Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
Isobel Campbell, former cellist and vocalist with Belle and Sebastian and the main force behind the Gentle Waves, turns in a laidback debut under her own name. A pleasantly jazzy, sophisticated companion piece to her tribute to Billie Holiday released in 2002, Amorino sounds like a lost soundtrack to some cool French film from the 1960s. There's quite a lot of variation, and the arrangements are subtle throughout. "Monologue for an Old True Love," for one, melds Morricone horns and strings to a Spector-ish drum sound, swinging Wes Montgomery-ish guitar lines and a chorus that quietly explodes into girl group harmony. Elsewhere, elements are reminiscent of Joao Gilberto, Marine Girls, Nick Drake, Lee Hazlewood, and Smokey and Miho. There's even some straight-ahead Dixieland jazz on "The Cat's Pyjamas." Her voice may barely rise above a whisper on every track, but Amorino is unabashedly unironic, delicately joyous, and the perfect prelude to a nap some lazy Sunday afternoon. --Mike McGonigal
Amorino,Isobel Campbell,Instinct Records,Chamber Jazz,Chamber Pop,Indie Pop,Pop,Rock,Rock/Pop
Amorino
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Amorino
Isobel Campbell Manufacturer: Instinct Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD  General
| Alternative Rock
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Indie Rock
| Indie & Lo-Fi
| Alternative Rock
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General
| Indie & Lo-Fi
| Alternative Rock
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Chamber Pop
| Indie & Lo-Fi
| Alternative Rock
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| Music
General
| Jazz
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| New Age
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| Rock
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Pop Rock
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ASIN: B0000CNY1V Release Date: 2003-10-07 |
Tracks:
Amazon.com
Isobel Campbell, former cellist and vocalist with Belle and Sebastian and the main force behind the Gentle Waves, turns in a laidback debut under her own name. A pleasantly jazzy, sophisticated companion piece to her tribute to Billie Holiday released in 2002, Amorino sounds like a lost soundtrack to some cool French film from the 1960s. There's quite a lot of variation, and the arrangements are subtle throughout. "Monologue for an Old True Love," for one, melds Morricone horns and strings to a Spector-ish drum sound, swinging Wes Montgomery-ish guitar lines and a chorus that quietly explodes into girl group harmony. Elsewhere, elements are reminiscent of Joao Gilberto, Marine Girls, Nick Drake, Lee Hazlewood, and Smokey and Miho. There's even some straight-ahead Dixieland jazz on "The Cat's Pyjamas." Her voice may barely rise above a whisper on every track, but Amorino is unabashedly unironic, delicately joyous, and the perfect prelude to a nap some lazy Sunday afternoon. --Mike McGonigalCustomer Reviews:
IF YOU LIKE THIS,TRY,,,.......2007-02-21
Thanks Amazon.......2006-04-05
Mesmerizing and beautiful.......2005-08-10
Neat!.......2003-10-08
Three of the tracks (October Sky, Why Does My Head Hurt So?, Poor Butterfly) are wistful and/or wispy instrumentals. They're good, but because they're instrumentals, they're the weakest tracks on the record. See the main charm here is Isobel's charming soprano. Her chantuse style of singing is complemented by very jazz percussion, acoustic bass, charming flutes and even a full orchestra most of the way through.
For working in a genre as much as she does here, there's surprising variety among the tracks. The title track is a barely there affair that (except for the french vocal at the end) sounds halfway between the scores for a James Bond flick and The Nightmare Before Christmas. It's followed by The Breeze Whispered Your Name which belongs in a 1960's coctktail bar, little black dress and all. A little later on, The Cat's Pyjamas recalls big band era swing, the aforementioned instrumental Why Does My Head Hurt So Bad? has a country tinge added by a harmonica melody, and the charming Time is Just the Same is probably the closest to Belle and Sebastian this record comes, if that means anything to you.
The lyrics are what you might expect, but that's not a bad thing. Many of the songs revolve around love in all it's forms. Johnny Come Home, obviously calls a love home, There is No Greater Gold chronicles the on and off of a relationship, Song For Baby is a message of hope ("And there are those who'll bring you love sweet love"). The most fascinating turn lyrically as far as I'm concerned, though is Monolouge for An Old True Love, which seems to be almost a counterpoint to Stu Murdoch's B&S song I'm Waking Up to Us (which, I understand was written about his relationship with Bel).
Basically, I'd say that this is a mood peiece for sure, not the kind of thing you can just toss on at any moment. But if you feel like laying back and chilling out, then this meets all the qualifications of a great record: it's catchy, clever and very artsy-cool.
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Amorino
Isobel Campbell Manufacturer: Snowstorm Records ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD General
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
Indie Rock
| Indie & Lo-Fi
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
General
| Indie & Lo-Fi
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
Chamber Pop
| Indie & Lo-Fi
| Alternative Rock
| Styles
| Music
General
| Jazz
| Styles
| Music
General
| New Age
| Styles
| Music
General
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
Pop Rock
| Pop
| Styles
| Music
ASIN: B0000D96UK Release Date: 2006-09-05 |
Tracks:
Album Description
First solo album from former Belle & Sebastian singer. Recorded over the course of three years, this album includes collaborations with ex-Vaseline Eugene Kelly, Portisheads Adrian Utley and a 27 piece orchestra. Isobel has also been nominated for the Mercury music prize for her work with Mark Lanegan. Snowstorm. 2006.
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Amorino (Extra Tracks)
Isobel Campbell Manufacturer: Beatball ProductGroup: Music Binding: Audio CD ASIN: B000KKDY12 |
Product Description
Korean Exclusive Edition Featuring 2 Bonus Tracks 'A Millian Arms to Hold You' and 'The CatS Pyjamas (Alternative Version)'. 15 Tracks. Comes with Book-shaped Digi-pak.Pop Music:
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