Ideal [Extra tracks]

Track Listings

1. Intro

2. I Don't Mind

3. Things You Can't Do

4. Whatever [Radio Version]

5. Creep Inn

6. Get Down With Me

7. Get Gone

8. Ideally Yours

9. All About You

10. Break Your Plans

11. There's No Way

12. Jealous Skies

13. Never Let You Go

14. Tell Me Why

15. No More

16. Skit-Pigeon

17. Sexy Dancer

18. Get Gone [Remix Radio Version]

19. Outro

Ideal,Ideal,Virgin Records,Contemporary R&B,Pop,R&B,Soul/Reggae/Rhythm & Blues,Urban

Tracks:

De Profundis [Out of the Depths of Sorrow]
Ascension
Circumradiant Dawn
Cardinal Sin
Mesmerism
Enigma of the Absolute
Advent
Avatar
Indoctrination (A Design for Living)

Album Description

Out of print in the U.S.! Import pressing of this classic 1985 sophomore album from one of the 4AD label's most popular and influential bands. At the core of Dead Can Dance is guitarist Brendan Perry and vocalist Lisa Gerard, who created a body of work that remains invigorating and uniquely their own. Nine tracks. 4AD.

Customer Reviews:

A transitional album -- and a good one.......2007-04-14

Made up of the duo of Lisa Gerrard and Brendan Perry, Dead Can Dance melded their own unique and changing sound from a variety of influences. Spleen and Ideal, Dead Can Dance's second full album, can be best seen as a transition from their 80s new wave/dark pop beginnings towards the more orchestral/operatic sound of their next album, Within The Realm of a Dying Sun. As such, it features some of the best of both these worlds.

The two opening tracks feature strings, horns, and spine-tingling vocal work from Lisa, conjuring up associations of medieval liturgy, classical dirges and dark opera, and on Enigma of the Absolute, Brendan sounds a bit like a goth Frank Sinatra, crooning mythically-tinged lyrics over a background of harpsichord, thundering tympani and pulsing string section. By contrast, his songs The Cardinal Sin and Advent utilize more standard drums and bass backing, and the combination of crashing 80s backbeat, wailing vocals and shimmering Yang Ch'in (Chinese hammer dulcimer) turn Lisa's track Avatar into a thrilling dark wave headbanger anthem.

If you think you may be interested in the group's early sound and/or their rich and distinctive middle period, this CD not a bad place to start your explorations.

Brendan Perry's brooding romanticism makes him the modern Lord Byron.......2006-10-15

This CD has a great mix of the voices of Brendan Perry with his masculine seductive baritone and that of Lisa Gerrard, whose voice reminds me of what ancient Greek and Roman priestesses must have sounded like as they chanted to the gods.

The instrumentation is very well done with African drums mixed with violin and cello for a mellow string sound. However the trombones are powerful and strategically placed and the timpani adds a sense of the Mediterranean.

Brendan Perry at times sounds brooding, romantic, and passionate like a contemporary Lord Bryon. His lyrics are usually more easy to understand that Lisa Gerrard whose voice is strongest when she evokes the Middle Eastern traditions.

The five strongest works on the CD are De Profundis, Ascension, The Cardinal Sin, Enigma of the Absolute, and Indoctrination.

Baudelair! not spleen.......2006-09-15

Spleen et Ideal is the title of a section of XIXth century poet Charles Baudelair's Flowers of Evil (Les fleurs du mal).

Esophagus and Disenchantment.......2006-09-13

I never understood the title of this album. A spleen is an internal organ no matter how much poetry you read.
Nevertheless...: This album from way back in 1985 was a big underground hit in England at the time which I'm sure was a big help for them. A credit to British forsight and taste if not humility. Usually this is thought of as a transitional album for them as while they still had some post-punk..or...um...goth?..elements going on with the bass guitar and the doom doom dish dish dish drum machine (they would use drum machines latter but the "world" sense would be dominate)..drum amchines DO have soul by the way, esp. here. This release also streched foward...and more so than I thought when I first heard this back in '89 or so. I just got this again in 2006 and it has been a lot of fun to rediscover. The group here are stretching further forward than I thought atb the time with the big timpanai drums and the trombones.
I turns out to be a very fun listen and the dramatic intensity of the first two tunes shows that this group had an extra level of talent and was destined for great things.
This album has a foggy, mukery and sombre quality. It takes alot of listenings for me to pick out the lyrics. It almost gives me a headache..bu the kind of headache one might get if a spirit was entering ones' body which I think might even be happening here. This group is THAT amazing. That said..I listened to this album 9 times in a row yesterday as if I was starving for some aspect of it. I expected this to be a pretty-cool transitional album bya great band..but it is kind of an underrated masterpiece. It's just that on the next record they would really explode....

Immacculate Cat-Head Music for Toddlers and Thizz Kids.......2005-12-06

Dead Can Dance's 1985 effort "Spleen and Ideal" is a collection of solid jams from the original Australian lords of thizz..Brendan Perry and Lisa Gerrard..it is groovy cult music for all generations and must be listened to carefully, and obsessively..it is best in the wee hours of the morning, after a long day/night i.e. 4-5am..expensive speakers or headphones are highly recommended for this particular musical journey..i implore you all to get this bad boy under your belt QUICKLY, time is running out.

-Dr. Gonzo, PHDizzle

Average customer rating:

Sublime

The Ideal Condition
Paul Hartnoll
Manufacturer: A.C.P. Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music

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Live at Glastonbury
Please
We Are the Night
From the Archives, Vol. 1
From the Archives, Vol. 2

ASIN: B000OPP7PY
Release Date: 2007-06-04

Tracks:

Haven't We Met Before?
For Silence
Simple Sounds
Please
Unsteady Waltz
Nothng Else Matters
Patchwork Guilt
Aggro
Dust Motes

Album Description

UK pressing of the 2007 debut solo album from former Orbital member Paul Hartnoll. Nine tracks including the single 'Please' featuring The Cure's Robert Smith on vocals. Also includes collaborations with Joseph Arthur ('Aggro'), Brighton's Lianne Hall ('For Silence') and South London's Akayzia Parker ('Nothing Else Matters). ACP Recordings.

Album Details

2007solo Debut Album from One Half of the Electronic Duo Orbital, his First Major Release Since He and Brother Phil Disbanded the Group. Work on the Album Began in Summer 2004. "i Wanted to Do Something Different from What I'd Done Before, that was the Point of Not Doing Orbital," Says Paul, "it Just Took Time to Discover Exactly What that Was…" Guests Appearances on this Project Include the Cure's Robert Smith on "Please", the Metro Voices Choir, Singer/Songwriter Joseph Arthur ("Aggro"), Brighton's Lianne Hall ("For Silence") and South London's Akayzia Parker ("Nothing Else Matters."). The Album Takes a Remarkable Journey Into the Realms of the Possible While also Recalling the Familiar Aspects of Paul's Previous Recordings. "this Album's Got a Lot of Film Influences on It," Says Paul, "all the Old Favourites the Michael Nymans, the John Barrys, Ennio Morricone, and You Can Hear a Lot More of Danny Elfman on this One, I Think".

Customer Reviews:

Sublime.......2007-07-10

A solid work. Inspirational. Like most great music, it takes a few plays to break-in (at least for me). With each listen I keep finding new moments of brilliance in each track.

Let go of Orbital, though you might hear some Orbital-esque strings/piano, it's rare. Sometimes sans beat.

One other note. Never been a fan of The Cure, but the more I listen to track 4 the more I like Robert Smith on vocals... it works well.

Track 5 could easily have been in the soundtrack for the Royal Tenenbaums or any film classic of the past century, amazing.

I wouldn't say that the album is perfect, but it stands up and demands attention.

Sousa: Marches; Band of HR Royal Marines; Lt. Col. G.A.C. Hoskins

Average customer rating:

Sousa
Sousa By the Royal Marines
Still Among the Best
How Sousa Should Sound

Sousa: Marches; Band of HR Royal Marines; Lt. Col. G.A.C. Hoskins
John Phillip Sousa , Lt. Col. G. A. C. Hoskins , and Band of HR Royal Marines
Manufacturer: EMI Classics
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Marches | Miscellaneous | Styles | Music

Classic Big Band | Swing Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

$7.99 and Under | Classical Music Blowout | Stores | Music

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Fennell Conducts Sousa
The United States Marine Band Performs Sousa Marches
Sousa's Greatest Hits
Stars & Stripes Forever and the Greatest Marches
Sousa Original II / United States Marine Band

ASIN: B0000CE7FX
Release Date: 2004-06-01

Tracks:

King Cotton
The Gladiator
Semper Fidelis
The Belle Of Chicago
The Invincible Eagle
Manhattan Beach
The Liberty Bell
El Capitan
The Washington Post
The Crusader
The Black Horse Troop
The Fairest Of The Fair
The High School Cadets
The Stars And Stripes Forever
The Pride Of The Wolverines
Hail To The Spirit Of Liberty
From Maine To Oregon
The Diplomat
Powhatan's Daughter
Kansas Wildcats
Sound Off
The Thunderer

Tracks:

Hands Across The Sea
The Royal Welch Fusiliers
The Legionnaires
Daughters Of Texas
The Gallant Seventh
Golden Jubilee
Solid Men To The Front
Marquette University
The Beau Ideal
The Rifle Regiment
The Northern Pines
Nobles Of The Mystic Shrine
New York Hippodrome
The Gridiron Club
The Charlatan
The Lambs
The National Game
On The Campus
La Flor De Sevilla
Jack Tar
The Glory Of The Yankee Navy

Customer Reviews:

Sousa.......2007-07-25

I love Sousa marches but this recording while comprehensive and cheep lacks much to be desired in the musical rendension. It lacks the spark and musicality of Sousa.

Sousa By the Royal Marines.......2007-03-31

This is a great CD re-issue of the Band of the Royal Marines School of Music under Graham Hoskins. This band did a three LP series on Sousa marches some years ago that was better than most on this very well covered topic. Sousa march recordings will always come and go, but some like this stand out more than others. For one, there is nothing like the panache of a Royal Marines band. Their sound is a time honored development that gets passed from one generation to the next. Even as the number of RM bands continues to change and downsize, there are now about four bands left in the service, their sound quality continues to be superb.

When these recordings were made RM bands were still at their height in the British service and their quality was amazing. Most bands numbered over 60 in this period, and that is why many Americans may be surprsed at the volume of music produced here. This is not one of your small, though excellent regimental bands! Americans tend to think that British military band instrumentation is on the thin side. Not so here! Of course Sousa always sounds best with either the Allentown band or the US Marine band.

This CD is evidence of how popular Sousa has always been in the UK, and with RM bands in particular. The selection here on two CDs covers most of the standard Sousa fair, with a few different selections here and there. Unfortunatley there are none of Sousa's fine transcriptions for classical music, or selections from his operettas. This music is always wonderful to have in combination with the marches as it shows how much variety he was capable of in his compositions. For that kind of concert the reader is referred to the very fine collection of Sousa music being done under the Naxos label by the Band of the Royal Artillery.

Here you will find a solid collection of Sousa's great marches. Roughly a third of those 136 compositions are contained here. The Royal Marines give a sharpe and clear sound to these works which should certainly inspire. You will also get a very nice idea how RM bands sounded back in the 1980s. Graham Hoskins was a fine director of music, typical of the inhouse genius of the Royal Marines Band Service at that time. He took this band on a USA tour in 1985 with the Arygll & Sutherland Highlanders. Devotees of Sousa should enjoy these spirited versions of the march king's music as performed across the pond.

Still Among the Best.......2006-06-01

I bought two audio casettes with these marches back in the 1980's and wore them out. These performances are hard to beat for virtuosity, enthusiasm, and sparkle. The sound quality is outstanding. And there are some marches that are rarely, if at all, available.

How Sousa Should Sound.......2006-03-07

Great value 2 cd disc set cut in the early 1980's & remastered the sound of the Royal Marines Band is nothing short of terrific. Judging by the sound would not be surprised for this to be a combined double RM band. These 1st chair players give Sousa's great marches that extra kick that takes the "March Kings" music to that higher level. By the center quick march!!!!

Average customer rating:

Fantastic Debut
Outstanding!!!
Good Cd
Where are they now?
One Hit Wonder!! Come Back!!

Ideal
Ideal
Manufacturer: Virgin Records Us
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Contemporary Blues | Blues | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

Contemporary R&B | R&B | Styles | Music

General | R&B | Styles | Music

General | Soul | R&B | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Cheers 2 U
Nothin' but Drama
Mista
Whispers in the Dark
Prophet Jones

ASIN: B00004TIQZ
Release Date: 2000-06-06

Tracks:

Intro
I Don't Mind
Things You Can't Do
Whatever (Radio Version)
Creep Inn
Get Down With Me
Get Gone
Ideally Yours
All About You
Break Your Plans
There's No Way
Jealous Skies
Never Let You Go
Tell Me Why
No More
Pigeon (Skit)
Sexy Dancer
Get Gone (Remix Radio Version)
Outro

Customer Reviews:

Fantastic Debut.......2007-03-18

This was an awesome CD that really did not take off as well as it should have. No filler tracks here. Personal favorites are 5,6,7,10,11,15.

Outstanding!!!.......2006-01-21

Albums like this only come once in a blue moon, Why don't great projects like this get promoted better. Their smooth and mellow vocals just make it all come together,there is not one boring track on this album. To me this is one of the best albums I have heard in a long time, it is the perfect CD. These guys really and truly need to get back in the studio.

Good Cd.......2005-12-15

It was a good cd!!!!!!!!!......... I'm just trying to figure out where they disappeared to?!!!!!!!!!!! They need to come out with another cd!...I would recommend this cd to lots of people whom are into R&B.

Where are they now?.......2005-08-01

I'd really like to know, i remember when first heard "Get Gone". I didnt even have a clue who was singing. I just knew that i liked the song, so i proceeded to get the single and found out. It was Ideal, i saw the video for the song and it was sealed. I was getting their CD when it released, well i bought it awhile ago and am listening to it. Right now as i type this. I have more than a few fav songs on the CD, some of them being the following:

Creep Inn
Get Gone
Jealous Skies
Whatever
I Don't Mind
There's No Way
Never Let You Go
Tell Me Why

other than an annoying intro or something like that. The cd is very nice with quality harmonies and lead vocals. The songs are sung with a passion that you can almost feel. That's why i bought the CD and really wish Ideal was still doing their thing. I can only hope that they come out with another CD sometime soon, peace.

One Hit Wonder!! Come Back!!.......2003-12-20

In a genre where there is a lack of substance, Ideal (Maverick, PZ, J-Dante, & Swab) shows that there are still old-fashioned values in this newly-corrupted urban music market. As a group, Ideal mixes messages of general lovemaking and can also get a lil' dirty. That's what artistry is all about. Giving the fans an opportunity to appreciate your versatility and helping them relate to your craft. The hits "Get Gone" and "Whatever" are complimented nicely with "Creep Inn," "Jealous Skies," (a sweet reminder of not to bring everyone in the midst of your relationships) "I Don't Mind," the Take 6-style vocale in the a cappella interlude, "Ideally Yours" and especially the spine-tingling vocal arrangements coupled with a mid-tempo groove in "Tell Me Why." While extending the boundaries set by their H-Town predecessors, Ideal's style is exactly what the R&B group genre is lacking. Though Maverick's remarkable lead vocals grace almost every track, the group as a whole lends their creative ability with the aid of some new producers in Johnta' Austin, Jazze Pha, & Bryan-Michael Cox (Noontime Productions) giving this album zest and the fans some serious southern hospitality. Where are these guys now??

Average customer rating:

Love this music
new age/space music prime choice
The title says it all.

Kerala Dream
Craig Kohland and Rara Avis
Manufacturer: Gemini Sun Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | New Age | Styles | Music

Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music

Healing | New Age | Styles | Music

Relaxation | New Age | Styles | Music

General | Dance Pop | Dance & DJ | Styles | Music
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Tandava
Jala
African Dream
Shaman's Dream/Prana
Nataraja

ASIN: B0009OUBI8
Release Date: 2005-06-28

Tracks:

Invocation to Water
Jai Hanuman
Durga Shakti
Kerala Dream
Guru Brahma
Shiva's Flute
Samadhi

Customer Reviews:

Love this music.......2007-03-20

This is such a great cd for relaxing with a glass of wine and candles. It really makes the soul feel good.

new age/space music prime choice.......2006-11-07

Kerala Dream is a very special album of space music, akin to that heard on NPR's "Music From the Hearts of Space". The last cut, "Samadhi", is especially fine and contemplative, with a subtle sitar creating soothing melodies and a calming mood. Some of the songs have flute and bass. This album has a variety of sounds, from environmental sounds from India, to vocals and sounds from the Amazon. This album goes especially well with yoga practice and exercises. This album is a exemplary blend of musical forms from India, environmenatal, and Western styles. I use this album to go to sleep to and I frequently do not remember the last cut since by then, I am fast asleep. Very relaxing album and I highly recommend it to yoga enthusiasts.

The title says it all........2006-03-19

If you are looking for music with an Indian flavor, and a sure bet, look no further. This is great music for Yoga practice, or just relaxing. Sample Durga Shakti, and Guru Brahma and you 'll see what I mean. The sounds of Amazonian frogs and birds, the sitar, and awesome vocals make this CD unique, and just a pleasure to listen to.

Average customer rating:

A transitional album -- and a good one
Brendan Perry's brooding romanticism makes him the modern Lord Byron
Baudelair! not spleen
Esophagus and Disenchantment
Immacculate Cat-Head Music for Toddlers and Thizz Kids

Spleen and Ideal
Dead Can Dance
Manufacturer: 4ad / Wea
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | British Alternative | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music

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Within the Realm of a Dying Sun
Serpent's Egg
Dead Can Dance
Aion
Into the Labyrinth

ASIN: B000002MPO
Release Date: 1994-03-22

Tracks:

De Profundis (Out Of The Depths Of Sorrow)
Ascension
Circumradiant Dawn
The Cardinal Sin
Mesmerism
Enigma Of The Absolute
Advent
Avatar
Indoctrination (A Design For Living)

Album Description

Customer Reviews:

A transitional album -- and a good one.......2007-04-14

Brendan Perry's brooding romanticism makes him the modern Lord Byron.......2006-10-15

Baudelair! not spleen.......2006-09-15

Spleen et Ideal is the title of a section of XIXth century poet Charles Baudelair's Flowers of Evil (Les fleurs du mal).

Esophagus and Disenchantment.......2006-09-13

Immacculate Cat-Head Music for Toddlers and Thizz Kids.......2005-12-06

Average customer rating:

Good Quiet Time Music
An Easy Winner
Real Music
from Solo Piano Publications
Tremendous Offering from Kevin Kern

The Winding Path
Kevin Kern
Manufacturer: Real Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | New Age | Styles | Music

Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music
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Imagination's Light
In the Enchanted Garden
Embracing the Wind
More Than Words: The Best of Kevin Kern
Summer Daydreams

ASIN: B000099T1B
Release Date: 2003-06-03

Tracks:

The Touch Of Love
The Way Of The Stream
A Million Stars
High Above The Valley
Ancient Guardians
Cauldron Of Healing
Filled With The Light
Through The Veil
Softly Falling
The Winding Path

Amazon.com

Embracing the role of fellow spiritual seeker as well as composer, pianist Kevin Kern invites listeners to find a safe, comfortable place in their imaginations and tag along on what his CD packaging describes as a "self-guided healing visualization." For those favorably inclined toward such musical journeys of the soul, Kern proves to be a sincere and capable guide. His slowly unfolding piano works (periodically embellished with acoustic guitar, flute, strings and understated electronics) are soft, serene and, on occasion ("High above the Valley" and "Through the Veil" in particular), memorably attractive. The foil-stamped/die-cut/textured paper packaging for The Winding Path, Kern's sixth career release, is first-rate; the story line it contains, centered on the discovery of a "cauldron of healing," is a matter of personal taste. As for the music, Kern's compositions can intermittently seem a touch too sweet or simplistic, but the overall flavor is peaceful, relaxing and, considering the context, admirably refined. --Terry Wood

Album Description

Kevin Kern has become a universal name for beautiful, relaxing music. This intimate, piano-led path through nature creates a resonance of tranquility and peace for pure listening pleasure. "The Winding Path" is ideal for masage, meditation and relieving stress. Kern is joined on several tracks by top new age duo, 2002.

Customer Reviews:

Good Quiet Time Music.......2006-11-05

I like this CD very much, it is good relaxing music.
The only thing I don't like is the fact I can't rip it into my computer - that is very annoying because that was one of the main reasons I purchased it - so I could add it to my Calm Music MP3 compliation on my computer. Because of this I won't be purchasing more of Kevin Kern's music.

An Easy Winner.......2005-08-26

A strange thing happens every time I listen to this album - I hear the first few cuts and then there's a blur and the last cut is going by. This isn't meant as a negative, but it does point out that this is one of those albums that quickly blends into whatever I'm doing and becomes part of the environment.

Much to my surprise, Kevin Kern is a native Detroiter (there's not a lot of New Age music getting made up here). His training is classical, with a lot of mentoring by George Shearing. The combination has made him a master of improvisation, with a knack for taking the melodic path. Winding Path is his sixth album, done in 2003. It spent some 15 weeks on the charts, which is a pretty solid accomplishment.

This is a 'group' album - Pamela Copus on various woodwinds and Jeff Kinski on Guitar are the core players, (listen to the first two cuts - Touch of Love and Way of the Stream) but several others add their talents to make the album something of a surprise to those who think of Kern as a solo pianist. He also experiments a bit with sound effects and such (High Above the Valley).

I'm hesitant to say this is his best album, but once I decide to pay careful attention to it, it is certainly one of his most interesting. A lot of the work is quite subtle. I give this one an 'A' for listenability. Yet another reason to put a stereo in the woodshop.

Real Music.......2003-06-13

"Winding Path" is a rare great album, a must-have for all who loves emotional, intelligent, comforting piano-based music... Thank you very much, Kevin, for this wunderful and timeless record.

from Solo Piano Publications.......2003-06-04

As a long-time fan of Kevin Kern's music, I'm excited to say that I think "The Winding Path" is his best album to date. Due to a serendipitous equipment failure just prior to the recording sessions, this album is much more acoustic than previous albums and the "canned" strings are all but gone. Kern recorded this album on an amazing Hamburg Steinway that he refers to as "God's own piano," and his passion for this instrument sings through on each piece. Joining Kern on this album are 2002 (Pam Copus does an incredible job on all of the wind instruments, and Randy supplies bells and other sounds), Jeff Kinsky on guitar, Jeremy Cohen on violin, Terence Yallop on bells on one track, and Kevin's wife, Pam, on rainstick. And then there is that piano. The combined forces produce a "great big soundscape" (Kevin's quote) that may surprise some of his fans. The music is still very gentle, soothing, and uplifting, but the feel and quality of the album is bigger and fuller. I love it! Kern says that the difference in his approach to this album is that this music will be the "heart and soul and center" of his live appearances - concert audiences are in for a real treat!

"The Touch of Love" opens the album on a rather ethereal note. The 2002-influence is really strong on this piece, and it is a truly beautiful collaboration. Pam Copus' flute has such a feeling of yearning, combined with sweet voices, and that marvelous piano (and pianist!). "The Way of the Stream" is a gorgeous guitar/ piano duet with a few additional sounds for color. "A Million Stars" is a wonderful piece that Kern created in the studio at Terence Yallop's suggestion that he "play the sky." (Pieces like this make my fingers itch!) The clarity and sparkle of the upper registers of the piano are perfect for depicting a clear night skyscape away from the lights of the city. This is definitely one of my favorite Kern pieces (not just from this album). "High Above the Clouds" begins with the sound of a thunder storm; Pam Copus comes in on Native American flute, playing a lovely, melancholy melody. Then the piano picks up the melody and develops it. The piece becomes a flute and piano duet with some background accompaniment. "Through the Veil" is a classic Kern anthem with the addition of a rhythm track. Mostly piano and guitar (with Pam on rainstick!), the melody is compelling and heartfelt - another one of my favorites on this album. My favorite track on "The Winding Path" is the title track, which features Kern on piano, Copus on flute, and the incredible Jeremy Cohen on violin. An achingly beautiful piece, this one touched me deeply each of the ten or so times I've heard it.

Bravo to Kevin Kern and company for producing a "real" standout! A guided visualization is included in the liner notes for those who are so inclined, but the music is vivid and colorful enough that you can probably produce your own daydreams to accompany it.

Tremendous Offering from Kevin Kern.......2003-06-04

"The Winding Path" is Kevin Kern's latest CD for Real Music, and what an outstanding collection of tracks is to be found on this 44 minute disc.

With far more emphasis on blending other instruments with his exquisite piano playing, this CD is quite different from his previous efforts. Long-term Kern fans need not worry, however. The additional accompanying instruments merely enhance the beauty of his piano playing, and make this one of my all-time favourite CDs.

2002 fans will be delighted by the duo's quite prominent presence on the disc. From Pamela Copus's gorgeous flute playing on tracks 1 and 10, plus harp on track 2, to Randy Copus's percussion on tracks 2, 5 and 9, it is not difficult to see why some of the tracks have a 2002 feel to them. I agree with Kathy Parson's observation that this is very evident on the first track.

All the tracks are strong on this CD, but favourites include tracks 1, 3, 8 and 10. I note that Kevin dedicates Track 3,"A Million Stars" to "all those who reach for the stars". This is likely to be a popular track with his fans, partly because it is extremely beautiful, and also because it truly is solo piano.

This CD is exceptionally well presented, and has a wonderful feel to it. The CD insert contains an introduction to guided visualisation, where the listener is invited to go on a relaxing journey whilst listening to the music.

It may be of some interest that this CD was apparently going to be originally called "Leaf, Twig and Petal". I think that the change of name was a wise move, and is more befitting of the content.

On a par with "In the Enchanted Garden", this CD is right up there in terms of melodic beauty, and way beyond it with regards presentation. Kevin is using other instruments to compliment his piano playing, and this shows a willingness to move forward with his music. It, in no way, detracts from the beauty of the lead instrument.

Tracks:

Fairest of the Fair
Hands Across The Sea
Diplomat, The
Rifle Regiment, The
Occidental, The
Riders For The Flag
Hail To The Spirit Of Liberty
High School Cadets, The
Boy Scouts Of America
Picador, The
Directorate, The
Black Horse Troop, The
Nobles Of The Mystic Shrine, The
Beau Ideal, The
Belle Of Chicago, The
Corcoran Cadets, The
National Game, The
Loyal Legion, The
Liberty Bell, The (1988 Recording)
Liberty Bell, The (1894 Historical Recording)

Customer Reviews:

Sousa 3 and all 4 CD collection.......2006-03-04

If you are a very good listener of Sousa Marches I recommend to buy this 4 CD collection.

Spanish: Si eres amante de las Marchas de Sousa les recomiendo comprar esta coleccion de 4 CDS

One Of My Newest Favorites.......2004-07-14

I've just discovered the awesome marches of John Phillip Sousa in the past year. I have several very good Sousa compilations that feature his best known Marches like "Stars & Stripes Forever" and "King Cotton." What I enjoy about this compilation is that it contains a plethora of great Sousa Marches, most of which I never heard before.

I'm strictly a layperson when it comes to classical music, so if my take on Sousa sounds choppy & neanderthol, please pardon me!

This is the third Sousa CD I bought that is conducted by the United States Marine Band, and so far, I enjoy their take on John Phillip Sousa Marches heads above the rest. When a Sousa March moves me, it is because it is more than uplifting; it is sheer elation, a pure mood enhancer when waking up in the morning. "The President's Own" delivers this spirit better than any other source I have heard. The pace is brisk, but not rushed. I've heard other bands' versions of Sousa where the conductor seems to let the chief instruments overshadow others (the flute often seems to be one of the characters drowned out), where the instrumentals in The Marine Band sound so beautifully distributed that I often find myself listening to a March I've heard countless times, and suddenly hear a rhythm or melody from a wind instrument I had never noticed before.

If you have never heard many of John Phillips Sousa's Marches before, this is a good place to start. "Fairest Of the Fair" starts with such an optimistic and energetic pace that it is a hard act for the following tracks to follow. This was the first time I heard the March, and it has become one of my top five Sousa favorites. The next track delivers with "Hands Across the Sea." The persons who compiled this collection have a great ear for Marches as nothing disappointed me. Two tunes that especially grabbed me are "High School Cadets" and the exotic "The Picador."

John Phillip Sousa is one of the most enjoyable musical discoveries I have come across in years. Give this CD a shot, I think you will find it a fabulous listening experience!

GOOD OLE SOUSA.......2004-01-14

Indeed it is a must have classic of a truly great American Composer. Taken from the vaults of the amazing and historic Marine Band this is a classic for any true American Band Lover. The product is superb and well mixed, Bravo to its creators and bravo to those who bring this hard to find music to us in such excellent form.

Not Great Sousa!.......2003-11-07

Despite the fact that this is the Marine band playing Sousa I would not rcommend this product. The selection of Sousa marches is standard, the length of the CD is too short for the price, and the recording quality is poor. There are better Sousa albums elsewhere.

Average customer rating:

Not up to the standard of their first three albums
Deadly boring
4.5 stars - My favorite Wire album
There was nothing left but to go ahead!
More of "154"...

The Ideal Copy
Wire
Manufacturer: Mute U.S.
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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A Bell Is a Cup...Until It Is Struck
It's Beginning to and Back Again
The First Letter
Send
Manscape

ASIN: B00004SH9C
Release Date: 2000-04-04

Tracks:

Point Of Collapse
Ahead
Madman's Honey
Feed Me
Ambitious
Cheeking Tongues
Still Shows
Over Theirs
Ahead (II)
A Serious Of Snakes
Drill
Advantage In Height
Up To The Sun
Ambulance Chasers
Feed Me (II)
Vivid Riot Of Red

Customer Reviews:

Not up to the standard of their first three albums.......2007-07-02

Wire's bracing sonic attack and nearly flawless playing and production on Pink Flag, Chairs Missing, and 154 made people take notice. These were albums crafted of minimal, yet densely layered musical textures the likes of which eluded most artists of any genre, certainly Punk.

Even though musical tastes had changed between their debut in 1977 and the release of The Ideal Copy, none of the trailblazing elements of Wire's earlier work came through on this album. Instead, listeners got a collection of brooding synth-pop that seemed to ape the current culture. Play any cut from Wire's work in the 70's, and you will be struck with how fresh and engaging their sound is; on The Ideal Copy, Wire sounds uninspired and out of touch.

While many decry the synthesizer and the "inhuman" effect it had on rock and roll (disco being the chief example), groups such as Kraftwerk and later on Yaz, proved traditional instrumentation was not needed to create music of real emotional depth.
What Wire has become up to this point is, well, boring.

Deadly boring.......2006-05-19

"Still Shows" is the only track I could bring myself to listen to more than once. Everything else is repetitive synth-pop blandness. Very little of interest going on, lyrically or musically. It's hard to believe this is the same band that created "154" (albeit several years earlier).

4.5 stars - My favorite Wire album.......2005-07-12

I typed elsewhere that another of Wire's other album is their best. Nonetheless, one of their less polished albums is my fav. I personally think this record is their most challenging and has several of their best songs.

The music is a little obtuse now and then (Understatement of the month.) I was always amused when I came across one or 2 of the innuendoes of their songs somewhere. "Master, cut the stone out, my name is Luberg Das," is a direct reference to the title and/or caption of a medieval painting we all have seen at some point: The peasant (villein) about to get trepanned by a "doctor," such as they were in that era of the dance of St. Vitus. He is saying to the doc with the funnel on his head, "Master, ... name is Luberg Das," and "Luberg Das," pardon the spelling, is actually old Deutsche for "castrated badger"! (See, Mom, there was some use for all those art history classes after all! Amazon reviews!) Anyways, to say that one feels like a guy about to get trepanned while convinced he is a castrated small carnivore; needless to say, the title of the song would have to be something like "Madman's Honey."

This album is grim, ironic, and full of dark vision. Not recommended for suicidal teens, as I was when I last owned a copy of this favorite album. One of the more prominent members of this band, Colin Newman, went on to make even more generally antisocial statements, such as "Bastard" and "Commercial Suicide," which portrays on the cover a man about to hang himself. While not as good as Wire, I would also not recommended these for anybody in any unfortunate emotional condition. But if you are sick in just the right way, as I was then, you can truly appreciate Wire's music and world view. And if you can't, go read "Transformation" by Franz Kafka, and then listen to "I am the Fly" (from Wire's "154") really loudly.

There was nothing left but to go ahead!.......2005-04-25

The Ideal Copy has to be one of the best Wire cds out there, bearing some of the best Wire tracks in their career. The Ideal Copy, which includes the Snakedrill ep, is the first official release in Wire's second incarnation. Newman, Lewis, and company, began to further experiment their indefinable sound. The cd picks up where Document & Eyewitness and Turns & Strokes left off. I, for one, techincally consider T & S to be the last release in Wire's first, post-punk phase mainly because that material was recorded in 1980-1981. In particular, "Our Swimmer (Second Length)" and "Catapult 30", from T & S, hint at the direction Wire were taking later on. Here, The Ideal Copy, released in 1987, expands from that blueprint; employing plenty of tape loops, synthesizers, and unconventional pop sensibility.

Tracks like "Feed Me", "Drill", and "Still Shows", run heavy on repetitious formation and synthesizers, while machine-like guitars play out in the background. There's a rather chilling, desolate ambience to these songs, and that's pretty much the feeling that runs throughout the cd. "Over Theirs" single-handedly signifies that notion. Tracks like "Cheeking Tongues" and "Ambulance Chasers" are brief, nevertheless, synth-pop weirdness that further the bleak spell of the album. However, other tunes like "Madman's Honey" and "Serious Of Snakes", keep the cd from feeling like a total black hole inside. Those lighter songs give The Ideal Copy its welcome variation. It's a well-rounded album that mostly creates a chilling ambience but does have a bit of lightness in there.

My favorites, which I believe to be some of Wire's best songs, are "Drill", "Serious Of Snakes", "Madman's Honey", "Ambitious", and "Ahead". I do prefer the heavy synths and mechanical feel of their lyrics and other instruments. "Ahead" was one of the first songs that got me into Wire. It may sound definite late 80s, like the cd itself for that matter, but it does have an addictive beat and verse. "Ahead" is, arguably, the most popular song in Wire's second, synth-pop phase, and it's no surprise why that is. For any new Wire fanatics, The Ideal Copy is among the top five to have. It's mesmerizing and addictive to say the least.

More of "154"..........2005-03-31

When Wire began to record again in 1986--after a six-year layoff--they picked up right where they left off. This CD, which includes both the "Snakedrill" ep from '86 and the "Ideal Copy" album from '87(plus some bonus live tracks), has the same lush, cool, frequently unsettling sound that the band first exhibited on "154"(well, there were hints of it on "Chairs Missing", too).
'Ahead' is a masterpiece and a fan favorite; it rocks with utter conviction, but in a "cold" way that no other band could ever hope to imitate. 'Feed Me' is my favorite Wire track sung by bassist Graham Lewis--it's a scary, desperate song that conjures mental pictures of a frozen wasteland. 'Ambitious' is a great, dance-y rock song from which the album derives its title("The ideal copy is what you want/When you aren't, it makes you am"). 'Cheeking Tongues' is a nice, accelerated short piece. 'Still Shows' slows things down with a lovely clean guitar progression, but--like the rest of the album--has a chilly atmosphere.
By now, you might have noticed that my impression of this album is cold, wintry, remote. And yet "The Ideal Copy" has intensity to spare. It's very heavy on synthesizers and the guitars don't often sound like guitars, so if you've got "Pink Flag" on the brain you're going to be disappointed. However, if you want to hear an album with an atmosphere all its own--or just a collection of damned good songs--then this is for you. Thanks to Messrs. Newman, Lewis, Gilbert and Gotobed for all the great music over the years.

Average customer rating:

serenity
Amazing Peace

Sattva
Manish Vyas
Manufacturer: White Swan
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Sky Kisses Earth
Water Down the Ganges
Dance of Shakti
Yatri
Mudra

ASIN: B00009MG95
Release Date: 2003-05-13

Tracks:

Ishq
Tumi Bhaja Re Mana
Sattva
Shivoham
Meera
Karuna
Om Namo Narayana

Album Description

Sattva (Sanskrit for "the essence of being") invokes the silent, serene space that awaits us beyond our mind. On this soulful debut offering, gifted multi-instrumentalist Manish Vyas displays a splendid musical sensibility. His expressive voice and rich compositions based on ancient mantras and tarana reflect a natural intuition for crafting dynamic soundscapes from traditional influences.

The product of a musical family and student of the late tabla maestro Ustad Allarakha (the father of Zakir Hussain), Manish demonstrates his astounding rhythmic talents--as well as his seductive vocal virtuosity and mastery of the santoor--to full effect. With contributions from longtime collaborator Prem Joshua (Water Down the Ganges, Dance of Shakti) and an international cast of gifted musicians, Sattva vibrates with silence, devotion and prayer--an ideal accompaniment to yoga, massage, meditation and enlightened listening.

This organic blend of tabla, violin, sitar, flute, percussion and understated electronica flows freely from Manish Vyas' spiritually-inspired aesthetic and leads the listener into Sattva...the state of balance and harmony.

Customer Reviews:

serenity.......2006-05-12

the album is a very good example of fusion...........of east and west. the threads have been interwoven so beautifully that one just feel that this part is oriental and this is occidental.
the vocals he has rendered in "ishq" are really amazing. and at the end of all the songs u really feel refreshed. Good to listen to when you need to concentrate too........
overall avery good album

Amazing Peace.......2005-02-22

Manish combines excellent Indian classical sounds with neoclassical fusion of electronica. Also a good sampler of how Indian music is taking a global form. Tumi Bhaja re Mana evokes the soul to pray, Ishq is ode to eternal love, Shivoham is soul journey to Nirvana... U

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