The Light Beyond

The Light Beyond

ASIN: B00004U05X

Editorial Reviews
Amazon.com
The second collective side project from a trio of jazz-rock veterans, The Light Beyond yields nothing revelatory but does serve up a fairly entertaining fusion variety pack. Frank Gambale, guitarist on past Chick Corea Elektric Band projects and a longtime mate of drummer Steve Smith in Vital Information, both rattles and hums on this disc. Most memorable is the complex, whipsawing mix of industrial shards and blues-rock textures he juxtaposes in "Lumpy's Lament," a daunting piece that is counterbalanced by stretches of handsome jazz riffing on "The Throne of Savitar" and the shimmering, desertlike atmospheres he concocts on "Fugitive Aspirations." Stu Hamm, who has logged time with Joe Satriani and Steve Vai, reliably sustains the group's challenging metric framework. While sometimes annoyingly light on melody, The Light Within is more structured and graceful than the trio's debut disc (Show Me What You Can Do), and, consistent with a group objective formed for this recording, reminiscent of the eclectic jazz-rock panache demonstrated in years past by Return to Forever. --Terry Wood

Tracks:

The Orphan
Children of God
Forgiveness
The Graveyard
Sweet Liberty
Secrets of the House
Act One: Perfectly Nice
Act One: As Good As You
Secret Soul
Finer Things
The Pledge
Sirens
Things Beyond This Earth
Painting Her Portrait
In the Light of the Virgin Morning
The Gypsy
The Proposal
Slip of a Girl
Sirens (Reprise)
Farewell, Good Angel
My Maker
Rain
The Voice Across the Moors
Poor Sister
Brave Enough for Love

Amazon.com

Here's another to join the parade of page-to-stage musicals inspired by 19th-century fiction. This ambitious adaptation of Charlotte Brontë's haunting classic Jane Eyre for the musical theater seems to be part of a trend represented most famously by Les Misérables. It also reflects the increasing pressure to schedule an original cast recording release as close as possible to a new show's Broadway opening: in this case, in fact, the CD was both recorded and released prior to the show's opening in December 2000 at the Brooks Atkinson Theatre. But what's most significant for the artistic character of Jane Eyre: The Musical is found in yet another pattern: like a number of his colleagues, composer-lyricist Paul Gordon comes to the project from a pop music industry background (best known for his hit "Friends and Lovers"). And quite a few of the show's numbers benefit from Gordon's catchy craftwork, weaving melodies that are clearly destined to be whistled long past curtain. Yet the effect is sometimes too facile, not diving as deep as we would like into the emotional predicaments of Brontë's characters. You begin to crave a more deftly defined and imagined variety of sound worlds (especially for the darker aspects of Thornfield Hall) than what is hinted at. Gordon doesn't forge any new paths, but his melodic fluency does have its moments of payoff--especially in the moving final duet "Brave Enough for Love," which is also strong enough to stand on its own.

Gordon's predilections as a would-be son of Sondheim are nevertheless clear, and he's telescoped the story into mostly effective lyrics, with some thoughtful juxtapositions of material. Most importantly, he understands that this is more than a Gothic romance, foregrounding the central message of forgiveness that Jane learns as a girl. He attempts to explore the injured sense of self shared by both Jane and Rochester and sets them on a painful, mutual voyage of discovery.

The creative team also includes the veteran duo John Caird (book and direction) and John Napier (scenic design), who have collaborated on such epics as Les Mis and Nicholas Nickleby (not to mention the Las Vegas Siegfried and Roy extravaganza). And the show's creators seem to share a vision geared toward the more operatic end of the spectrum (it was opera composers, after all, who early on claimed 19th-century Gothic fiction for the stage, as in Donizetti's Lucia di Lammermoor), with an actual parody of coloratura in one showstopper ("The Finer Things") given to Blanche Ingram. Fortunately, the two principals have large, richly expressive voices to encompass the large, complicated emotions of these characters. Marla Schaffel singswith unusual beauty and brings dimension to her Jane, while James Barbour (whose resumé includes Beauty and the Beast) is never really threatening as Rochester, but rather a tortured soul who is sweet-voiced even at his most cynical. Mary Stout is a stitch as the blustery Mrs. Fairfax. While the show has already undergone a lengthy evolution from its very first workshops, the viability of its final, fully staged realization has yet to be determined. But this cast recording conveys an authentic sense of the musical's atmosphere and emotional scope. --Thomas May

Customer Reviews:

Great Buy!.......2007-06-08

Not only was this CD super cheap, it also arrived at my house 3 days later!

Perfect Match.......2007-03-16

The music in this album really gave me the feeling of reading the book. I think the songs were well chosen and well written, except of course for the songs sung by Mrs. Fairfax... I could have done without those. Jane and Mr. Rochester's songs carry the story well and they sound lovely. For any musical lover, or romance fan I definitely recommend this album.

Probably the most beautiful musical of all time.......2007-02-16

This is a hidden gem and if you buy it and listen to it, I don't see how you can not love it. I have bought many, many Broadway cast albums but I still am a popster at heart. With all that said, this is a cast album that soars above the crowd.

I bought this several years ago and have listened to it repeatedly since I got it. Why do I love it so much? First of all, the lyrics are full of heart and emotion and tell the story ably. But it is the music and the performances that are truly remarkable here. The melodies are memorable and absolutely exquisite. The orchestration is lush but not sappy. The performances by the two leads are nothing less than stunning.

I never get bored with this wonderful cast album and it is very, very highly recommended.

Beautiful!.......2007-01-28

I listen to this soundtrack all the time and I never get tired of the songs. If Charlotte Bronte story was written as a musical, then this would definitely be it.

A good musical.......2006-07-20

if you like old-fashioned romantic stuff, this one's for you. Some songs are very inspired, the music is,for the most part, quite beautiful, and the story line keeps the essence of the Bronte novel. I heard this right after "Wuthering Heights: the musical", which is quite good, yet this is superior. Give it a try and you might be nicely surprised. I would highly recommend it to the ones who know the novel and to English Literature students: it offers a different and interesting approach to the novel.

Average customer rating:

a masterfull piece
Feel the Ambience

Beyond City Light
Jon Jenkins
Manufacturer: Spotted Peccary
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | New Age | Styles | Music

Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Flow
Secret Observatory
Emotional Landscapes
Blue Sky, Red Guitars
Continuum

ASIN: B0007X9U4C
Release Date: 2005-04-12

Tracks:

The Calling
Zzyzx Road
Through City Light
Secrets Of the Virgin
Legacy
Deep Sleep And Dying Embers
The Source
Sky Of Surrender
Through Different Eyes
Forever

Amazon.com

When infinity is the core of your creative palette, some things just take time. Beyond City Light arrives seven years after keyboardist/multi-instrumentalist Jon Jenkins released Flow, his first solo recording and a sterling piece of mind-stretching, deep-space sound design. Beyond City Light travels a similar path, with some variation, as it gradually transports listeners deep into the sonic ether. Jenkins in places supplements his spacious, resonant, slowly unfurling soundscapes with textures from flutes, wordless female vocals, and more emphatic percussion. While generally a good move, it tends to make a few selections, notably the Tangerine Dream-inspired "Through City Light," a little busy. Beyond that quibble, Jenkins--an admirer of Pink Floyd, Peter Gabriel-era Genesis, and other progressive-leaning acts--crafts some splendid mental theater here, particularly the opening track and the concluding five selections, highlighted by the benevolent celestial sheen captured in "Sky of Surrender." For fans of electronic/ambient recordings who prefer the mostly atmospheric, occasionally rhythmic region of the progressive-music continuum, Jenkins is a composer worth noting. --Terry Wood

Album Description

Immersed in mysterious ambience and alive with compelling energy and powerful grooves, 'Beyond City Lights' offers the first taste of new music from Jon Jenkins since his landmark 1998 release, 'Flow.'

Jon Jenkins is a highly regarded composer of ambient/space/electronic music. He has developed a loyal fan base over the past several years. With this recording, Jenkins embarks on a sonic sojourn through sparkling city lights and beyond, floating on deep rivers of textural ambience and through vast scenic spaces to a realm of deep sleep and dying embers.

Customer Reviews:

a masterfull piece.......2006-12-18

I have aproximately 250 ambient CDs and this is one of my favorites. Very nice work. I hope that Mr. Jenkins will produce very soon some new material because this is simply a CD of outstanding beauty and we really need more of this kind.

Feel the Ambience.......2005-06-11

Jon Jenkins has many albums to his credit, including Flow and Continuum which I feel marks
his success in the ambient market. He has worked with such notable names as David Helping, Paul Lackey and Jeff Pearce.

His style is self described as Ambient - Electronic Esoterica and I couldn't agree more. Sometimes bordering on classical with an electronic touch, sometimes almost space music, sometimes a touch of jazz, Jon Jenkins has created a style within a style of music making his
compositions unique in a genera that is typically identified as a non-descript style of music.

This CD is not the usual ambient production in that it is not meant to be soft and non-intrusive as
much ambient is. This CD is meant to be turned up and listened to... this is a feel the music CD
that will leave you wanting more. Jon Jenkins takes ambient to new ground here with some very powerful compositions. There are ten tracks all deserving of serious consideration.

The first track The Calling offers space synth and ethereal vocals that rises and fall to rise again in a progression piece. Filled with emotional stanzas, this piece could be considered an introduction to the balance of the work.

The first piece works into the second piece called Zzyzx Road. This is keyboard with synth backfill that provides a lovely composition, both strong and emotional. A very lovely melody is carried throughout the piece, making this a memorable track in a place where melody is not
always memorable, but usually intentionally abstract. This is a very remarkable composition giving ambient music a definition.

Through City Light returns to the spacey electronica with a clearly identifiable beat and a hint of keyboard melody that tickles the mind as it sweeps you into the mood. More of a "jazzy" feeling emerges but never dominates, giving this again a very unique feel. Another powerful and emotion filled composition.

At this point the pace changes. Secrets of the Virgin is a softer composition that drifts in and out
of stronger changeovers. We are introduced to an almost romantic composition that seduces you into a calmer place within yourself and explodes into "sexy" vocalizations emphasized by a clearly defined, often orgasmic beat against a keyboard composition that sweeps you off your feet. It will lull you into that calm place and back into the ecstatic beat several times over the course of the composition before allowing you to finally rest.

Legacy allows us to travel with the music as it lifts us up with keyboard chords suggesting melody, but it is the demanding beat that moves our feet. We stop momentarily to linger in a soft explosion of sound and emotion only to move on again with the beat to the next destination this
composition takes us to before allowing you to come finally to rest.

Deep sleep and Dying Embers is another change of pace, providing a very calming composition, drifting in and out of the mind. Soft, very subtle and very delightful, allowing us a period of relaxation.

We then are called upon to enjoy an almost spiritual composition in The Source. Suggestions of
flute, keyboard, ghostly vocals, powerful musical phrases and strong waves of sound build and wash over you as you allow this piece to move you to another level.

Then there are the delightful fields to wander in Sky of Surrender. Again, this suggests an almost classical feel to the composition, but never gives into it. We are allowed a feeling of vastness, a never ending horizon that this composition reaches out towards, but it never limits itself to one space. This is a composition that follows the phrasing of the music, not a beat, and is expertly executed allowing us to drift with the music rather than forcing us to follow.

Through Different Eyes gives us a short, powerful burst of energy with a delightful composition drifting in a strong emotional background. The melody is never lost, as the background seems to force the melody to the front of the piece. Drifting over all this is a lovely vocal accompaniment to the melody that harmonizes rather than distracts. Again, another composition that calls for our
attention, rather than allowing itself to settle into the background.

The final track Forever caps this CD with another composition that declares open space rather than limited boundaries. This piece is strong, bold and yet is not contained by a beat. The phrases reach out and grab our attention; keyboard blends with synth and vocals to demand we pay attention, and then carries us over the vastness of the composition. The ending of the journey comes with a feeling of timelessness and endless space.

The compositions never become dark or monotonous. There is a definite feeling of uplifting, of carrying you along with the music, so you do not encounter any blockages or distractions to the enjoyment of the compositions. This is a CD to be listened to and enjoyed, rather than pushed to
the background as "mood music".

Jon Jenkins weaves a patchwork of styles and compositions which are not only pleasing as a whole to the ear, but also calls our attention to each piece individually to truly appreciate the blending of styles and textures that create the entire CD. This is not ambient music for the background, but rather it demands we pay attention to the music and allow ourselves to be pulled into it to truly appreciate the works as well as the journey the artist is presenting to us. This is a lovely and masterful effort that should not be overlooked and should be part of your ambient collection. And if you have never heard Jon Jenkins' work before, this is a great introduction to the talent of this artist. mafoster

Average customer rating:

Romancing Romance

Songs of Romance, Vol. 1

Manufacturer: Ranwood Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Modern & 20th Century | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Romantic (c.1820-1910) | Historical Periods | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Italian | Languages | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

Operettas | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music

General | Pop | Styles | Music

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Orchestral Pop | Easy Listening | Pop | Styles | Music

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Solo Instrumental | New Age | Styles | Music
Similar Items:

Songs of Romance, Vol. 2
Romance of the Panflute
Return to Romance
Zamfir: The Lonely Shepherd
Pipe Dreams

ASIN: B000000BBS
Release Date: 1997-02-18

Tracks:

Schubert's Serenade
El Condor Pasa
The Wind Beneath My Wings
Clair de Lune
Spanish Eyes
La Mer
Serenade From 'The Student Prince'
La Paloma
On Wings Of Song
Musetta's Waltz
You Light Up My Life

Customer Reviews:

Romancing Romance.......2005-02-26

I have been in love with Zamfir's music since 1982 or so, when I listened in a radio station his fabulous renderng of the --''Theme From Limelight''. I called the radio station, gor the artist's name and album title and went out to a record store and bought it.

I listened to this album's samples and ALL of the songs are just beautifil. I highly recommende it to alll those who really love soft and romantic music, and I am buyinbg this album too!...

Average customer rating:

No lover of flute music shoud be without this CD!
The kind of music you want to keep listening to.....
A journey by flute

Miles Beyond
Suzanne Teng
Manufacturer: Autumn Light Productions
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Classical | Styles | Music

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General | International | Styles | Music

General | New Age | Styles | Music

Classical | Indie Music | Stores | Music

General | International | Indie Music | Stores | Music

General | New Age | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Mystic Journey
Enchanted Wind
Niya Yesh
An Ancient Muse
Bombay Dub Orchestra

ASIN: B0000T2FGS
Release Date: 2003-10-10

Tracks:

Medicine Wheel
Sierra
Babylonians
Sitara
Motherland
Suling
Chicoy
Miles Beyond
Tien's Lullaby

Album Description

"Miles Beyond" is the stunning follow up to Suzanne Teng's award winning debut "Mystic Journey." The nine original compositions include a haunting invocation on ocarina, the flashy Spanish flavored "Sierra" featuring alto flute and flamenco guitar, an ecstatic trance dance number with exotic winds and hynotic Middle Eastern percussion played by Gilbert Levy, a rocking sitar dance number, an enchanting African song featuring Levy on Balaphone, a sweet Indonesian song on suling, a mesmerizing Native American flute piece composed in a cave, a breathtaking title track song "Miles Beyond" with sensual flutes and a beautiful steel drum, ending with a sweet Chinese lullaby.

The album features Teng on over 11 ethnic flutes, Levy on drums from India, Africa, Egypt and Iran, Fritz Heede on sitar, guitar and Turkish saz, Barry Newton on string bass with special guest Naser Musa, master oud player, and perfomers on didgeridoo, cello, electric bass and keyboards. This original instrumental music is exotic, dreamy, grooving and soothing to the soul.

Named one of Southern California's Hot 100 Unsigned bands of 2003, Suzanne Teng and Mystic Journey is a contemporary world music band to look out for. Their new album is a journey of the soul with

Customer Reviews:

No lover of flute music shoud be without this CD!.......2007-02-09

If we take variety and skill into account Suzanne Teng may be the world's premiere flutist. She plays just about every flute known to mankind and plays them with a mastery that every master would envy. While Suzanne Teng's first album, Mystic Journey, was excellent, this CD, Miles Beyond, is a true masterpiece of World Music. Suzanne Teng's third release, Enchanted Wind, is more geared to meditation music.
There are elements of diverse musical traditions woven into a rich tapestry of sound on this CD. These include: folk, classical and (middle) eastern music. Also, a wide variety of instruments are used: besides many different types of flutes, we hear a sitar on one track and a didgeridoo (instrument of Australian Aborigines) on another.
This is a CD that you will want to listen to again and again. It's soothing, inspiring and fascinating. Highly recommended!

The kind of music you want to keep listening to............2006-03-23

"Miles Beyond" by Suzanne Teng and Mystic Journey has become one of my favorite CDs--it's the kind of music that you can never tire of....authentic, soulful, a great mix of textural sounds and innovative rhythms. Everytime I listen to it I hear something new. My two favorite tracks are Medicine Wheel and Chicoy...all of the tracks, each recorded with a different flute and percussion mix, take you on a unique journey...uplifting, meditative, heartfelt. I have given this CD as a gift to many family and friends--everyone loves it. Suzanne's flute playing is stellar...no wonder she has won so many awards and praise....she and her band get my 5 stars!

A journey by flute.......2004-05-28

Suzanne Teng plays nine different kinds of flutes on this album, so if you like flutes, this album is perfect. By playing different kinds of flutes and changing musical styles throughout the album, it's kind of like a journey around the world by flute. "Babylonians" has a strong Middle Eastern flavor, "Sitara" follows with the sounds of India, then "Motherland" begins with a Chinese sound, but as African-sounding drums become more prominent later in the song, it becomes a fusion of world sounds.

These three tracks are my favorite ones on the album. The rest of the album is good too, with a slow tempo and sounds that produce a peaceful and relaxing mood.

The music is consistently high quality throughout. With a variety of sounds all mixed together, from Native American to Asian to African, blended perfectly to create a fresh mixture of sounds, this album is both relaxing and interesting.

A Vision Beyond Light
Average customer rating:

Solid Space Music Album

A Vision Beyond Light
J. Arif Verner
Manufacturer: Spotted Peccary
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | New Age | Styles | Music
Meditation | New Age | Styles | Music
Healing | New Age | Styles | Music
Space Rock | Rock | Alternative Styles | Alternative Rock | Styles | Music
General | New Age | Indie Music | Stores | Music
Similar Items:

Through the Timeless

From a Distant Horizon

Autumn Continent

Emotional Landscapes

Secret Observatory

ASIN: B000003YRH
Release Date: 1997-11-25

Tracks:

A Vision Beyond Light
From Extension Fields
In Lucid Dreams
Floating Feather
A Distant Memory
Above Empty Clouds
Imagination Point
Aeolian Atmospheres
Through Eon Clusters
An Embryonic Breath
World Mind

Customer Reviews:

Solid Space Music Album.......2001-07-16

From the Spotted Peccary Label, one would expect an ambient/tribal sound. Verner moves away from the tribal aspect and gives a quality "Hearts of Space"-style space music effort. Bravo!! Because of his use of MIDI guitar, some passages sound like the works of Jeff Pearce. However, Verner's synthesizer and the use of many more layers of sound give this work a step up on Pearce's compositions (don't get me wrong, Pearce's work is good). Wonderful addition to any space music fan's library. If you like Char-El, Meg Bowles, or Jeff Pearce, you'll like this CD. A fine work to relax by, especially under the stars.

Average customer rating:

Sounding Joy

Manufacturer: Arsis Records
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Symphonies | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Sacred & Religious | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Classical | Styles | Music

General | Opera & Vocal | Styles | Music
ASIN: B0000015E9
Release Date: 2006-10-24

Average customer rating:

Not the best from these 3
very light in my opinion
Nice playing but poor sound.
Not beyond but reached fusion enlightenment
Gambale is always a gamble.

The Light Beyond
Frank Gambale , Stuart Hamm , and Steve Smith
Manufacturer: Tone Center
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Jazz | Styles | Music

Jazz Fusion | Jazz | Styles | Music

General | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

Hard Rock | Hard Rock & Metal | Styles | Music

General | Jazz | Indie Music | Stores | Music
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Show Me What You Can Do
Ghs 3
Come on In
VTT2: Vital Tech Tones, Vol. 2
Show 'Em Where You Live

ASIN: B00004U05X
Release Date: 2000-07-25

Tracks:

Katahdin
Yang
First Look
The Throne Of Savitar
Nostalgia
Yin
The Spirit Of DumDun
Lumpy's Lament
Isle Of Few
Fugitive Aspirations

Amazon.com

The second collective side project from a trio of jazz-rock veterans, The Light Beyond yields nothing revelatory but does serve up a fairly entertaining fusion variety pack. Frank Gambale, guitarist on past Chick Corea Elektric Band projects and a longtime mate of drummer Steve Smith in Vital Information, both rattles and hums on this disc. Most memorable is the complex, whipsawing mix of industrial shards and blues-rock textures he juxtaposes in "Lumpy's Lament," a daunting piece that is counterbalanced by stretches of handsome jazz riffing on "The Throne of Savitar" and the shimmering, desertlike atmospheres he concocts on "Fugitive Aspirations." Stu Hamm, who has logged time with Joe Satriani and Steve Vai, reliably sustains the group's challenging metric framework. While sometimes annoyingly light on melody, The Light Within is more structured and graceful than the trio's debut disc (Show Me What You Can Do), and, consistent with a group objective formed for this recording, reminiscent of the eclectic jazz-rock panache demonstrated in years past by Return to Forever. --Terry Wood

Customer Reviews:

Not the best from these 3.......2006-10-28

When you get anything from any of these 3 musicians, you would usually expect something worthy of your music collection. I was kinda dissapointed by this CD. I will buy a CD just for one track if it catches my ear. The rest usually take some time in getting some listening to appreciate. There is none of that on here. I have owned this cd for years now and have tried it on many times to see if there was something I wasn't hearing before...no luck. Sorry, but this only gets 2 stars from me and thats just because I find it hard to give these guys any less. There is just no focus here...get GHS3 instead.

very light in my opinion.......2006-03-30

As always I continue to look out for the newest stuff that these guys put out. This particular recording to me is simply boring and uneventful. A couple tunes are worthy but the rest is complete mush. I love Steve Smith to death but his bland plain drum tone is almost the same on all these newer recordings. Take a listen to the "Players" disc or Vitals "global beat" . Much warmer and fuller tone. Live its a different story. But im not impressed with the recordings that are being done at his home studio. If this was the first disc you heard by any of these guys, you might not ever buy one from them again.

Nice playing but poor sound........2004-05-25

Nice playing, but beware. The sound quality is nearly unacceptable. It sounds like the musicians are playing in a different room. The producer or someone involved in the mixing or mastering process must have slipped on the mixer board or something. The loss of midrange and treble energy makes the record kind of uninvolving. And I'm not talking about the sound through a super high-end system (my stereo setup is rather "modest", worth about $1500). Out of five stars I give the music four weak stars and the sound one strong star.

Not beyond but reached fusion enlightenment.......2002-04-11

Tone Center presents another Jazz/Rock/Fusion all star band. Stu Hamm is the bassist that many have seen with Satriani. If you are wondering what he would sound like in a Fusion context here is your answer. Stu joins two parts of Vital Information and the results are very good. This is the sequel to "Show Me What You Can Do". It is different in nature than the first but I find it to be an improvement. The first disc was largely improvised and much more rock orientated. This disc is an improvement composition wise and the playing is still excellent. Each member is given a brief solo piece in addition to the full ensemble tunes. "The Spirit of Dundun" is the best of the three solo pieces and has Steve Smith showing why he is a poll winning drummer. As far as the ensemble tunes are concerned they are far mellower than on the previous release. The tunes show that the trio spent more time composing than on the first disc. "The Throne of Savitar" is a RTFesque mini-suite that is one of Frank Gambale's finest compositions. All three members display their talents on this one. "First Look" is a Stu composition. This is also a great advance compositionally for the band. All three members are featured at one time or another but this is a showcase for the amazing bass of Stu. The rest of the disc is also very good. The overall tone/volume/feel/mood is on par with the Vital Information discs. Mellower but still amazing playing throughout. If you like fusion then buy this one. Another victory for Tone Center.

Gambale is always a gamble........2002-03-22

Generally, I find Gambale's playing/compositions to be cheesey and uninteresting. While technically proficient, they often lack substance. On the other hand, this album (along with his work w/ Chick Corea and his 1989 live album) stands out as a work of inspiration and passion. The entire mood of the album is thoughtful and intelligent, while remaining soulful and energetic. Steve Smith and Stu Hamm forge an unstoppable rythm machine and the interplay between the three is seemless. A great buy for jazz-rock fans.

Average customer rating:

Nanci's Best
"Last of the True Believers...Griffith & Rounder"

There's a Light Beyond These Woods
Nanci Griffith
Manufacturer: Philo / Umgd
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Country | Styles | Music

Outlaw & Progressive Country | Country | Styles | Music

General | Traditional Country | Country | Styles | Music

General | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

Singer-Songwriters | Contemporary Folk | Folk | Styles | Music

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Similar Items:

Poet In My Window
Once in a Very Blue Moon
The Last of the True Believers
One Fair Summer Evening
Hearts in Mind

ASIN: B00005UMTH
Release Date: 2002-01-08

Tracks:

I Remember Joe
Alabama Soft Spoken Blues
Michaels' Song
Song For Remembered Heroes
West Texas Sun
There's A Light Beyond These Woods (Mary Margaret)
Dollar Matinee
Montana Backroads
John Philip Griffith

Amazon.com

Nanci Griffith's 1978 debut for Philo is certainly not as consistent as her mid '80s albums; however, it should not be overlooked by fans of introspective, personal story songs. "Alabama Soft Spoken Blues" may be her single most beautiful melody, with "Michael's Song" and "West Texas Sun" not far behind. There's an innocence and delicacy to Griffith's voice, and she's well served by producer Mike Williams's acoustic colorings. These nine songs reveal Griffith's beginnings, point to where she would venture, and satisfy through their luminous, lyrical grace. --Roy Kasten

Customer Reviews:

Nanci's Best.......2002-03-07

Recorded in single takes (no overdubbs), There's a Light honestly reflects the state of NG's artistry. While I would hesitate (only slightly) to call it her best album, it is one of her best, and one of the best albums of the genre. Its delivery varies as NG explores different modes of expression, melodic and harmonic strategies, and poetic structures. I bought this title in the early eighties, and I've played it regularly ever since.

"Last of the True Believers...Griffith & Rounder".......2002-02-20

Rounder presents the unforgettable beginnings from Nanci Griffith's early release of 1978...the innocent folk writings in "THERE'S A LIGHT BEYOND THESE WOODS"(her debut album), gives the listener a clear look at one of the purest songwriter/artists of our time.

Being a big fan of Alison Krauss, Gillian Welch and Joni Mitchell, this vintage release from Rounder is a welcome treat for all folk, bluegrass and country fans all from the "O Brother Where Art Thou" region.

Want to close with my favorite pick of the album "ALABAMA SOFT SPOKEN BLUES", is poetry in motion, beautiful beyond all words, Nanci's performance sets her apart even at this early period of her career...thank you Rounder, for sharing this classic album from the past.

Total Time: 37:51 on 9 Tracks ~ Philo/Rounder 11671-1234-2 ~ (2002)

Light My Fire / Ain't No Sunshine / Beyond the Sea
Average customer rating:

Light this on fire.

Disgraceful

I'm a Doors fan

Listen to the strings

A great nostalgia trip for Pop Idol fans

Light My Fire / Ain't No Sunshine / Beyond the Sea
Will Young
Manufacturer: Bmg Int'l
ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

General | Pop | Styles | Music
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Similar Items:

From Now On

Friday's Child

ASIN: B000067DRB
Release Date: 2002-09-03

Tracks:

Light My Fire
Aint No Sunshine
Beyond The Sea (Ft Big Blue)

Album Description

The followup to the record-breaking success of his debut single 'Evergreen'. Tracks, 'Light My Fire' (Doors), 'Ain't No Sunshine' & 'Beyond The Sea' feat. The Big Blue. 2002.

Album Details

The Second Single from the S Club Pop Idol Winner is More a Cover of the Jose Feliciano Version Than the Original Doors Hit. Also Comes with Covers of Bill Wither's 'ain't No Sunshine' and Bobby Darin's 'beyond the Sea (La Mer)'.

Customer Reviews:

Light this on fire........2006-05-04

Bad songs are everywhere. We all know that - switch on music television and you get bombarded with hateful music. That's nothing new. But sometimes, just sometimes.. you hear something that is so BAD, so downright AWFUL, that it truly takes your breath away.

Will Young's attempt at "Light My Fire?" You guessed it - that's one of those rare songs.

Will Young, then. You probably haven't heard of him in America (where, as a previous idiot said on here - you like "manly voices like Justin Timberlake." Someone get this kid a spot on TV - The greatest comedian in the world couldn't have come up with that), but he was our first Pop Idol, and has actually did the impossible and is still, like, around.

I'm not a music snob and I'll take anything at face value. Will Young, talented vocalist he may be, has never been, nor ever will be, my "bag." That's not to say he isn't a cut above the rest of the fodder that trundles through the Reality Television Road To Hell, but the day The Curmudgeon buys a Will Young CD will never happen.

Anyway, enough prattle - let's talk about what is quite simply one of the worst singles, and certainly one of the worst cover versions - of all time. The Doors "Light My Fire" is a brooding, smouldering sexually tinged classic. Jim Morrison was a true original, and (if the movie was to be believed) not for commercialising his music. So he must have been spinning like a tornado when he heard his music being butchered like this - and by the winner of a TV talent show.

To say this sounds nothing like the original is a hilarious understatement. Cover versions, of course, should sound different than the original (if not - what's the point?) and you should always inject a bit of yourself into the song - but what Will Young has injected is pure ear bleeding poison.

A feeble, slow drumbeat. A whiney, girly voice. A barely there rhythm. At best - it's just boring. At worst - it's damn insulting.

But of course, the purists and real music fans were up in arms, but of course - because he was on reality television The Scum bought it in droves and it was number one. Same old story. That's nothing new; Hell, when it comes to these brainless morons you could release a ringtone and it would get to number one.... oh, wait - that already happened.

So - Will Young. Went on to big things over here in The UK. According to a recent poll (conducted by - oh oh.. the public) Will Young is the greatest British male solo artist of all time. But he's already struck out twice on here, the Official Room 101 of Amazon.com.

Who do you think is right?

The_Curmudgeon_Hates_You@yahoo.co.uk

Disgraceful.......2004-07-14

At least the single is tolerable and pleasant. I am being generous by giving 2 stars instead of 1 because this version of "Light My Version" gets every single aspect of the classic wrong.

While it is understandable that artists will want to interpret songs differently, Will Young practically destroyed all traces of Jim Morrison with his cover. I don't know why he chooses to sing "Light My Fire" as if it were some nice love song. Perhaps his weak vocals can't handle the aggressiveness or senusality of the original or he wants to tone down the suggestiveness of the lyrics. Either case, it's a bad, bad idea. Also, it's a bad, bad idea to completely eliminate the guitar solo, obliterate the psychedelic elements of the song, and to change the lyrics around. Did Will Young do any research on the Doors or Jim Morrison????? The least he could do is respect the original!

Fellow readers, take a listen to the one and only "Light My Fire" by The Doors. It's far better by comparison. If you find the original song old and boring, then ignore this review.

I'm a Doors fan.......2003-04-14

This single must very simply be outlawed. Only Doors fans will agree with me. If you like Britney Spears or Backstreet Boys, you will not agree.

Listen to the strings.......2002-11-13

The first time I heard Will I was watching "Top of the Pops" on BBCAmerica, and he absolutely blew me away. Will takes great inspiration from Jose Feliciano's previous interpretation. Although I must say that the live version from Top of the Pops does great justice to the studio cut, and it would be a great idea if the live version gets realeased as a b-side with a future single. When you hear it, listen to the string arrangement, it will blow you away. I have it recorded on my DVR and I don't think I will ever erase it. Thanks Will for that moment.

A great nostalgia trip for Pop Idol fans.......2002-11-09

Will breaks no new ground with this record, as we have heard him sing all 3 songs on Pop Idol, but it is a great collection nevertheless. Will showcases his soulful voice, and versatality, as he sings almost-latin style on Light My Fire, and big band-style on Beyond the Sea. A must for all Pop Idol fans, as it brings back memories of at least 3 shows (the #1-themed show, the songs from films-themed show, and the big band show).
Will Young is a pleasant change from the talentless, personality-less singers we normally see in our charts, and this is a must for all fans.

Average customer rating:

log-off and go to bed already
Awash in a sonic sea.
Awash in a sonic sea.

The Light Beyond

ProductGroup: Music
Binding: Audio CD

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To the Shores of Heaven

ASIN: B00005MF6H
Release Date: 2001-05-01

Tracks:

Migration of Souls
Across the Infinite Sea
A Farther Shore
The Light Beyond

Album Description

The latest by Jeff Pearce, THE LIGHT BEYOND, is his followup to the beloved & highly-acclaimed 2000 album TO THE SHORES OF HEAVEN.

THE LIGHT BEYOND shares its predecessor's basis of smooth, guitar-based atmospheric clouds, both dark and light. But THE LIGHT BEYOND explores more abstract, open- ended and free-form compositions, with one track almost forty-four minutes in duration, in the midst of three shorter pieces.

This may be Pearce's most developed and sonically complex work yet, a fact that is truly amazing considering that THE LIGHT BEYOND was entirely improvised in the "Star's End" studios of WXPN radio in Philadelphia. One man with a guitar and some electronic processing boxes has created, in real time and for the benefit of a live listening audience, work of a substance and depth, not to mention sonic richness, that ranks with his finest studio-recorded works.

Listeners who loved Pearce's previous work -- in addition to TO THE SHORES OF HEAVEN there were DAYLIGHT SLOWLY (also on Hypnos), VESTIGES, TENDERNESS AND FATALITY and THE HIDDEN RIFT, as well as Pearce's collaboration with fellow Hypnos artist Vidna Obmana, TRUE STORIES -- will find in THE LIGHT BEYOND the next phase in Pearce's evolution.

Customer Reviews:

log-off and go to bed already.......2002-03-21

Reviewing an album like this is a difficult thing to do. What angle do you take?

Those not familiar with Jeff Pearce, or the electronic-ambient/newage hybrid need to know that though he plays guitar, Pearce's instrument is filtered through so many effects that it sounds like a synthesizer. His sound is very warm and floates lightly out of the speakers.

This album is very soft and often has a pulsating rhythm that recalls Steve Roach's 'The Magnificient Void', however, this music is much warmer and not so cavernous. That isn't to say that it doesn't take on transcendent qualities--it does. However, this album is more likely to ease you into a state of warm bliss than have you begin questioning your growth and development as a person (as Steve Roach's music tends to do)

All of the adjectives fit this album (you know them--they are all used too often in reviews---just how many 'Lush' albums are there?) But they all do fit.

This is a beautiful album. If you like Gong's tranced-out bits and 'Rainbow Dome music' you'll probably like this, however, some may find this album to be too 'newage'.

Okay--that's the detacted, objective review....

This is music that can heal, it is very soft, but will stop time and conversation when played loud.
The recording is immaculate (esp. for a live recording), and Pearce's production keeps the music fresh and alive.

p.s. this star rating means nothing...I had to put something in.

Awash in a sonic sea........2002-02-20

I have to admit that I knew very little about Jeff Pearce before purchasing this CD, but based on this single disc I'm convinced that I've found my next obsession! I can't wait to hear his other CD's.

Mr. Pearce's use of subtle washes of sound punctuated by beautiful and delicate processed guitar work create a calming, ethereal and ambient background perfect for late evening meditations or mid-afternoon work blitzes. His music is neither so obtrusive as to be distracting, or so subtle that it fades away into the background defying notice.

According to the liner notes, this work is a live performance that was meant to be a working template for a finished work to be completed later in a studio. Upon listening to the recording, Jeff Pearce decided that he had achieved his goals with this performance. I agree, the performance is flawless and beautiful; no improvement was necessary. If any revision to the work were necessary, I might have liked it to go a little longer. At just under an hour in length, I found myself wishing he could have embellished a bit more to fill that 75+ minute capability of a compact disc.

In my opinion, Jeff Pearce belongs among the ranks of ambient masters, sitting comfortably next to giants of the field like Steve Roach, Michael Stearns and Robert Rich. If you are a fan of 'ambient drifters' ala MIDNIGHT MOON, THE MAGNIFICENT VOID, or TRANCES AND DRONES; you will not be disappointed with THE LIGHT BEYOND.

Awash in a sonic sea........2002-02-20

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