Ancient

Editorial Reviews
Product Description
Take an extravagant excursion through the ancient civilizations of Egypt, Mesopotamia, the Indus Valley and China. Kitaro manages to transport the listener to a mystical and contemplative place with the glorious textures of Great Pyramid. This magical journey also features the majestic and dramatic resonance of Nile and the eloquently evocative Unicorn, with it's airy, almost playful melodies.

Ancient manages to create audio imagery with exotic, unpredictable sounds, ancient wind instruments, and among other things, the synthesizer. The result is a sound that seems primeval, yet Kitaro's artistic sensitivity makes it distinctly modern, ultimately exploring the connection between humans and the earth itself, which remains eternally beguiling and wonderously captivating in its mysteries.

Ancient,Kitaro,Domo Records,Contemporary Instrumental,Ethnic Fusion,Japan,New Age,New Age / Meditation,Pop,Progressive Electronic

Ancient

Tracks:

Incantation
The Gates Of Istanbul
Caravanserai
The English Ladye And The Knight
Kecharitomene
Penelope's Song
Sacred Shabbat
Beneath A Phrygian Sky
Never-Ending Road (Amhrán Duit)

Amazon.com

It's been nearly a decade since Loreena McKennitt's last studio album, The Book of Secrets, but An Ancient Muse picks up the caravan exactly where she left off on her mystical journey through the cultures of the Middle East and northern Sahara. The Canadian singer opens this album the same way as she did her last two recordings: with an incantation, calling out in a wordless voice across an echoing space, cleansing the air and the mind. What follows is a lot like those albums as well, a pan-global excursion centered on Middle Eastern themes and instruments cast into a dramatic exotica. Oud, dumbek, kanoun, hurdy-gurdy, duduk, nyckleharpe (a Swedish-keyed fiddle), and other ancient sounds from the region and beyond ornament her music, though "ornament" might no longer be accurate. With the exception of Hugh Marsh's gypsy violin solos and a handful of other players, it's the Western instruments that serve as ornaments on An Ancient Muse. McKennitt long ago evolved the Celtic sound that launched her career. She's virtually abandoned the harp, which hasn't appeared on her CDs since 1991's The Visit. The lone uillean pipe on "Beneath a Phrygian Sky" sounds like an echo calling from the McKennitt's past. Nevertheless, the Celtic ballad form remains central to her music, and she still draws inspiration from ye olde writers of the British Isles. Lyrics from Sir Walter Scott adorn "The English Ladye and the Knight," recalling "The Lady of Shalott." But despite McKennitt's soaring alto, the tale drags under the dirge-like meter and ponderous arrangement. The epic track of this album is the aforementioned "Beneath a Phrygian Sky," with distorted electric guitar accents and an acoustic guitar melody carrying McKennitt on another journey into her romanticized version of the ancient world. --John Diliberto

Customer Reviews:

An Ancient Muse.......2007-08-01

Although Loreen McKinnet is one of my very favorite singers this is not one of my favorite albums.

Sounds A Bit Like M E H D I.......2007-07-26

Oh, Wow! This is a cd that will be liked by all who enjoy M E H D I, E N Y A or even Loreena Mckinnetts Previous works. It is the very essence of good new age. So tranquil, yet so spirited, this cd is a refreshing break from my well-worn collection, I just keep wanting to listen to it over and over again. I am amazed! It reminds me somewhat of Celtic Women, but still very unique. This is music to the soul. Absolutely relaxing, as well.

ALSO RECOMMENDED: M E H D I ~ Instrumental Paradise Volume 8..A True Gem.

Ancient Muse Review.......2007-07-25

This is classic, recognizable McKinnett. If you are a fan, you'll like it. If you are not, you will say, "What's new?"

Not my style...!.......2007-07-18

Sounds from the celtic music craze, zillions of years ago. We've heard it all before. And yes... they do call that music and have the nerve to label it under jazz...! Only one piece of advice keep your money or buy something else with it, unless you need a musical decor for cheap smooching.

Loreena is back in Style.......2007-07-13

Loreena McKennitt is one of my all time favorite recording artists...and she truly deserves the title of artist...she writes, arranges and performs her own music in her own studio, and her voice is gorgeous, her music lush, exotic, rich in complexity and arrangement, and just a delight for the soul. It is wonderful to have her in good tune, sharing her melodic and stirring "musings" not in an ancient way at all, but in a modern, satisfying and imaginitive manner that communicates the deepest aspects of her talents directly to our own hearts!

Essential Mozart: 32 Of His Greatest Masterpieces

Average customer rating:

Gorgeous music, bad quality cd.
Great music, low quality reproduction
A nice introduction
Mozart is the reference point for good classical music.
Mozart's music

Essential Mozart: 32 Of His Greatest Masterpieces

Manufacturer: Decca
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Similar Items:

Essential Bach
Essential Beethoven
Essential Tchaikovsky
Mozart: The Great Piano Concertos, Vol. 1
Beethoven Collection: Symphonies Nos. 1-9, Complete Recording (Box Set)

ASIN: B00005A8JZ
Release Date: 2001-03-13

Tracks:

Eine kleine Nachtmusik, K525: Allegro - Academy Of St Martin-In-The-Fields
Piano Concerto No.21 In C Major, K467: Andante - Radu Lupu
Le nozze di Figaro: Voi che sapete - Cecilia Bartoli
Clarinet Quintet In A Major, K581: Largetto - Peter Schmidl
Ave verum Corpus, K618 - James Vivian
Vesperae solennes de confessore in C major: Laudate Dominum - Emma Kirkby
Concerto For Flute And Harp In C Major: Andantino - Lisa Beznosiuk
Le nozze di Figaro: Overture - London Philharmonic Orchestra
Cosi fan tutte: Trio: Soava sia il vento - Renee Fleming
Symphony No.39 in E-flat Major, K495: Andante con moto - Chicago Symphony
Horn Concerto: Rondo - Barry Tuckwell
Don Giovanni: Serenade Deh, vieni alla finestra - Bryn Terfel
Contredanse In C Major, K609 No.1 'Non piu andrai' - Vienna Mozart Ensemble
German Dance, K605 No.3 'Sleigh Ride' - Vienna Mozart Ensemble
Piano Concerto No.23 In A Major, K488: Adagio - Vladimir Ashkenazy
A Musical Joke, K522: Presto - Vienna Mozart Ensemble

Tracks:

Symphony No.40 In G Minor, K550: Molto allegro - Vienna Philharmonic
Piano Sonata No.16 In C Major: Allegro - Andras Schiff
The Magic Flute: Queen Of The Night: Der Holle Rache - Sumi Jo
Clarinet Concerto In A Major, K622: Adagio - Franklin Cohen
Don Giovanni: La ci darem la mano - Cecilia Bartoli
Serenade in Bb Major, K361: Adagio - London Wind Soloists
Der Vogelfanger bin ich ja - Hermann Prey
Le nozze di Figaro: Dove sono - Kiri Te Kanawa
Violin Concerto No.3 in G Major, K216: Adagio - Joshua Bell
Requiem, K626: Lacrimosa - Vienna Philharmonic
Litaniae de venerabili altaris sacramento: Dulcissimum convivium - Margaret Marshall
Piano Sonata No.11 In A Major, K331: Rondo alla turca - Andras Schiff
Don Giovanni: Champagne aria: Fin ch'chan dal vino - Bryn Terfel
Divertimento No.17 in D Major, K334: Minuet & trio - Vienna Mozart Ensemble
Exsultate, jubilat, K165: Alleluja - Leontyne Price
Symphony No.41 In C Major, K551 'Jupiter': Finale: Molto allegro - Vienna Philharmonic

Customer Reviews:

Gorgeous music, bad quality cd........2007-04-13

The music is Mozart's and is fantastic. The last piece on the first disc
stutters halfway through, and seizes up my system. I don't have time to return items to Amazon. On the positive side, most of the time Amazon provides quality products and service. I gave 3 stars because I love the music.

Great music, low quality reproduction.......2007-01-30

this is a great collection of his work... the only problem i have found so far is that my copy has irritating "clicks" over the recording.

A nice introduction.......2006-02-22

This is a good well rounded collection to dip you into the classical world of Mozart.

Mozart is the reference point for good classical music........2005-10-20

A good collection of his best work and I find it helps me focus when I'm writing or contempating life.

"We exposed these animals [rats] in utero and then sixty days after birth to different types of auditory stimulation and then we ran them in a spatial maze. And sure enough, the animals that were exposed to the Mozart completed the maze faster and with fewer errors. And now what we're doing is we're removing their brains so we can slice them and see neuro-anatomically precisely what has changed as a function of this exposure. So it may be that this intense exposure to the music is a type of enrichment that has similar effects on the spatial areas of the hippocampus of the brain." --Dr. Frances Rauscher

Dr. Frances Rausher sums up what I feel happening when I expose myself to this incredible composer (Mozart).

I have yet to grow tired of any of the tracks yet, but I will invest in more of his work soon.

Mozart's music.......2005-10-17

This is a review of Mozart's music, not the cd. Mozart is praised to the skies by all and sundry, including most musicians, including my father, who no doubt has his reasons. But my feeling about Mozart has always been that there is nothing in Mozart's music that is other than music. There is no logical impressionism, there are no events that seem to be transpiring as in, for example, Beethoven. Mozart is just music. Mozart is to music as pure mathematics is to science. It hints of nothing else and has no application. I find some of his music irritatingly trivial, for example, Eine Kleine Nachtmuzic. This is mechanical music that one can imagine being piped in by a totalitarian government that insists everyone be cheerful. If Disneyland was an eighteenth century totalitarian state, Mozart would be its Muzak. The populace would be awakened, like Chinese train passengers, at 6AM by the strains of some allegro. They would arise and busy themselves with their ablutions in a state of thoughtless cheer, never for one moment leaving the surface of things. That being said, the second movement of Mozart's clarinette concerto is the music that one will hear on going into heaven.

Average customer rating:

BUY! BUY! BUY!
Great game - great music
Hug your pillows girls
best video game soundtrack ever.
classical music listeners stop complaining

Halo 2, Vol. 1
Various Artists
Manufacturer: Sumthing Else
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Halo: Original Soundtrack
Halo 2, Vol. 2
Halo, Books 1-3 (The Flood; First Strike; The Fall of Reach)
Ghosts of Onyx (Halo)
The Art of Halo

ASIN: B00067RF6E
Release Date: 2004-11-09

Tracks:

Halo Theme Mjolnir Mix
Blow Me Away - Breaking Benjamin
Peril
Ghosts Of Reach
Follow (1st Movement Of The Odyssey) - Incubus
Heretic, Hero
Flawed Legacy
Impend
Never Surrender - Nile Rodgers
Ancient Machine
2nd Movement Of The Odyssey - Incubus
In Amber Clad
The Last Spartan
Orbit Of Glass
3rd Movement Of The Odyssey - Incubus
Heavy Price Paid
Earth City
High Charity
4th Movement Of The Odyssey - Incubus
Remembrance
Connected - Hoobastank

Amazon.com

Further proof that the 15-year-old male is the nexus of contemporary popular entertainment, this anthology of music from and "inspired by" the sequel to the earth-conquering Halo saga also showcases how capably the video game industry can trump even Hollywood's vaunted production values. The original synth-heavy underscore by Martin O'Donnell and Michael Salvatori is filled with enough brooding, mock-Goth atmospherics, and pulsing exotica of indeterminate ethnicity to give the Hans Zimmer stable a run for their money, while a slate of (mostly) worthy rock star guest turns give it a welcome edge. Legendary axe-slinger Steve Vai's sinewy riffing punches up the reworked main theme and "Never Surrender," while alt.metal contenders Breaking Benjamin serve up the suitably dramatic inspired-by cut "Blow Me Away." But it's Incubus' four-part "Odyssey" suite that's the centerpiece, bridging 1970s prog and modern rock with its moody aura and evocative musical dramatics. --Jerry McCulley

Customer Reviews:

BUY! BUY! BUY!.......2007-03-05

This CD stayed in my truck's CD player for months before getting tired of it. Enough said.

Great game - great music.......2007-01-10

My son wanted this Cd. I had never sat long enough to listen to the music when he played Halo, so I didn't have a clue what I was buying. He let me listen to some of the tracks once it arrived and I had to "borrow" it from him so I could download the cd onto my pc. Needless to say I bought volume 2 and the original Halo soundtrack cd as well. They may belong to my son, but I love these cds too!

Hug your pillows girls.......2006-08-06

THe only reason I am writing anything about this album is because it contains the Odyssey by Incubus, and its probably some of their best work and will go down as their most unnoticed. While the rest of your nerds are huggin your pillows at night thinking about your video games and the "gnarly instrumentals" on this album you sit there and bash Incubus' work. The first track by them, Follow, is not all that great however it was re-released on an additional cd with their Alive at Red Rocks DVD and it sounds sooooooo much better on that cd (with some real lyrics) But after listening to the Odyssey I was really hoping this to be a new direction for Incubus, a more proggressive/conceptual sound. Whether this is the direction they go on with their new album is yet to be heard. Its a shame that this work will go unnoticed, and the only reason it will be that way because a bunch of losers decide to try and impress people with (what they think) is a sense of music just because its of a classical nature. Yes, the rest of the music on the album is amazing, and I give big ups to its composition, but come on people, show some love to good music when its presented to your faces.

best video game soundtrack ever........2006-08-03

i understand that many people are a bit angry with breaking benjamin and hoobastank being in here. i'm not particularly happy myself with the last track, but i think contemporary music is appropriate here, albeit lyrics may not be the greatest form of expressing the mysterious feeling behind everything. i think o'donnel and salvatori have what it takes to compose a score of music, but it's not a score, it's a soundtrack. i found that if you don't like them you can just skip them. the second to last track is a great way to end the soundtrack.

classical music listeners stop complaining.......2006-05-10

The worst part of this album was songs with lyrics (breaking benjamin, techno, hoobastank)...i dont understand then why people are upset with the incubus - follow has one word the whole song (two if you count "yeah") and their instrumental songs are brilliant, floyd-esque at times. for those of you reading others criticizing this album, ignore them, ignore the three bad songs on this album, and purchase it and enjoy it.

Average customer rating:

Pure beauty
CELESTIAL MELODIES!!!!!
The most unique CD I own. Absolutely Magical!
Heavenly !
This should be 5 STARs only

New Ancient Strings
Toumani Diabaté
Manufacturer: Hannibal
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Kaira
In the Heart of the Moon
Moffou
Boulevard de l'Independance
Amassakoul

ASIN: B00000JFRU
Release Date: 1999-06-22

Tracks:

Bi Lambam
Salaman
Kita Kaira
Bafoulabe
Cheiknah Demba
Kora Bali
Kadiatou
Yamfa

Amazon.com

Back in the early '70s, a recording by kora masters Sidiki Diabate and Djelimadi Sissoko called Cordes Anciennes first brought this rich acoustic music of Mali to the world. More than 20 years later, their sons, the now world-famous Toumani Diabate and the junior Ballake Sissoko, have come together to pay tribute to their fathers with 1999's New Ancient Strings. While many of the songs come from the original repertoire, the music is all modern Mali. Toumani Diabate has toured the world as a soloist, as a member of fusion groups like Songhai (with flamenco fusionist Ketama), and he has incorporated subtle changes into his music that makes it a living affirmation of the strength of the ancient harp of Africa. Together Diabate and Sissoko explore their fathers' roots while traveling their own new routes. This is the first all-acoustic kora recording Diabate has done since his stunning Kaira, released more than 10 years prior to New Ancient Strings, and it shows a mature and forward-looking artist that would make the elder Diabate proud. --Louis Gibson

Customer Reviews:

Pure beauty .......2007-03-22

Another reviewer said that this music 'grows on you"- but on me it didn't have to. I think this is the most purely beautiful music I've ever heard (that, and certain pages of Bach and Mozart).

Even though - or because - it's desert music, it conjures up fast-flowing water at night: it's mellow, quiet, deeply relaxing, yet full of energy. I can listen to it before going to bed or while at work. I've never tried to play it when other people are around though, it strikes me as 'private moment' music. Think I might play it at my next dinner party to see whether the conversation stops!

I've been listening to West African music for years now, and it's all beautiful. But if you have to own only one CD of music from the Sahel, make it this one.

CELESTIAL MELODIES!!!!!.......2005-10-02

THIS IS THE KIND OF MUSIC I EXPECT TO LISTEN TO, WHEN I GO TO HEAVEN!!!!....WELL,.......IF I END UP GOING THERE!!!
I DON'T KNOW OF A TUNE MORE HARMONIOUS, ETHEREAL AND DIVINE THAN "KITA KAIRA"......OF ALL THE EARTHLY MUSIC THAT I'VE LISTENED TO, THIS IS THE CLOSEST THING TO HEAVENLY MUSIC!!!!
"YAMFA" IS ANOTHER OUTSTANDING MELODY FROM THIS GEM!!!
FROM THE "KAIRA" ALBUM..."ALLA LA KE", "KONKOBA" AND "KAIRA", COMPLEMENT THESE MASTERPIECES OF HARMONY!!!
I JUST HAVE TO THANK GOD FOR ALLOWING ME TO LISTEN TO THIS HEAVENLY MUSIC,.....RIGHT HERE..........ON EARTH!!!
TOUMANI AND BALLAKE THE TALENTED ANGELS ON KORAS!!!

The most unique CD I own. Absolutely Magical!.......2004-06-07

Thank God for Amazon's music samples. It's impossible to describe to someone just what this plucked African string music sounds like. You have to hear it for yourself. It's absolute auditory refreshment.

Heavenly !.......2003-05-17

this is one of my favorites. needless to say, it is beautifully ritualistic in the light of tranquility.

This should be 5 STARs only.......2003-02-12

Only 4.5 stars? What? Come on? This album is one of the most serene, tranquil, and masterful African albums I have heard. And I personally own over 120 albums from the continent. This is one of my favorites. Why? Well, the moment I turn this on, I am instantly transformed underwater to a surging seaweed garden. The seaweed is going back and forth slowly and in unison. I am submerged, weightless and floating. (Yes, I am sober.) The mood created by the instruments and musicians in this album is incredible. Very few albums affect my mood the way this one does. And I can listen over and over and over and it does the same effect everytime. I wouldn't be surprised if the reviewer at Amazon.com gets this album and listens to it while he/she is posting my review. This really is a 5-star work and only that. You will not be disappointed with owning this.

Average customer rating:

Ony one world
sublime
Uplifting, absolutely beautiful!!
Disappointing
Deva Premal Embrace

Embrace
Deva Premal
Manufacturer: White Swan
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Essence
Dakshina
Love Is Space
Songs for the Inner Lover
Kirtan: The Art and Practice of Ecstatic Chant

ASIN: B000066RG4
Release Date: 2002-05-07

Tracks:

Om Tare
Om Namo Bhagavate
Hari Om Shiva Om
Om Ram Ramaya
Shree Ram Jai Ram
Shante Prashante
Rang De
Teyata

Amazon.com

Deva ("Deva" is a Hindu title for divine) Premal has attracted a following by framing ancient Hindu mantras within atmospheric, contemporary settings. The result on Embrace, her third release, is at times flavorful, at other times undistinguished, but it produces more intriguing moments than duds. On occasion, Premal aspires to Enya-like reverence (e.g., tracks 2 and 4), then elsewhere coos her ancient text atop gentle grooves and jazzy flutes (tracks 3 and 6) in a manner suggestive of Deep Forest. Some might describe it as "smooth chant." Highlights include "Shree Ram Jai Ram," a beautifully realized cross-pollination of East and West (highlighted by Kit Walker's free-floating piano and Premal's resonant choir of voices) that hints at what Joni Mitchell might create if she tried her hand at Eastern music. --Terry Wood

Album Description

EMBRACE, the long awaited new album from Deva Premal, finds this best-selling singer at the height of her art, expressing the ancient wisdom of mantra through a contemporary musical vision. Her radiant voice, richer and more assured than ever before, floats above a cool, sensual groove provided by some of today's finest world fusion artists and producers Miten and Kit Walker (Walela, Kitaro, Neal Schon).

Deva Premal enthralled audiences worldwide with THE ESSENCE and LOVE IS SPACE. That phenomenal success continues with EMBRACE. Its relaxed, uplifting feel and elegant sense of space can only heighten the spell already cast by this mantra enchantress.

"Majestic, deep and full of love," Deva Premal's EMBRACE is a lovely and moving next chapter from an artist whose incredible potential is only beginning to unfold.

Album Description

Deva Premal's Embrace expands on the Eastern Indian fusion and ethereal vocals of her previous work, combining timeless mantras with contemporary arrangements. Innocent, soothing and laid-back. Features 8 tracks of sensual music for yoga, packaged in a slipcase. White Swan. 2004.

Customer Reviews:

Ony one world.......2007-07-17

If I have only one world for this CD, that world would be:

GREAT

I love this woman, her voice is so perfect, strong and clear...

sublime.......2006-11-12

Being Indian I started on this CD with trepidation, expecting a western pop version of indian chants. But Deva produces an authentic bhakti experience and dissolved my fear. Her music, though somewhat different from my past Indian experience, blissfully conveys the Spirit that are the words themselves. In India it is said that if one has bhakti in the heart then the singing of and about the Names will convey the inhernt bliss, irrespective of all else.
Listen to this CD and feel the bliss.

Uplifting, absolutely beautiful!!.......2006-09-02

I think this is one of Deva's best...her voice, the music are all deeply moving and wonderful...there are solemm pieces and also joyful ones that literally make me dance! Lots of drumming and even a little jazzy at times...I could listen to this CD over and over again and I never tire of it!!

Disappointing.......2006-06-08

I found this disc disappointing compared to Deva's brilliant first CD entitled The Essence - which is a must have. What seems strange to me is that she is on the inside cover touching Buddha's chest, while the first track sounds like make-out music. Hmmmm.... For what it's worth, an Indian Brahmin confirmed that some of the mantras are concoctions, too, which does not really set a good precedent. People copy Deva's chanting in their kirtans and in this respect her work is influential. Although being innovative can be commendable, spiritual traditional chants are, in my opinion, off limits for whimsical changes. I wish she would get her mantras from reliable sources in the future.

Hard core Deva fans won't notice, of course, and will love this.

Deva Premal Embrace.......2006-03-20

I really like this choice of music for practicing yoga at home. It makes the time fly by when during my yoga workout and the music is appropriate and calming.

Average customer rating:

Austerity and beauty all mesh on "The Nine Worlds".
Ambience Spectacular!
Pretty nice music, a little bit short of Enigma.
If you liked Enigma's "Cross of Changes"...
Austere Ethereal Beauty

The Nine Worlds
Achillea
Manufacturer: Sequoia Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Le Spa Sonique
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ASIN: B0009XT87Y
Release Date: 2005-08-02

Tracks:

Achillea - Prelude
Ragnarok - Twilight of the Gods
Odins Hill
The Monks of Lindisfarne
Cape Porcupine
The Seeress Prophecy (Daydreaming)
Land of the Elves
Shears from Scar
The Nine Worlds
Staraja Ladoga
Othila - The Rune Masters
Achillea - Exodus

Album Description

From the co-creator of ENIGMA !

Highly acclaimed co-producer and guitarist of the multi-platinum group Enigma, Jens Gad brings you a spellbinding downtempo musical odyssey into the ancient mythology of his Scandinavian homeland. He is joined by the entrancing classical vocals of Helene Horlyck, to co-create a sophisticated and hypnotic chill-out journey through "The Nine Worlds" of archaic legend. At once stirring and calming, entertaining yet relaxing, Achillea achieves a vibrantly new and hauntingly beautiful musical vision that artfully blends evocative ambient New Age atmospheres with European dance club electronica. Achillea elegantly weaves the mystery of ancient myth - a world of seers, elves, and rune masters, into a lush, richly layered sonic landscape with velvety melodies of delicately bluesy guitar playing, slow sensuous grooves and silky smooth vocals sung in Latin and ancient Swedish. Both intimate and cinematic, this uniquely transcendent masterpiece is full of deep beauty and mysterious wonder that will nourish your soul.

"Achillea is the new project for producer/guitarist Jens Gad, co-producer, co-writer and one of the central creative forces behind popular group Enigma (alongside Michael Cretu). For his first solo project, Gad presents an atmospheric album of tunes themed after Danish myth. Enigma fans should definitely take note, as there are many common denominators between both groups: the same laid-back "Enigma-style" beats, Gregorian chant, whispery vocals and Gad's signature electric guitar. Achillea differs by offering an album steeped in dreamy ambience. This album slower paced and more ethereal, making it better suited for the mind than the dance floor. Adding to the appeal is the wispy, sensual vocals of singer Helene Horlyck, who sings on many of the tracks. Serene, slightly trippy and sure to bring on a bout of Enigma nostalgia, this is a must for worldbeat/chill music fans." - Music Design In Review

Customer Reviews:

Austerity and beauty all mesh on "The Nine Worlds"........2007-02-11

I was entranced by the debut release by artist Achillea. To my peasant surprise, I leanred that it is also a side project of Enigma's guitarist and in terms of side-projects, Achillea is almost as good as Enigma.

The debut album has a similar trademark to Enigma's album but the tracks stand out altogether with beauties like "Odin's Hill", "The Garden if Lisfaraine" and "Seeres Prophecy". Overall, "The Nine Worlds" is almost like a sequel to Enigma's third album from more than a decade ago.

This is highly recommended.

Ambience Spectacular!.......2006-11-27

I am a big fan of early Enigma and having found a first solo release by co-producer of Enigma's Jens Gad, I decided to purchase this release from Amazon.com. Jens is a superb handler of the guitar and it was a pleasure to hear his contributions on Enigma especially on 'Cross Of Changes' and the song 'Turn Around'. But it is good and fitting to see his first solo album be released, and whilst there is alot of similarity with Enigma, he brings to his album a more reflective, softer ambient driven sound that is both spiritual and refreshing. It is a nice chill-out album.

'Achilles' provides sweet and sensual beats with gregorian chants, soft guitar rifts, and a ethno-flavoured landscape. It should be noted that both Jens and his singer Helene are danish and this album is fashioned after numerous Danish folklore. Therefore you expect Danish lyrics and you do get a mixture of Latin and Danish with some English mixed in. All in all the mix is beautifully orchestrated and well-done.

The 12 tracks on this albums offers the listener pure music bliss, and it will take you on a journey that is much needed and is soul nourishing. There is no need to go through each track. This album will mean different things to all people who listen to it. Open your mind, have a open opinion and enjoy. I have and still do.

Pretty nice music, a little bit short of Enigma........2006-11-22

It's quite nice, althought definitely not an Enigma, the female voice is beautiful, but quite monotonous all across most of the songs. Still a good addition to one's New Age sound collection.

If you liked Enigma's "Cross of Changes"..........2006-11-14

Only now that I've heard The Nine Worlds do I appreciate how significant Jens Gad's influence was on the sound of Cross of Changes-era Enigma. The guitar style from that album's "I Love You, I'll Kill You" permeates, but never dominates this album, and I love it. The synth-based writing and arrangement styles are familiar as well. The title track, "The Nine Worlds," is something of a sonic "missing link" between the two albums, with a touch of chant, tablas, and a guitar sound one step closer to "I Love You, I'll Kill You" than the rest of this album.

The first Achillea song I heard was "Cape Porcupine". It remains my favorite song from the album, and is representative of what you'll hear throughout The Nine Worlds. Helene Horlyck's vocal stylings are featured on over half of the album's tracks, and she shares writing credits on those. Her high end is somewhat breathy, and has a piercing edge that frustrates my appreciation of her contributions, but the lower end of her range is beautifully smooth. "Othila - The Rune Masters" is a welcome exception, which I can only attribute to its guest writer/producer, John Tonks.

The Nine Worlds is a great listen for a bit, but there isn't enough variety to make it a really great album. I'm perfectly happy to listen to the whole thing passively, but when I'm listening actively, I typically only get through the first five or six songs ("Odin's Hill" is a highlight I never skip) before changing CDs. I would expect your affinity for The Cross of Changes to be a good indicator of how much you'll like The Nine Worlds.

Austere Ethereal Beauty.......2006-08-30

This album needs a few listens to allow its true beauty to unfold.
If you are after the lush percussive sensory smorgasboard of Enigma , you will be disappointed.

Put aside your preconceptions and open your mind to the pure spare instrumental arrangements accompanied beautifully by Helene Horlyks sublime ethereal vocals . Everything is pared back to a delightful minimalism that sometimes sounds so spacious that the songs seem otherworldly.

Definitely a match to the other great works of Delerium, Enigma , Amethystium etc

Average customer rating:

Music to your ears...
Very relaxing to listen to
Outstanding program
Andre Rieu's Tuscany
"Tuscany" is one of Andre Rieu's best shows! Excellent CD!

Tuscany
Andre Rieu
Manufacturer: Denon Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Live In Dublin
Romantic Moments
At The Movies
The Christmas I Love
The Flying Dutchman

ASIN: B0002SXIQ8
Release Date: 2004-09-21

Tracks:

Romance Anonyme - Jeux Interdits
I Love You
Italiana
Barcarolle
La Paloma
Lagune Waltz
Intermezzo From Cavalleria Rusticana
Roses From Tyrol
Chanson d'Amour
O Mio Babbino Caro From Madame Butterfly
William Tell Overture
Opera Medley
Italian National Anthem
Light Cavalry
Ode To Joy From Symphony No. 9

Customer Reviews:

Music to your ears..........2007-04-05

I can't say enough about this musician. The music will sooth your soul. A must have for your car CD player, it will help you through the traffic :}

Very relaxing to listen to .......2007-03-07

I'm a new fan to Andre Rieu. I didn't start getting into his music until I caught his Christmas special on my local PBS station last year. I found his performances highly energetic and playful which is rare in this often serious musical genre. After catching a repeat performance of "Tuscany", I decided to make the cd version my next Andre Rieu purchase. Whenever I listen to "Tuscany", I can easily see Andre Rieu performing with his orchestra. His skills as a violinist is exquisite. He is very subtle and is never out of tune. "Tuscany" begins with three of the most beautiful classical numbers I have ever heard. The beautiful orchestral melodies puts me at ease. I wished that the cd included "The Rose" (the Bette Midler tune) that can be seen on the dvd. I loved the operatic version. It would have been a nice addition to the cd. Of all the operatic numbers my favorite has to be "Ode to Joy". I have to admit though the singers have a terrible tendency to caterwaul on the songs which can be quite disconcerting for these ears. On the other hand the same can be said about a lot of opera singers as well as modern pop singers. There wasn't a single song on the cd that I didn't enjoy listening to. Andre Rieu's love for music really does shine through his music here. I hope some day I will have the opportunity to see him perform live. I don't think nothing can compare to seeing this talented artist live. Until then his cds will do nicely.

Outstanding program.......2007-02-10

What wouldn't I give to have been enjoying this magnificent program in that beautiful square in Italy? Fantastic performance of unbelievabe quality and program choices. I wouldn't trade this DVD for anything.

Andre Rieu's Tuscany.......2007-01-10

Haunting melodies taking you to the hills of Tuscany where this concert was originally held. Plays well while travelling as well as at home.

"Tuscany" is one of Andre Rieu's best shows! Excellent CD!.......2007-01-10

I'm an Andre Rieu fan and can definitely review this CD as one of his best! It was well-recorded with good sound quality, and you can hear the excitement of that evening in Tuscany as you listen to this CD. I would also recommend the DVD/Video of that performance.

Average customer rating:

Great Band
Not a bad influential acid house album, but it's so cheesy and unaccessible that most non-acid house fans simply won't like it
One of the greatest music industry jokes has turned into a truly classic LP ...
Definitive dance music
Great Dance Classic!

White Room / Justified & Ancient
The KLF
Manufacturer: Arista
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Ambient | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

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Chill Out
Doctorin' the Tardis
The History of the JAMS a.k.a. The Timelords
Hits & Mixes
Pump Up the Jam: The Album

ASIN: B000002VMN
Release Date: 1992-02-20

Tracks:

What Time Is Love?
Make It Rain
3 A.M. Eternal
Church Of The KLF
Last Train To Trancetral
Build A Fire
The White Room
No More Tears
Justified And Ancient

Tracks:

Stand By The Jams
Stand By The Jams (12in Version)
'The White Room' Version
All Bound For Mu Mu Land
Let Them Eat Ice Cream

Amazon.com

A crazy experiment in music-industry manipulation, the KLF remain one of dance's more groundbreaking acts. Having already scored hits as the Jams and the Timelords, Bill Drummond and Jimi Cauty christened the KLF with Who Killed the Jams? Though they were originally considered part of England's acid-house scene, the KLF's high-energy mix of disco-diva vocals, rapping, breaks, and samples was truly club-friendly pop. The White Room contains three of the group's greatest moments, the top 10 hits "What Time Is Love?," "Last Train to Transcentral," and "3 A.M. Eternal." Amid their success, Drummond and Cauty retired from the music industry, deleting their back catalogue in the process. The White Room is a fitting (if somewhat short) epitaph that stands the test of time. Its futuristic musical themes are somewhat silly, but genuine musicianship makes the songs themselves quality fun. --Liisa Ladouceur

Customer Reviews:

Great Band.......2007-05-16

This has always been one of my most favorite CDs. I was leaving in France when it came out. I was always disappointed that it was not as popular here in the states.

Not a bad influential acid house album, but it's so cheesy and unaccessible that most non-acid house fans simply won't like it.......2006-01-04

This was a very influential acid house album in its day, but it hasn't aged well at all. It's not terrible, but most people simply will hate it. It's DEFINITELY acid house - you either like it or you dont (though some songs contain some interesting instrumentation ideas. As a whole, though, it's hard to listen to and very much a guilty pleasure). I can't imagine that most people would have fun dancing to this as that's essentialy all it's good for. I'm pretty confident in saying the only song most people will enjoy is the first one (which really starts about a minute into the song - it's still a VERY guilty pleasure). The rest are pretty hard to listen to, even IF parts of the songs are interesting (usually the electronic bits). I would've given it 2.5 stars, but its historical influence pushes it to a 3. Not recommended unless you're interested in the history of acid house or if you're just a die-hard acid house fan.

Highlights include:
"What Time Is Love? (LP Mix)"
"Make It Rain" (certain parts of it)
"3 A.M. Eternal (Live)" (certain parts of it)
"Church Of The KLF" (some of the electronic parts are interesting)
"Last Train To Transcentral (LP Mix)" (parts of it)
"The White Room" (SMALL parts of it)
"No More Tears" (it's not bad)

One of the greatest music industry jokes has turned into a truly classic LP ..........2005-08-14

If you ran into James Cauthy & Bill Drummond today, they would probably tell you how much they hated the KLF (which stood for the Kopyright Liberation Front). After releasing "The History of the Jams a.k.a. the Timelords" LP on TVT (which features sample theivery that rivals the Beastie Boys' "Paul's Botique") and realising a #1 hit song ("Doctorin' the Tardis"), he two musical pranksters wanted to release a pop album, just to see how easy it is to win a #1 single. And you know what? They did just that.

If one listens to "the White Room" today, it's obvious that they were intentionally trying to make the most ridiculous album they could think up of. (Recall, they even released a book before this album's release entitled "The Manual: How to Make #1 Singles With the Least Amount of Effort"). This is a full-on yet masterfully constructed prank. Just listen to the lyrics of the version of "Justified & Ancient" that closes the LP (the one WITHOUT Tammy Wynette): "They're justified & they're ancient / And they know what time is love / Rockman, he's just made of bricks / and Kingboy loves his screws / The JAMS don't need no master plan / To do whatever, whatever they can / Oooh nah-nahnahnahnah" This is not high art by any means. Yet, the more one sees that it's a joke, the funnier the album gets.

But the music? For just about being 15 years old at this point, it holds up REMARKABLY well. Opening track "What Time is Love?", after the brief mellow chorus of "Justified & Ancient", a sample of MC5's "Kick Out the Jams" kicks in, and then full-on techno keyboards start up (which sounds like the theme that guys who made the "Mortal Kombat" theme blatantly stole from). It's a dance-floor grinder in the highest order, and harder than any of the songs on the album.

"Last Train to Transcentral" continues on the electro-dance-burner trend. "3 A.M. Eternal," though good, isn't even one of the best singles on the album. Though the radio singles are no doubt fascinating (and hearing Tammy Wynette, a country starlet, sing jibberish like "All Bound for Mu Mu Land" is very amusing), songs like the title track get lost in the mix. And "The White Room" is a fantastically catchy piece of work, featuring mellow almost monologue-ish verses (which somehow sound like Chris Martin nowadays), and an irresistable oboe (!) rythym line. Even the 4-chord keyboard melody of "Make It Rain" manages to make its catchy way into your head. And to balance it all out, the mellow "Build a Fire" makes surprisingly effective use of slide guitars for the penultimate chill-out song on the LP.

It's an odd contradiction of an album. For something that was made as a total joke and only to make money, it holds up to the test of time amazingly well. Sure, they may be waiting for World Peace before they record again ... but, for all we know, this could be just another elaborate joke ...

Definitive dance music.......2005-06-14

It has to be said, although many have done so already, that the KLF's 1992 LP The White Room is probably the best dance music album ever recorded. Splitting its nine tracks between chart-friendly techno and blissed-out ambient, the disc covers a diverse range of styles which serves to make it all the more essential.

Bill Drummond and Jimmy Cauty were obviously well ahead of their time, and their popularity in the UK proves that (only five singles released, charting at 5, 1, 2, 2 and 4 respectively). They disbanded on 5 May 1992, and took their entire back catalogue with them, which included the legendary Black Room LP.

The highlights on this album are obviously the three dance singles, of which Last Train to Trancentral is the best. But the other cuts, such as Justified and Ancient, shouldn't be ignored.

This album is such a masterpiece, I've had to give it five stars-- the only time I've ever done so.

Great Dance Classic!.......2005-01-20

Hey
the packaging is very missleading! I thought it was going to be two cds but then discovered that they added the single to JUSTIFIED AND ANCIENT onto the White Room Album which i thought was so cool! So i don't have to have two cds and keep trading.
I bought this cd for the JUSTIFIED & ANCIENT song but then found out that there are some great dance tunes along with some slow grooves. BUILD A FIRE is a great song to chill to. The other singles WHAT TIME IS LOVE?, 3 A.M. ETERNAL, LAST TRAIN TO TRANCENTRAL are very good and bring me back to the days in Bismarck. So if you remember when you first heard these song then they'll take you back!
My love though is JUSTIFIED & ANCIENT
STAND BY THE JAMS 7" (this is the radio edit and is only 3 min long)
STAND BY THE JAMS 12" (this is a longer version with a break that i think is very cool a guy comes on and explains about the Justified and ancient traveling in their ice cream van very cool)
ALL BOUND FOR MU MU LAND (this has Tammy singing the Chorus but Maxine Harvey sings the lyrics. This is 7 min long also. Very cool)
LET THEM EAT ICE CREAM (this is like a dub version it has the guitar form the song and the hype men talking but no words just the music)
All in all i love this cd!

Bella Tuscany: Music Inspired by Tuscany

Average customer rating:

Bella Bellisimo
Very nice collection of Italian classical repertoire
Beautiful

Bella Tuscany: Music Inspired by Tuscany

Manufacturer: Telarc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000294RMQ
Release Date: 2004-06-22

Tracks:

O Mio Babino Caro - Erich Kunzel
Quando M'en Vo' - Erich Kunzel
Italiana - Jesus Lopez-Cobos
Danza Rustica - Jesus Lopez-Cobos
Sonate XIII - Empire Brass Quintet And Friends
Allegro - Yolanda Kondonassis
Allegro Non Molto - Yolanda Kondonassis
The Nightengale - Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
The Cuckoo - Atlanta Symphony Orchestra
Siciliana - Angel Romero
Che Gelida Manina - Fernando De La Mora
Humming Chorus - May Festival Chorus
Adagio - Angel Romero
Allegro - Paul Patterson
Di Provenza Il Mar, Il Suol - Erich Kunzel
Intermezzo Sinfonico - Erich Kunzel

Customer Reviews:

Bella Bellisimo.......2007-07-07

A wonderful compellation of Italian classical music. I love to hear it while I'm driving; it makes road rage disappear.

Very nice collection of Italian classical repertoire.......2007-01-11

Very enjoyable listening to this classical CD. I also highly recommend the CD of this series "LaBelle France Music Inspried by France".

Beautiful.......2007-01-09

I bought the CD after hearing it at a friend's home. It's quite different than the music I typically listen to; but it's quite lovely. It's very relaxing and reflective.

The Most Relaxing Harp Album in the World... Ever!

Average customer rating:

The Most Relaxing Harp Alblum in the World...Ever!

The Most Relaxing Harp Album in the World... Ever!

Manufacturer: Angel Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Preludes | Forms & Genres | Classical | Styles | Music

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The Harmonious Harp

ASIN: B000AXWGXG
Release Date: 2005-10-04

Tracks:

Rrie - Claude Debussy
Gymnope No. 3 - Erik Satie
Sonata in A, K.208 (Andante e cantabile) - Domenico Scarlatti
Siciliana - Ottorino Respighi
Piano Concerto No. 5 in E-Flat, Op. 73 Emperor - II Adagio - Ludwig Van Beethoven
Sonatine, Op. 30 - II Calme et expressif - Marcel Tournier
Allemande & Courante (from French Suite No. 6 in E, BWV 817) - Johann Sebastian Bach
Arabesque No. 1 in E - Claude Debussy
Pavane of the Sleeping Beauty (from Ma M lOye) - Maurice Ravel
Lute Concerto in D, RV 93 - II. Largo - Antonio Vivaldi
Sarabanda - Nino Rota
Siciliano (BWV 1031) - Johann Sebastian Bach
Concerto for Harp & Orchestra in G Minor, Op. 81 - II Romanza (Andante) - Elias Parish-Alvars
Andante (from Violin Sonata in A, BWV 1015) - Johann Sebastian Bach
In a Landscape - John Cage