on guitar. Very raw and perfect in an edgy way.

Kaia is an awesome chick who keeps the mood light. Love her.......1999-10-06

Kaia is the greatest chick rocker next to Ani DiFranco

Average customer rating:

Baltic Voices 3 [Hybrid SACD]

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ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Release Date: 2005-12-13

Average customer rating:

The end to a remarkable journey

Baltic Voices 3

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ASIN: B000B66OQ2
Release Date: 2005-10-11

Tracks:

The Stomping Bride
Statements
Nuits, Adieux
The Dazzled Eye Lost Its Speach
Das Grobe Lalula
Tapetenblume
igel Und Agel
Unter Zeiten
Alleluia
Meditatio
Hej, Z Gory, Z Gory!
Cimna Nocka, Ciamna
Wcoraj, dzwcyno, Nie Dzisaj
A Torunia Ja Parobecek
Wysula Burzycka, Bandzie Desc

Customer Reviews:

The end to a remarkable journey.......2005-10-17

It is with some sadness that I write this review, because this disc marks the third and final installment of the Baltic Voice series, a musical endeavor that explores an exceptionally diverse and rich canvas of choral music that has otherwise been largely neglected. Paul Hillier and the Estonian Philharmonic Chamber Choir form a remarkable ensemble of musicians, and the selections of music as well as the performances never cease to be impressive in any of the three volumes that have been released!

The third volume contains music that expands upon the tonal and harmonic languages found in the first two volumes. While there are still some pieces that can be considered more traditionally tonal, we find many selections veer off into dissonance and "sound effects," (such as Saariaho's "Nuits, adieux" where we find the voices whispering, panting, groaning, and so forth) while others use techniques more reminiscent of minimalism. This is by any means not disparaging; on the contrary, I find it rather engaging and multifaceted, two terms that could incidentally be used to characterize the entire series.

There is no doubt in my mind that this CD deserves five stars. The quality of the recording is superb; the choir performs the often arduous selections with a commanding vigor; and the musical selections offer welcoming contrasts between music that is tonal, at times dissonant, other times simplistic, but all the while rewarding to the intellect. If you have bought the previous volumes, do yourself a favor and round off this remarkable musical journey! If you have not bought or listened to previous volumes, and you love choral music and are willing to let your mind and soul experience unexplored and profound music of the genre, I encourage you to look into this series.

Average customer rating:

*title here*
stevie nicks cover
it rocks my world!

Ladyman
Kaia
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Little Brave One 97
Disappear Without A Trace
You Make Me Cry That Special Way
Off (Extended Dance Mix)
Where In The World Is Greencastle Indiana?

Customer Reviews:

*title here*.......2000-11-24

I love Kaia... Her cds are so great when you're upset or happy or anthing. Her cds are the only two cds I have that I can listen to over and over and over again whatever mood I'm in without getting sick of them, and I do. If you're into the whole girl-with-guitar thing, you should try this. It's great.

stevie nicks cover.......2000-08-18

the cover of this cd is actually a recreation of the 1981 release by Stevie Nicks called "Bella Donna"..which by the way is an excellent cd..great new artist this is!

it rocks my world!.......1999-01-30

let me just say that if you were heartbroken once before or are at the moment hit this album up for some heavy emo tunes! its not all about arrows through the heart,there are some songs about growing and figuring things out. also a great back up group with her. she's also in a new band called the butches,check it out ya all. if you were a big team dresch fan and at one point had a big fat crush on kaia i recommend adding her new stuff to your music selection

Average customer rating:

Erkki-Sven Tüür: Crystallisatio

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Average customer rating:

!
KAIA!

Oregon
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Customer Reviews:

!.......2002-06-18

beautiful beautiful beautiful!
gentle, smooth and definatly identifyable as kaia.
"catch" is a cover of the cure song and is nicely done while "baby animals" is a wonderful, emotional insturmental.

KAIA!.......2002-06-12

I just bought this cd and I love it! It's very soft and pretty and ya... and kaia-ish...... if that makes any sense....... So you should buy it too! And buy a Butchies cd while you're at it!

A New Joy: Orthodox Christmas [Hybrid SACD]

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A New Joy: Orthodox Christmas [Hybrid SACD]

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Average customer rating:

Butchies- Young and spunky
best butchies album!
Lesbian Rock is cool
a classic!
The Butchies are rad!

Population 1975
Butchies
Manufacturer: Mr. Lady Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Ms. Doolittle
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Customer Reviews:

Butchies- Young and spunky.......2003-03-19

So, after falling in love with "Are We Not Femme" and "Three" is was good to see the Butchies' roots. Liked the album a little less than the others, but it's still worth listening to...
eleanor is a really freakin' sweet ditty
they rock

best butchies album!.......2002-05-14

I never heard of the Butchies until I saw them perform as the opening act for SLeater Kinney. I was so amazed at how good their songs and performance was that I had to buy there album immediately and it lead to me buying all of their other albums and Kaia's solo albums. And no, you definitely do not have to be a lesbian to enjoy this band.

Lesbian Rock is cool.......2001-04-16

The cd in and of its self rocks. The music is kick a**. And the whole lesbian thing makes the lyrics incredibly exciting and wonderful. The Butchies rock, lesbians rock and homophobes just don't.

a classic!.......2000-04-29

this one is the best riot-girl, lesbian albums ever! i have only listened to it once but it is already one of my favorites. it has the perfect mix of in-your-face stuff and from-the-heart songs. if you like sleater kinney, team dresch, and bikini kill you will love this album. and even if you never heard of the those bands and just like good music with some meaning behind it, i would recommend this to you. and by the way......it's not just for girls/lesbians. fun for the whole family!

The Butchies are rad!.......2000-01-04

It's a CD I can't stop listening to -- I played it once and now all the songs are in my head and I dance around all day singing them. The Butchies can make me dance, they can make me swoon. They definately rock rock rock.

Music Review:

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