Skies Above Skies

Track Listings

1. Om Mani Padme Hum

2. Endless

3. Peace of God

4. El Mie

5. St Francis Prayer

6. Sant Ji

7. God Is

Editorial Reviews
Anna Turner, Hearts of Space
"...a floating ascension, continuously expanding into inexpressible emotion that is but approached by the word remembrance."

Product Description
Demby draws from an international palette of musical mysticism on this 1978 spiritual album. Meditative drones from twanging tamboura, noble organ chords, shimmering waves of the hammered dulcimer, and cello overtones overlap to create sonic tapestries, heady settings for seven chants and prayers sung by Demby.

The Tibetan chant "Om Mani Padme Hum" offers intoxicating layers upon layers of sounds and voices. The Chinese-flavored "Peace of God," with lyrics by Annie Besant, dances suspensefully between the flittering of the hammered dulcimer and the deeply resonant twang of the Chinese cheng (a koto-like instrument). The Chinese mode is employed again on "El Mie." The "St. Francis Prayer" brings words above the plateaus of the hammered dulcimer. The devotional "Sant Ji" brings in just a touch of synthesizer sweetening to create expansive vistas of heaven; listening is almost like flying.

Skies Above Skies,Constance Demby

Skies Above Skies

Skies Above Skies

Black Mages, Vol. 2: The Skies Above
Average customer rating:

The Mages Did it Again

The sweeping collision of poignance and thrash.

Excellent second effort; creative arrangements

Pretty Damn Good

Incredible Sophomore Album

Black Mages, Vol. 2: The Skies Above
Original Soundtrack
Manufacturer: Universal Japan
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Release Date: 2005-01-03

Tracks:

Rocking Grounds
Zeromus
Vamo' Alla Flamenco
Hunter's Chance
Otherworld
Matoya's Cave
Man with the MacHine Gun
Maybe I'm a Lion
Battle with the Four Fiends
Skies Above
Blue Blast

Customer Reviews:

The Mages Did it Again.......2007-07-11

I only recently discovered the Black Mages but their infusing of Final Fantasy music and rock is just plain great. This album is no exception either. I won't go through every song in detail, but I'll talk about the most noteworthy ones.

The Rocking Grounds is a great song to start off with. When you hear it you automatically know what the Mages are about and how they play their music.

Otherworld is an odd change from the original. Usually the Mages rock up a slower FF song, but here they took a hard/scream rock song and turned it into almost pop music. It's not bad, I actually like it, but it's different for sure. I like the original better, actually, but only by a little.

Maybe I'm a Lion is just an amazing song--it's fast and loud and just plain great.

The Skies Above is... well... apparently some people don't like it and I can't tell why. I think it's really amazing. The slow piano tune for Zanarkand plays first, then jumps into rock and keeps going until the unexpected, deep, male opera voice cuts through. At first it seems strange, but when the song really picks up and he gets going it's an experience. Make sure you turn up the volume, though, or the effect is lost. It's like driving a racecar slowly--what's the point? I think this is the best song on the album.

It's a shame the CD isn't cheaper, but being an import I guess it's expected to be expensive. Still an amazing album and a great buy.

The sweeping collision of poignance and thrash........2005-12-17

As a fan of The Black Mages' debut album, I knew I wouldn't have any difficulty loving another LP if they used the exact same structure and formula as the first. Unsurprisingly, this was not the case, and The Black Mages have taken everything that made their eponymous debut special, while adding a significant number of innovations to the table.

1. The Rocking Grounds

...although you wouldn't think so from the first track. This song is very reminiscient of their previous material. Solid, but a bit unmemorable.

2. Zeromus

On the contrary, this song is excellently layered with signature Black Mages guitar sound and extra quirks that make it unique. A very recognizable tune from FFIV, interpreted excellently here.

3. Vamo' Alla Flamenco

Surprisingly yes, this is the same band, juxtaposing near-salsa music with acoustic guitar, infused with the usual hard rock, to make an extremely memorable- arguably danceable track. A highlight.

4. Hunter's Chance

This is a very quality song, dark in tone and driving in its nature. It seems to be one of the more underrated songs on the album.

5. Otherworld

When I first realised this song would be included, I wondered just how they'd pull it off. The band had proven they could reinterpret classical scores into rock anthems such as Dancing Mad, but how could they reinterpret this stunning metal piece from FFX?

The answer, of course, is that instead of "rocking it up", they toned it down. This song is much, much more melodic than its FFX counterpart, with a very competent female vocalist in KAZCO. Another highlight of the album, and very memorable, it will of course draw comparisons with the original, even though these comparisons are fairly undue. As a reviewer, I would say that both songs stand very highly on their own merits.

Now a note on the vocals on this album....there are two songs that feature them- this track, and The Skies Above, which I'll cover later. Speaking frankly, neither of the songs have vocals that the average radio listener would call "good". I note that they are unorthodox and extremely unique, standing out from the music on several levels. Your mileage may vary, but then again the "average radio listener" probably isn't even reading this review, are they?

6. Matoya's Cave

A lovely song, providing a "break" of sorts without ruining the flow of the album. Extremely impressive, and it really showcases the versatility of the band.

7. The Man With The Machine Gun

This song is instantly recognizable and highly enjoyable. One of my favourites off of the album, very-fast paced.

8. Maybe I'm A Lion

I must agree with another reviewer and say that FFVIII features some of the best music in the series, and this reinterpretation is no different. Extremely impressive.

9. Battle With The Four Fiends

An intense track, reminiscient of the work on their first album.

10. The Skies Above

This song in particular seems to draw the most fire from those I've spoken to...and I can't help but disagree. This song is the absolute highest moment of the album, and comparable with Dancing Mad in its brilliance. From the opening piano intro that brings back the stirring emotions of sadness prevalent whenever it appeared in FFX, the song suddenly leaps into intensity with a fast, driving buildup and breakdown. Out of nowhere, vocalist "mr. goo" soars above and beyond all of the instruments with his voice unlike anything I've ever heard. The song continues, with vocal melodies complimenting the ever-surging music impeccably, until the end where the song explodes and calms down to a slow anthem, followed shortly by an outro on keys, bringing the song full circle. The vocals on this track seem to be the main point of contention when it comes to "song sucks" or "song does not suck" arguments, and all I can suggest is that you listen to the song and decide on your own. If you're open-minded and the phrase "loud, accented, operatic male singer" doesn't make you cringe, then you may just end up loving this song as much as I do.

11. Blue Blast- Winning The Rainbow

I'm of the belief that this song is an original composition by the band, but there are obviously those that say otherwise. Nonetheless, it is a quality, fitting ending to a very quality album.

So an underview- this album overall flows better, sounds better, and is more unique than its predecessor, but I still highly recommend listening to their debut first. Nonetheless, if you enjoy Final Fantasy, rock music, and any combination of the two, you're sure to find a satisfying listening experience in The Skies Above.

Excellent second effort; creative arrangements.......2005-08-02

This is The Black Mages' second offering. Their sound in this collection is far more mature than their first offering. Apparently this is partly due to the fact that a great deal of the first album was pre-programmed, and most of the music on this disc was actually performed. The tracks on this disc have a wide variety of styles, more creative arrangements, and fewer gaps in consistency to detract from the listening experience. There are a few real gems on here. The guitarwork is more Satriani-like and less Van-Halen, meaning less crunch and more soaring melody. That's not to say that the crunch is gone; it's here in spades, but there's a lot more variety now. There's also a great deal of virtuosic acoustic guitar. We're not talking classical or anything, but it's pretty darn good for a rock album. Here's my track-by-track breakdown which might be a bit laborious for some, so skip it if you want.

Track 1: The Rocking Grounds (FF III)
-------------------------------------
Right off the bat, we hear a much richer, more mature rock-and-roll style from the Mages. The drums are a little less thrashing, and the music just drives. While this track isn't exactly special, it's a nice intro as to what's to come.

Track 2: Zeromus (FF IV)
------------------------
I love this track. The music just glides. Fans of FF IV (FF II in the U.S.) will recognize the main theme in the middle of the song all of a sudden. Really cool stuff. (Right at 1:08, if you're curious.) It's not the best track on the album, but it's heavily nostalgic for me.

Track 3: Vamo' Alla Flamenco (FF IX)
------------------------------------
This is probably the best track on the album, and is worth the price of the disc alone. Apparently a fan favorite in their concerts, they carry it off beautifully here and build a truly remarkable rock-and-roll piece. Great acoustic guitar inserted in the middle.

Track 4: Hunter's Chance (FF IX)
--------------------------------
This is a totally transformed version of the tune from FF IX. Quirky little tune. They've added some really Satriani-like guitar along with some video-game like synth scales that add nostalgic value to the track. They even threw in a great little piano solo in the middle. Really, everything but the kitchen sink in this tune. Good stuff.

Track 5: Otherworld (FF X)
--------------------------
What's that? Vocals??! Yup, they got a singer for this one. She's pretty good, too. Not exactly Joan Jett, but she rocks enough for this one. Not bad.

Track 6: Matoya's Cave (FF I)
-----------------------------
Very clever little rock ballad with some deceptively simple acoustic guitar. This track probably best displays their new maturity as a band, as it's no longer just heavy-metal; at one moment it's a little folk tune, then it's down and dirty blues, and just for good measure they put in a really cool section in the middle where it's just a synth that sounds like a video game. It doesn't break the flow and it adds some nostalgia. Really terrific work here. Fans of the album Celtic Moon will probably really like the light touch on this particular track.

Track 7: The Man with the Machine Gun (FF VIII)
-----------------------------------------------
I find it really interesting to listen to this one back-to-back with the version on Fithos Lusec Wecos Vinosec. Really, totally different take on the same subject matter. Some great guitar on this track; we're back to Van Halen territory.

Track 8: Maybe I'm a Lion (FF VIII)
-----------------------------------
More FF VIII. FF VIII probably had the best music in the series, but most of the stuff that was available before was orchestral; this takes the final battle music and makes it rock. This is probably how it was supposed to sound on the console, but it didn't work quite as well as it does now. This is probably the "hardest" rock on the disc, and it really does rock. Awesome guitar, especially towards the end.

Track 9: Battle with the Four Fiends (FF IV)
--------------------------------------------
Another quirky rock and roll piece. Nothing special here.

Track 10: The Skies Above (FF X)
--------------------------------
This COULD have been a great, anthemic track. This aims to be this album's "Dancing Mad" (see their first album for info on that track), and it works okay, but a couple things just aren't quite right: First, going from solo piano to straight-out rock just didn't work for me, and second, their choice of a singer was a bit oddball. This is a sort of heavy-metal ballad, but this guy is more of a Broadway-ish baritenor. This should have been sung by more of a rock singer with a more expressive range. He hits the notes (which are really high), but his style is totally at odds with the music around him. The track is still listenable, but I just can't help thinking what it could have been. This track is the only reason I don't give this album five stars.

Track 11: Blue Blast - Winning the Rainbow
------------------------------------------
There's some mystery surrounding this track. It appears to be Final Fantasy related, but noone seems to know where it's from. I found a reference to "Village Beach Soldier Western Team Entrance Theme Song" on one site, but I have no idea whether this is a FF reference or something else. Other folks seem to think it's an original piece by the band. Either way, it's a good tune and it fits well with the rest of the album.

Pretty Damn Good.......2005-04-10

The style they approcahed with this album
is a little more guitar heavy which is
definately a plus. Matoya's Cave if you
remember from FF1 they turned into such
a masterpiece.

The whole album is great. The only flaws
I kind of see are the strange people they
had sing for The Skies Above and Otherworld.
You'd have to listen for yourself. Get this Album!!

Incredible Sophomore Album.......2005-04-08

I bought the first album a while ago and loved almost every song. Especially the Boss Battle theme from FFVII (which to this day I still think is Nobuo's best song ever written) and was exciting to see he created a sequal album. I'm happy they put songs from IX which weren't in the first album (especially Vamo' Alla Flamenco), but am saddened that he didn't put any more of the awesome tracks from FFVII. The guitars are crunchy as hell and have incredible melody. My only beef with this album.. which was my only beef with the old album.. is the synth sound just gets so cheezy and annoying sometimes.. but it's easy to get over.

Average customer rating:

Blue Skies Above
Matt & Shannon Heaton
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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ASIN: B000FTAZ6U
Release Date: 2006-02-28

Tracks:

Thady Casey's & The Reel of Rio
Blackbird
Giant of the Road
Shady Spot
Harvest Time
Belle of the South Shore & Jennifer Ms
Redwoods in Winter & The Small Girl
Death and the Lady
O'Connor Donn's & The Morning Thrush
Monument
Jig (Name Unknown) & Sailing Down Fulton Street
Lucky Dozen & The Skylark

Handel: Alexander's Feast; Concerto grosso in C "Alexander's Feast"

Average customer rating:

Libretto by John Dryden

Handel: Alexander's Feast; Concerto grosso in C "Alexander's Feast"

Manufacturer: Polygram Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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Oratorios | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B00000E3T3
Release Date: 1990-10-25

Customer Reviews:

Libretto by John Dryden.......2003-04-19

If Messiah is the greatest Christian oratorio, then I nominate this a candidate for the pagan crown. The poem is high art most worthy of a Handel to set it to music all the while being scrupulous with the text. But no more of my amateurish opinions, here are some random shorts from Winton Dean's liner notes:

"Alexander's Feast" was an immediate and lasting success. Of Handel's major works only "Acis and Galatia" and Messiah were performed more frequently performed during his life."

"There are seven accompanied recitatives, the most dramatic of all gestures-- and exceptional number even in a three act work-- all of outstanding quality. Most of them occur in the fourth and sixth stanzas where Handel makes the most of his new technique. When the music has excited the King into fighting his battles over and over again and bread a mad over confidence, Timotheous reduces him to humility and tears by recounting the fate of [Persian Emperor} Darius."

"A present deity," they shout around:
"A present deity," the vaulted roofs rebound.
With ravish'd ears
The monarch hears,
Assumes the god,
Affects to nod,
And seems to shake the spheres.

Bacchus' blessings are a treasure,
Drinking is the soldier's pleasure;
Rich the treasure,
Sweet the pleasure,
Sweet is pleasure after pain.
Sooth'd with the sound, the king grew vain;
Fought all his battles o'er again;
And thrice he routed all his foes; and thrice
he slew the slain.
The master saw the madness rise,
His glowing cheeks, his ardent eyes;
And, while he heav'n and earth defied,
Chang'd his hand, and check'd his pride.
He chose a mournful Muse,
Soft pity to infuse;
He sung Darius great and good,
By too severe a fate,
Fallen, fallen, fallen, fallen,
Fallen from his high estate,
And welt'ring in his blood;
Deserted, at his utmost need
By those his former bounty fed;
On the bare earth expos'd he lies,
With not a friend to close his eyes.

" ...Another stroke of genius is Handel's treatment of the famous line "Fallen, fallen, fallen, fallen... He contracts the word to a monosyllable (fall'n), repeats it at unpredictable intervals, both of time and pitch, over pedal notes and staccato violin ostinato, suggests the tragedy of Darius' fall in the harmony, and then varies all these components when the line is repeated by the chorus. It is a supreme example of music's power to enlarge a poetic idea."

----------

Phillip's includes an unusually large and well illustrated booklet.

--------
Donna Brown Soprano
Carolyn Watkinson Contralto
Ashly Stafford Countertenor
Nigel Robson Tenor
Stephen Varcoe Bass

Final Fantasy: The Black Mages 2 - The Skies Above
Average customer rating:
Final Fantasy: The Black Mages 2 - The Skies Above

Manufacturer: Square
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD
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Product Description

The most notable part of this sequel is definitely the live performance portion. In the first album, the guitar and keyboard were played by hand and the rest of the music was synthesized. This made for a very polished piece. In comparison, the sequel is more on the rough side. But, because it's on the rougher side, the live performance grooves are better defined due to the humanistic element of it. Also, the first album was an instrumental and vocals were added for the sequel. Tracks include: 1. Rocking Grounds 2. Zeromus 3. Vamo' Alla Flamenco 4. Hunter's Chance 5. Otherworld 6. Matoya's Cave 7. Man With The Machine Gun 8. Maybe I'm A Lion 9. Battle With The Four Fiends 10. Skies Above 11. Blue Blast

Average customer rating:

Skies Above Skies
Constance Demby
Manufacturer: Sound Currents
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | New Age | Styles | Music

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Faces of the Christ
Attunement
Light of this World
Sunborne
SONIC IMMERSION - Vibrational Sound Healing Attunement

ASIN: B00005OMVY
Release Date: 1978-11-15

Tracks:

Om Mani Padme Hum
Endless
Peace of God
El Mie
St Francis Prayer
Sant Ji
God Is

Album Description

Demby draws from an international palette of musical mysticism on this 1978 spiritual album. Meditative drones from twanging tamboura, noble organ chords, shimmering waves of the hammered dulcimer, and cello overtones overlap to create sonic tapestries, heady settings for seven chants and prayers sung by Demby.