Patterns

Editorial Reviews
Kathie Lee Gifford, Live with Regis and Kathie Lee, ABC, May 20, 1999
Not since my friend Nancy LaMott have I heard a voice that I was really taken with and really enjoyed."

Julie Wilson, October 1998
"Barbara Brussell is a brilliant performer. I'm inspired by her."

Album Description
Barbara's extraordinary performance of her one woman show "Patterns" is re-created on this wonderful recording.

Patterns

Tracks:

Overactive Imagination
In Human Form
Jealousy
Trapped In A Corner
Nothing Is Everything
Mentally Blind
Individual Thought Patterns
Destiny
Out Of Touch
The Philosopher

Customer Reviews:

Good, but my least favorite of their latter-day albums.......2007-06-22

Death's career can be split into two eras: the stuff before Human and the stuff since. Although I enjoyed their early albums, I must say that I have a strong preference for their later material. Their unique style of technical progressive death metal is simply fascinating and Chuck is one of the best vocalists in death metal.

This album has all of the elements of their other newer albums. Like usual, it works. However, I just felt it fell just a little short of the previous album, "Human", which is simply a masterpiece. I also felt that the next album "Symbolic" and its followup "The Sound of Perseverance" (their best album, IMHO) were also a little bit better. The vocals are not quite as powerful as on "Symbolic" or "The Sound of Perseverence" (their was a distinct change in vocal style between this one and "Symbolic"), and the guitarwork, though impressive on a technical level, isn't quite as fascinating as it was on "Human".

I don't mean to sound negative. I do very much like this album. If I were to compare it to the average death metal release by some other band, the review would have a stronger tone of praise. However, in comparison with Death's best albums, it's falls short though just by a little bit. Yet I still like it more than their pre-Human albums (none of which are bad).

If you're interested in death metal then you should definitely own this album, but I suggest picking up "The Sound of Perseverance", "Human", and "Symbolic" first, in that order.

Best album of 1993, by far........2006-09-05

Its really hard for me to decide which Death album is my favorite, as they're all so freakin' great, and this one is no different. Unlike "Symbolic" and "SOP," "Individual Thought Patterns" has the progressive sound of those albums but with vocals similar to "Scream Bloody Gore" and "Leprosy." This is no problem to me as I seem to get the best of both worlds here. However, unlike Death's first two albums, Chuck's songwriting has greatly matured (same with the other albums "Spiritual Healing" and "Human"). The lineup is different, as usual, but Chuck always hires grade A musicians. Mercyful Fate's Andy LaRocque does killer guitar work alongside Chuck, Steve Digiorgio's basslines are solid and completely audible, and Gene Hoglan is certainly no slouch behind the kit. With these four fine musicians, NOTHING went wrong in this album.

There's no skipping necessary in this album, but the best are "Overactive Imagination," "Jealousy," "Trapped in a Corner," and "The Philosopher." Its 40 minutes long, but you can listen to it all the way through completely satisfied.

Get this with every other Death album.

Easily Their Best?.......2006-09-04

This is the fourth Death album I bought after SOP, Symbolic, and Human. It is fantastically better than these other three. Despite its less than ideal production, all of these songs are killer. I have always heard that a great quality of Death was that people could not agree on their best album. I still struggle with it, but this one probably gets the most playing time. The addition of Hoglan and LaRoque is amazing. This album was also included in Guitar World's 20 Greatest Guitar Metal albums, for good reason. Just take one listen to 'Trapped In A Corner', the solos are out of this world. I love Laroque and his work, but the transition from his solo to Chuck's is like a ten year old to a grown man. Chuck shows him how it is DONE. Aside from that song all the others on here are nearly flawless. DiGiorgio's bass is all over the place and Hoglan shows a WIDE (pun intended) array of tempos and fills. it is interesting to think that Sean Reinart (Cynic) was supposed to play on this album, but couldn't due to record label conflicts (stupid labels). The only sorespot I have with this album is 'The Philosopher' This is probably their most popular and famous, but for me it just sounds like a well-crafted single. I can't believe that Chuck was writing a song to play on car commercials or anything. But it lacks the complexity of the other songs on the album. Just my opinion, but the song is still balls-to-the-walls solid. Do yourself a HUGE (Gene Hoglan, anyone? Just Kidding) favor and pick it up!!!!!

about time..........2006-08-16

i discovered this.always liked the philospher.the rest of the cd smokes.great musicianship.why do all the great ones have to die early? chuck r.i.p.

Strange.............2006-08-01

I just got this 2 days ago, and as it is it seems like a relatively solid album. I find it to be a bit too brainy sometimes (Overactive Imagination.) But when it hits the mark, the sound is undefinable. Death is unquestionably one of the best if not THE best death metal band to ever exist. This is a notch more progressive than Human, and the addition of Andy LaRocque and his killer tone and sense of melody makes for great solos. Overall good so far, as its already starting to grow on me. Buy it if your a Death fan. LET THE METAL FLOW!

Morton Feldman: Rothko Chapel; Why Patterns?

Average customer rating:

Pioneering Minimalism
Stark and Eerie
My introduction to Morton Feldman
not quite soporific
Ambient Beauty

Morton Feldman: Rothko Chapel; Why Patterns?

Manufacturer: New Albion Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

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Morton Feldman: Triadic Memories

ASIN: B000000R2Z
Release Date: 1992-09-24

Tracks:

Rohtko Chapel 1
Rothko Chapel 2
Rothko Chapel 3
Rothko Chapel 4
Rothko Chapel 5
Why Patterns?

Customer Reviews:

Pioneering Minimalism.......2006-06-16

Listening to Feldman's music today, it can sound dated and derivative- if only because so many have followed him down that road since. We've heard a lot of this sort of minimalist tone poem from numerous hacks and sci-fi film composers. (I'm sure John Williams keeps a stack of Feldman CDs handy when he writes incidental music for the Star Wars films.) But Feldman can still sound fresh; unlike the hacks, he is fully capable of composing melodies that linger on in the mind long after the piece ends. He's rather stingy with them, but that only makes them even more welcome when- as in the final movement of "Rothko Chapel"- they finally appear.

This, along with "The Viola in My Life", represents the most accessible part of Feldman's work, and probably (I would argue) the part most likely to still be played long after a lot of the boring and overly pretentious work of the 20th century has been condemned to the dustbin. I doubt Feldman will ever rival the great melodic works of the 18th and 19th Century masters- or modernists like Lygeti- for lasting appeal, but I think that he will always have a place in the canon.

Stark and Eerie.......2004-07-26

A repetitive chorus of female voices, moaning, wailing, like a train heard passing from nowhere to nowhere at three in the morning, this is the coldest offering to the ear I've ever heard. And yet, somehow, it fits both Rothko's work and the manner of his death. After the Zen no-mind of the first four tracks, Feldman embraces his listeners and--by proxy--Rothko's spirit--in the 5th track, which offers us a "warm" and charming cello motif, that the composer, in his collected writings, tells us he composed at age 15. Rothko Chapel is then, a radical listening experience of "outside" (as in interstellar space), and "inside" (as in some catchy riff lifted from Dvorak's "American").

"Why Patterns" is more familiar Feldman territory: think aural disjunction, fragmentation, etc.

Exciting, challenging, memorable--these are the three key words I would apply to this CD.

My introduction to Morton Feldman.......2004-06-30

A friend of mine said I should check out Rothko Chapel. He said when he was in college he would go out and play golf and bake in the sun while listening to Rothko Chapel. After hearing this I went right out and got a cd of it. I haven't played golf to it but it's still one of my favorite pieces of music.

not quite soporific.......2003-03-22

Most of the music on this cd is very very sparing -- long tones with real silence between notes. But Morty Feldman also flirts with the baroque in these meticulously composed & arranged, textured pieces. Just don't try to use this music to wake you up. Nor to try to fall asleep to.

Ambient Beauty.......2002-07-31

Morton Feldman may have been the prototypical minimalist. His music, though varied in effect, tends to consist of very soft, discrete sounds which slowly morph from pattern to pattern. Though his music falls into periods, roughly divided by notational practice (early music uses primarily graphic scores and aleatoric procedures, later scores tend toward more precise notation, though the rhythms still remain approximate), the effect of his output is remarkably the same throughout his life. It is intellectually challenging, beautiful ambient music.

Rothko Chapel, written to be played in the famous Houston space, is a wonderful piece, one that should win new converts to the Feldman cause. It isn't daunting in length, like many later Feldman pieces, yet it retains the sonic beauty and delicacy of instrumental color that makes Feldman unique. The piece is also remarkably tonal, unlike many other Feldman works. The gorgeous hushed soprano solo sounds like a distant call to prayer. Feldman talks in the liner notes of the influence of Hebrew cantilation and you can hear it, although it is much more distant than most cantilation. This work is an example of the best kind of ambient music. It is endlessly fascinating, and yet seems to have a physical presence that does not depend on your concentration. You can listen intently or just let the sound wash over you.

Inclusion of Why Patterns? was a good idea. This work is much more typical of Feldman's style. Written for the combination of flute, glockenspiel and piano, the almost 30 minute work is a slow spinning out of subtley dissonant patterns, all at extremely quiet volume levels. The work doesn't seem to start or stop. It's as if we are dropping in on an eternal piece of music, hanging around a while and then leaving again.

As one other reviewer stated, it would be nice to have another version of Rothko Chapel available. With a composer like Feldman, alternative versions can really proove useful. So much of his music depends on chance and the sensitivity of his performers that comparisions are more important than with more standard music. The sound on this CD is wonderful. Thank you New Albion! This is my favorite Feldman CD by far!

Shapes and Patterns
Average customer rating:

HIGHLY RECOMMEND

Lush pop.

Must have with Kaledoiscope world

Love it!!

More jazzy, soulful and smart pop

Shapes and Patterns
Swing Out Sister
Manufacturer: Island / Mercury
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Somewhere Deep in the Night

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ASIN: B000001EU5
Release Date: 1997-06-17

Tracks:

Somewhere In The World
Here And Now
We Could Make It Happen
Shapes And Patterns
Better Make It Better
Something Out Of This World
Joe Meek's Cat
Stoned Soul Picnic
You Already Know
Always
Now You're Not Here
Icy Cold As Winter
Shapes And Patterns (Reprise)

Amazon.com

More swinging, instantly likable Burt Bacharach-style retro pop from the U.K. duo fronted by Corinne Drewery. Like a pre-Todd Terry, frown-free Everything But the Girl, SOS is at its sophisticated best on the Japanese No. 1 "Somewhere in the World," a jazzy "Now You're Not Here," and the irresistible cover of "Stoned Soul Picnic." --Jeff Bateman

Customer Reviews:

HIGHLY RECOMMEND.......2006-11-10

This is the best album Swing Out Sister has put out. I love every track on this album. The opener "Somewhere in the World" is a fun uplifting song that will put a smile on your face. "Here and Now" is my favorite on the album, it has a great vocal by lead singer Corinne Drewery with many different and pleasant chord changes. The song reminds me of something Dusty Springfield or Billy Davis Jr would of recorded in 1968. "Better Make it Better" is better than the original from The Living Return. It has more of a full orchestra sound, than the original and is more traditional to SOS. The cover tune "Stoned Soul Picnic" is very well done and is close to the original by the 5th Dimension.

After listening to this album, I am reminded of how great the music was back in the late 60's. It would be wonderful to see Swing Out Sister collaborate with The Original 5th Dimension. They've already worked with Jimmy Webb on their Kalidescope World album. I think a Swing Out Sister/Paul Staveley O'Duffy produced album by The Original 5th Dimension would be awesome.

Lush pop........2006-09-08

Swing Out Sister have always occupied various, if consistently beautiful, spaces in their soulful pop sound. On the previous two outing, 1992's "Get In Touch With Yourself" & 1994's "The Living Return" they went a little 1970's "Philadelphia soul", echoing The Stylistics & The Delfonics with modern flairs & jazz touches.

Here, they return to the 1960's halycon pop they were known for. "Shapes & Patterns" see's the return of their mainstay producer Paul Stavely O'Duffy who helps give Corinne & Andy the focus they needed for their fifth long-player.

The record opens on a reassuring pop note of "Somewhere In the World" before spilling into the patient "Here & Now", & swings toward the deliciously urgent "We Can Make It Happen". Each of these cuts are all "ba-da-ba's" & violins a plenty. Soul pop at it's best?

The record only gets better, & slightly moodier, as you get further in. Corinne's voice manages to echo Marilyn McCoo of A Fifth Dimension; only more British. (S.O.S. gives the A.F.D. staple "Stoned Soul Picnic" a safe but pretty reading here.) Andy, ever the arranger, with a guidng hand from O'Duffy manages to immerse Corinne in jazzy, pop sounds. All at once are they retro & at the same time could fit into contemporary A/C radio format.

Highlights include, the beautifully haunting "Something Out of this World" where the star is Corinne's enuciation of the lyrics. Also, the heart-breaking ballad "Now You're Not Here" hint at a deeper sense of romantic longing. Corinne vamps (vocally) a little here, but never too much.

Overall, "Shapes & Patterns" finds Swing Out Sister returning to their pop roots of Bacharach & David, but at the same time moving the texture & feel of their sound forward. Highly recommend.

Must have with Kaledoiscope world.......2006-06-15

Please refer to the review of J. Collins "stoned-soul" -

This is a wonderful album, more lyric centered and exploratory than kaledoiscope world. It their finest work.

Love it!!.......2006-03-25

One of my favorite SOS cds ever! Corrine Drewery has such a beautiful voice! I love the jazzy, 60's, pop kind of sound.

More jazzy, soulful and smart pop.......2006-01-27

Swing Out Sister may be one of the most consistent pop acts you'll come around. Vocalist Corinne Drewery and keyboardist Andy Connell's music is always well arranged, densely layered and rhythmic enough to make you dance (or at least tap your feet). Add "Shapes and Patterns" from 1997 to the honor roll.

Again, the vibe is a combination of Motown and Burt Bacharach -- all with a contemporary pop production style. Again, Drewery and Connell are backed by other top-of-the-crop performers -- including jazz-soul fixtures like guitarist Tim Cansfield, percussionist Luis Jardim and the unmistakeable trumpet/fluegelhorn player Jerry Hey.

And again, Drewery's dry, simple vocals shine -- here contrasting well with the gospellish power of her backing vocalists (especially on "We Could Make It Happen," the cover "Stoned Soul Picnic" and "Always.")

There's even a bit of innocent trippiness in some of the CD tracks, such as "Something Out Of This World" and "You Already Know," jazz-flavored ballads whose backing tracks seem to float into the sky but never get too far out to enjoy. They're perfect for the girlish side of Drewery's voice. (A bit of "You Already Know" is sampled in the "Shapes and Patterns" mini-song bridges earlier in the album and in the finale).

There's a twist to this SOS set. As songwriters, Drewery and Connell seem to have taken and passed some courses at the Bacharach/John Barry school of killer chord changes. Dig the midtempo "Always" or the moving love ballad "Now You're Not Here," used as the theme for a Japanese TV serial. Each chord shift keeps you involved in the song after even hundreds of plays.

"Now You're Not Here" is the album's highlight -- a moody slow-burner that is among the best songs SOS has ever composed. SOS manages to mix the Bacharach sound with psychedelic soul and a touch of hip-hop (note the sampled sound of the opening bars) into classy pop you love but never seem to hear anymore. And at the end, there's the trademark scatting of Drewery, whose plaintive vocals during the whole song provide an elegant tour-de-force.

More quality music from an act that's been "about" quality throughout the bulk of its career. Excellent.

Average customer rating:

Simply sublime

Contact Note
Jon Hopkins
Manufacturer: Just
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Art of Chill 2
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ASIN: B0002NVL76
Release Date: 2004-08-16

Tracks:

Circle
Second Sense
Contact Note
Searchlight
Symmetry
100
Glasstop
Sleepwalker
Reprise
Nightjar
Black & Red
Luna Moth

Album Details

Cutting Edge Blend of Electronica and Filmcore Ambient.

Customer Reviews:

Simply sublime.......2006-12-28

I bought this album right after hearing two tracks from it on an Internet radio broadcast of ambient music. It's a beautiful mix of ambient, electronica, and pure piano pieces that blend together very nicely. The entire work is deeply contemplative, but also keeps moving; some of the tracks are particularly upbeat and have an infectious, thumping back beat to them.

I created a playlist out of this disc and went for a long bike ride in the woods and fell completely in love with it: It definitely takes you on a journey of introspection, but the songs will by no means put you to sleep.

Circle, the first track, starts off gently enough, and pulls you in to a quiet scene of reflection. Then, a beat comes in lightly from a distance, and pretty soon the music has you moving. The second track, Second Sense, glides in with a light, single female vocalization, followed by another back beat, neither of which hogs the stage in the song. A couple of the tracks, such the title track, are a tad melancholy, but they only start out that way and fit perfectly into the framework of the entire album as a whole. My favorite track, 100, is probably now one of my top 5 instrument/electronic pieces ever. It has a great rhythm and sunny groove. It's hard not to smile, bob your head, and tap your feet while listening to the song.

Throughout all the tracks is a subtle appearance of a piano playing simple melodies that are hypnotic and haunting, yet gorgeous.

I'd highly recommend this album to anyone who is looking for music with meaning but that isn't heavy-handed in the least. I have listened to it over and over in the weeks I've had it, and have not grown tired of one single song.

Average customer rating:

Patterns/Message to South Africa
Noah Howard
Manufacturer: Eremite Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

Avant Garde & Free Jazz | Jazz | Styles | Music

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ASIN: B000A0GP90
Release Date: 2005-08-02

Tracks:

Patterns
Message To South Africa

Average customer rating:

wonderful music, sadly unknown
wonderful music, sadly unknown

The Dynamic Sound Patterns
Rod Levitt
Manufacturer: Ojc
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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Presenting Ernie Henry
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Midnight Oil

ASIN: B00008Z47M
Release Date: 2003-04-22

Tracks:

Holler
Ah! Spain
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Upper Bay
El General
His Master's Voice

Customer Reviews:

wonderful music, sadly unknown.......2003-05-17

If you do a Google search for trombonist Rod Levitt you may find that he played with Dizzy Gillespie and Gil Evans. It may also mention this album and the 3 he made for RCA. What it doesn't mention is that at least 3 of these are among the most brilliantly composed, arranged and performed jazz albums ever.

Taking Ellington as his starting point, Levitt composed melodic, harmonically advanced and downright fun (and often funny) music and got seven of his colleagues in the Radio City Music Hall pit band to play it. None of these guys are "name" musicians, with the possible exception of trumpeter Rolf Ericson who played with Duke for a time. No matter- the group interplay and solos are wonderful. There was a lot of doubling in this band, and Levitt made use of the coloristic possiblities. He also had that knack for making 8 musicians sound like 20 if he wanted to. "Dynamic Sound Patterns" indeed- The first tune goes from a rough-voiced trombone call to slightly spooky 3/4 flute & bass unison passage to some swinging ensemble passsages & solos within the first 2 minutes. The rest of the album is similar- constantly shifting and yet somehow cohering. These guys obviously played together a lot and really liked playing what Levitt wrote, and what he wrote was obviously just for this particular set of musicians.

This was Levitt's first LP, a Grammy nominee for 1962's best Jazz album. This reissue is his first full album to make it to CD. Be warned: If you buy this there is good chance you will soon be searching for vinyl copies of the RCA albums (start with "Solid Ground" if you do).

Considering the obscurity of this record, you really have to wonder how much other brilliant music is lying around relatively unheard, buried under the hype given to lesser artists.

wonderful music, sadly unknown.......2003-05-17

Taking Ellington as his starting point, Levitt composed melodic, harmonically advanced and downright fun (and often funny) music and got seven of his colleagues in the Radio City Music Hall pit band to play it. None of these guys are "name" musicians, with the possible exception of trumpeter Rolf Ericson who played with Duke for a time. No matter- the group interplay and solos are wonderful. There was a lot of doubling in this band, and Levitt made use of the coloristic possiblities. He also had that knack for making 8 musicians sound like 20 if he wanted to. "Dynanmic Sound Patterns" indeed- The first tune goes from a rough-voiced trombone call to slightly spooky 3/4 flute & bass unison passage to some swinging ensemble passsages & solos within the first 2 minutes. The rest of the album is similar- constantly shifting and yet somehow cohering. These guys obviously played together a lot and really liked playing what Levitt wrote, and what he wrote was obviously just for this particular set of musicians.

This was Levitt's first LP, a Grammy nominee for 1962's best Jazz album. This reissue is his first full album to make it to CD. Be warned: If you buy this there is good chance you will be searching for vinyl copies of the RCA albums (start with "Solid Ground" if you do).

Tracks:

Euclid
Muted Street Song
Two Aged Windows
Ascension And
Her Static Will
Waterpath St.
Alpine Low
Sun Court

Average customer rating:

Happiness is this CD
Happy, Female Vocals, Indie Pop

A Hundred Patterns
The Icicles
Manufacturer: Microindie Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Rock | Styles | Music
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ASIN: B000CIWZXK
Release Date: 2005-01-11

Tracks:

Rock 'n' Roll Girl
I Wanna Know
Forever and a Day
Sunday Song
Ralphy Rodriguez
Bat In The Kitchen
Happy Place
Porch Swing
Snowman
Pretty
Sugar Sweet

Product Description

The indie pop band the Icicles are back with their second sugar sweet offering of classic pop. âA Hundred Patterns,â the first full-length effort from the Icicles, successfully builds upon their EP âPure Sugar.â If you are looking for comparisons look no further than Heavenly, the Go Goâs, sixties girl group the Murmaids and more recently the All Girl Summer Fun Band. While âPure Sugarâ is pure pop, âA Hundred Patternsâ displays the bands continual maturation process. The pop elements are all there, but there is also an underlying sense of melancholy most noticeable on the beautifully quiet âPrettyâ which features Jeff Baron (Ladybug Transistor, Essex Green, Sixth Great Lake) on guitar. Pop fans need not worry, there are also plenty of get-up-out-of-your-seat-and-dance songs like âI Wanna Know.â Along with some changes in the tone of the album, the line up has changed. Gretchen DeVault (vocals, guitar) and Joleen Rumsey (vocals, keyboards, gloc) are back with a new rhythm section including Emily Krueger (bass guitar) and Greg Krupp (vocals, drums). The foursome traveled to Marlborough Farms in Brooklyn, NY to record with Ladybug Transistor front man Gary Olson and Bill Wells. The album was mixed and mastered by Britt Myers who produced, engineered and mixed Dressy Bessyâs second album, âDressy Bessy.â Myers also mixed the Essex Greenâs album âThe Long Goodbyeâ released on Merge Records and James William Hindleâs album âProspect Parkâ released on Badman Records. All the new faces add to the depth of this album. This group has managed to walk the thin line between throwaway pop and over-serious pretentious rock with a skill that is nothing short of amazing. The best elements from âPure Sugarâ all return on âA Hundred Patterns.â There are sweet melodies, beautiful harmonies, smooth bass lines, solid toe tapping drum beats and great sing along choruses. But somehow the sum is more than the total of the parts. The Icicles have magically sewn together a classic pop album that will keep you warm on those cold winter nights, and will keep you cool during the dog days of summer. www.theicicles.com

Customer Reviews:

Happiness is this CD.......2006-06-17

If you need a boost, pop this disc into the player. Without being chirpy, this little group makes joyful noise. I'm really impressed with mood elevation that it brings.

It would make a great gift for a tweenager with a beginning interest in rock.

Happy, Female Vocals, Indie Pop.......2006-06-16

It's a pity that the tracks can't be sampled, or even listed, at the time that I write this. The CD includes 11 songs, melodic, upbeat, with female vocals and harmonies, clever lyrics, with an unobstrusive background dash of 60's bubblegum style organ. Other bands that have some similarities to The Icicles include The Eames Era, Cub, & The Concretes, all of whose music can be heard on Amazon. If you're a fan of this type of music, I'd recommend The Icicles. Of the 11 songs, all are good and 5 or 6 have migrated to my mp3 player for long term listening.

Average customer rating:

It's 4-Hero.....(but possibly not as you know them!!!)
Incredible
A perfectly balanced piece of music art
une balle!
une balle!

Creating Patterns
4hero
Manufacturer: Umvd Import
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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The Remix Album, Vol. 1
Brazilika
Play with the Changes
The Remixes 1997-2000

ASIN: B00005ONMR
Release Date: 2003-02-18

Tracks:

Conceptions
Time
Golden Solitude
Twothesme
Another Day
Hold It Down
Unique
Something Nothing
Ways Of Thought
Eight
Twelve Tribes
2-Bs-74638
Les Fleur

Album Description

Fourth full length from the amazing London Acid Jazz / Nu-Soul / Down-tempo act. Includes the beautiful first single 'Les Fleur'on which Carina Anderson reworks Minnie Ripperton's vocal against a 16 piece string and brass section. It is truly an unbelievable and gorgeous version. All you Jazz heads must hear it to believe it. Stunning. Other highlights include Jill Scott lending her vocal talents on 'Another Day' which could have easily fit on her debut album. Ursula Rucker contributes vocals to 'Time'. 2001 / Universal.

Customer Reviews:

It's 4-Hero.....(but possibly not as you know them!!!) .......2004-11-03

Following up the universally impressive & ambitious Breakbeat / Electronica "Two Pages" that was released in 1998 and became something of a underground classic, was never going to be easy proposition. And for the 2001 follow-up, rather than retread the breakbeat patterns of the last album, in a climate where musical genres has shifted focus, they have instead (in theory) built an album of Nu-Jazz / Broken Beat experiments, with a impressive collection of vocalists to bring these tracks to life.

For those worried that this emphasis on vocalists meant, that there wasn't going to be the sublime instrumentals that 4-Hero do so well, need not worry. because tracks such as the skittering and gracefully freewheeling efforts such as "Conceptions", "Something Nothing" & " "Eight" retain that reliably earthy & elaborate organic sound that 4-Hero are applauded for. But it must be said that as excellent as these tracks are, the vocal collaborations are the highlights here....

"Time", featuring "Ursula Rucker" plays to the strengths of what she does best, and that's to put spoken word & socially aware wordplay to the backing of minimal jazz arrangements. Uncompromising, intense and Cerebral. It's heady music for sure, and is as intense as hell. But props to 4-hero, for not being tempted into making track resembling aural wallpaper, with inane diagloue planted over the top.

"Another Day" sees the music move subtly from the more moodily constructed beats of "Time" into something more elegant & smooth Nu-Soul referencing. The on-board vocalist for this remarkable effort is "Jill Scott", and only her truly remarkable vocal (and it is remarkable) could make a song with the mundane subject matter of being 'too tired to get up and go to work' sound as soaring and passionate as a classic old-skool soul....in a word Marvellous.

The Broken beat sound get's an introduction here, in the form of "Hold it Down", and it's one of the most upbeat tracks on offer here, and with some excellent drum programming and percussive breakbeat experiments with a clear nod to Jazz-fusion with its sampled soul chorus, which makes up the backbone of the vocal here. Its similar in style, to some of the more recognised artists in the broken Beat genre ("New Sector Movements (NSM)", "Two Banks of Four"), and actually remains one of my favourite tracks on this album, due to its groove and immediacy.

Taking a cue from the beat Poetry of 'Gil Scott-heron', with one eye on the uncomprimising, engaging songwriting skills that depict the gradually declining social environment, self-Conscious, incisive, confrontational lyrics, mixed with stirring, rousing contemporary production heavily influenced by Jazz. This (like 'Ursula Rucker's' effort), brings some heavyweight substance to the tracklisting, in amongst all the beautifully string arrangements & instrumentals that comprise this album. It manages to just pip Ursula's effort, due to being slightly more direct and articulate, and the more immediately thought-provoking of the two (although musically, Ursula has the edge), irrespective of that, this is stirring stuff.

For the last half of the album, where usually, in these sorts of albums, it tends to lag. 4-Hero have wisely tightened their belts and put some strong tracks for the last half. Apart from a couple of gorgeous lengthy instrumentals in the form of "Eight" & "2-BS-74638", but the reworking of "Minnie Riperton's - Les Fleur" is easily one of the best singles that 4-Hero have ever created, all heavy sensual string arrangements, thrilling instruments performances, welded together with euphoric soaring vocal choruses with a nod to classic Rythm & Soul, it's a heart-jerking moment for sure, and is definitely one the undisputed hightlights of the album.

But, The tricky question is.....'Should you buy it??'

Well....if you're a 4-hero fan, and have at least 2 of their albums, then this is a must, as it's the band shifting direction yet again (bear in mind, they started as a 'Jungle/Drum n Bass' act in the early 90's, then moved into the more melodic/ jazz-fusion end of breakbeat in the late 90's), now find themselves, positioned to embrace the more lucrative 'Nu-Jazz' / 'Broken Beat' / Jazz-House genre that an artist like "Jazzanova" inhibit. So those hoping for some of the more Drum/beat orientated tracks from the "Two Pages" album may well be disappointed (or even worse, dismiss this album). And whilst I'm using "Two Pages" as a reference, This album may lack the diversity of "Two Pages", with fewer immediately obvious standout tracks, such as "Star Chasers", "Spirits in Transit" & "We Who Are Not as Others" & "In the Shadows", to match the sprawling masterpiece that is "Two Pages". But "Creating patterns" is more tightly focused and less indulgent than the previous album, with each track featured here, standing admirably in its own right, and with some tracks natural progressions from the last album, and less Dense & concentrated a listening experience. Is it better than "Two Pages"........well, its a very close call. And I'd have to say that "Two pages" nudges ahead of "Creating Patterns" for being a (ever so slightly) more memorable album. And so I suggest if your new to 4-Hero, start with that first, and then make this tremendous album your next purchase.

Incredible.......2002-12-20

For about three years now, I have come to love this '4 Hero' for their alternative 'jazzy-tech' sound. A little research showed me that these guys were more than just DJ's or 'remixers', they have preserved a period of time in music before the onslaught of exploitation and the "video age".Being from the UK, with a population that shows more appreciation,it's easier for them to promote the very roots of modern soul and jazz music, while at the same time cleverly creating a new musical sound that combines and trancends classical,hip-hop, jazz and R&B.

A perfectly balanced piece of music art.......2002-06-10

This is how modern, discerning dance music should be made today. 4 Hero managed to create a complex, colorful, sometimes overwhelming, universe of sounds & musics, that is totally satisfying for beatheads and admirers of quality cross-over jazzy music alike. If you are, or you've ever been, into quality black music you'll definitely love this work. If only more 'electronica' artists could make more music like this...

une balle!.......2001-12-28

the evolution of 4 Hero is very interesting. some have said they get more commercial, i don't think its fair. agreed, this is not drum and bass as we knew it. but 4 Hero (check out what they do under the Tek 9 name as well) has always been a step ahead of the competition. like in 2 Pages, they use violins and other acoustic instruments. but there is more variety on Creating Patterns. It's been the only disc in my cd player for 5 days...

une balle!.......2001-12-28

Average customer rating:

If the price wasn't so good, I'd give it 1 star.

Steve Reich's Four Organs

Manufacturer: Retro Music
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Chamber Music | Classical | Styles | Music

Compilations | Classical | Styles | Music

General | International | Styles | Music

Classical | Imports | Stores | Music
ASIN: B000059RYK
Release Date: 2000-01-01

Tracks:

Cu Ti Lu Dissi
Curri Cavaddu Miu
Vitti N Bedda
Signuruzzu Chiuviti Chiuviti
La Tirannia
Tu Si Bedda
La Cursa Di Li Cavaddi
La Tarantula
Quantu Basilico
La Trabia
Morsi Cumorsi
La Siminzina
Avo
Chiovi Chiovi
L'anatra
Cummari Nina Cummari Vicenza
Quannu Diu S'avia 'Ncarnari
Sutta N'pedi
La Ciaramedda
'nni La Notti Triunfanti
Ora Veni Lu Picuraru
Filastrocca A Lu Bamminu
Diu Vi La Manna L' Ambasciata
A La Notti Di Natali
Bammineddu Picciliddu

Customer Reviews:

If the price wasn't so good, I'd give it 1 star........2002-10-14

Let me tell you, was I excited when I found this. These are the premier recordings of both 'Four Organs' (which I love or hate depending on my mood) and 'Phase Patterns' (which is an obscure piece anyway.) Philip Glass even performs on this CD. It only took one listen, however, to tell me that I was overcharged.

First, the good things. While there are quite a few recordings of 'Four Organs,' most are very dry and mechanical, coming off as unbearable towards the end. Here is a recording that actually DOES have a bit more life to it- likely because the older recordings reveal the piece's freshness.

O.K. That's all for the good stuff. Here's the bad. 'Phase Patterns' is so sloppy that I'm suprised this recording was released at all for fear of embarassment. Really, I'm not kidding. The beauty of Reich's phase-work (and it is beautiful, when done right) is the forward-motion, due both to the pushing ahead of each phase and the steady drive of the insturments when they're locked in to a figure. Problem is, the musicians sounded like they were all on different tempos, fluctuating at will. There are many better recordings of both of these works- the best being the 'ensemble avantgarde's. It has both these two pieces, piano phase and pendulum music. Get that one instead.

Music:

Music

Music