Vox

Artist: Andreas Vollenweider
Label: Emarcy Import
Category: Music

Average customer rating:

Format: Import
Media: Audio CD
Number Of Discs: 1

UPC: 028947626442
EAN: 0028947626442
ASIN: B0002SLP2W

Release Date: 2004-10-21

Related Categories:

General

| Jazz | Styles | Music

General

| New Age | Styles | Music

General

| Pop | Styles | Music

Adult Alternative

| Pop | Styles | Music

Jazz

| Imports | Stores | Music

New Age

| Imports | Stores | Music

Tracks:

Hey You
Wake Up and Dance
Home of Love
These Hearts of Gold
Seven Doors
Enchanted Rocks
Pilgrim
Sons of Sysiphos
Paper Walls
Ripples in the Lake of Time
Kira's Waltz
What If It Wasn't a Dream

Similar Items:

Magic Harp
Kryptos
Cosmopoly
White Winds
Cosmopoly

Customer Reviews:

Not what I bargained for.......2005-12-29

Here's a minority opinion, evidently. I couldn't have been more disappointed! I didn't hear a single instrumental line I haven't heard Andreas do better on earlier recordings (and I have almost all his albums.) I always enjoy imagining the worlds and the stories that his melodies suggest to me. But with the lyrics and singing in the foreground on this album, I felt like I was being told how to interpret what I was hearing. And a 9 minute narrative "guided tour?" Talk about filler!

As to the singing and the lyrics ... there are a million singer/songwriters out there (many of whom write better lyrics and sing far better) but there are very few composers of interesting music. I always found Vollenweider creative and original, but I thought he lost his muse on this one.

An Evolving Artist.......2005-10-17

Once again Andreas Vollenweider has created something slightly different from, but clearly connected to, his past work. There are two versions, domestic and imported (this one). I feel the imported is more interesting in that the additional songs and different sequencing seems to create a more complex overall sound than that of the domestic CD. As others have pointed out, this is his first serious foray into vocal work. I think it works and that it works well. The lyrics are interesting, always have something to say, in fact are often touching, and his voice is quite agreeable . In fact, his expressiveness in conveying the intention of the lyric surprised me and, in my view, demonstrates a subtle artistry of yet another instrument--his voice.
As I continue to listen to this album , I have begun to feel that this is one of his best works. Perhaps because of the meaningfulness of the lyrics or the complexity of the music, this CD has affected me as strongly as my favorite works of the past.

What if it wasn't a Dream? No, Really!!!.......2005-10-13

VOX is the next step in Andreas Vollenweider's amazing set of "stories" represented by this mystical magical music. I love it!!! "What if it wasn't a Dream?" is my favorite selection. People should realize what a bold step this CD was for Andreas: His native language is Swiss-German, so to write and sing these excellent tunes in English, was in my opinion, a real feat. But aside from that, the CD is bold and magical, like the rest of his collection. I should also add that I have been a devoted fan since July 1985, and a friend since October 1989. His music truly changed my life and helped enhance my own ability to think deeply and to create. Andreas is a wonderful man, husband, devoted father, a world-class musician, and a man who is attempting to bring peace and sanity to a troubled world. His magnificent Spirit, and Talent are incredible gifts to the world, and I urge everyone to give his music and his message a chance. You will not be sorry! Visit these URLs for more information: www.vollenweider.com and www.andreasvollenweider.com and billslater.com/andreasv.htm (Thank you, Andreas, for your courage and creativity that you used to create VOX.)

A Worthwhile Andreas Vollenweider CD.......2005-09-20

As other reviewers have pointed out, this album is different from Andreas' other albums because, on Vox, he sings LYRICS--possibly for the first time. I say "possibly" because I think he sang some background vocals with lyrics on Eolian Minstrel, but I'm not sure. It's also important to keep in mind that singing has been a part of Andreas' recordings since the beginning. The difference is that on his earlier recordings, he sang only syllables (like "scat" singing in jazz) and only on a few songs. Therefore, his voice, in general, is not a completely new element in his music. Andreas' singing on Vox is quite enjoyable, in my opinion, even if some might argue that it is not spectacular (e.g., see Amazon.com's review of the domestic release of Vox on the Kin Kou label for a critical viewpoint).

This international release of Vox has at least one advantage over the domestic release on Kin Kou. This import release includes three songs not found on the domestic version: "King & the Fool," "Innocent," and "Silver Moment." So far, only "Silver Moment" has been released as a bonus track on iTunes. Of the three songs unique to this import edition, "Innocent" is my personal favorite and one of the best on the album overall, in my opinion. It's a touching vocal duet with Andreas and a female relative (a niece, I think) singing about the serious theme of the innocence of children. On the other hand, the domestic release of Vox includes "Home of Love," which is not included on this import edition. For those who've already bought this import edition, "Home of Love" is available on-line from iTunes.

Vox is a solid effort, but it has the feeling of being less fully developed than Andreas' earlier albums (some of the songs are quite short and sound almost like little "jams" or sustained vamps rather than fully developed songs). I felt the same way about Cosmopoly, although I like that album too. Because I don't think this album represents Andreas' best work compositionally, I've given it four stars. Longtime Vollenweider fans and new listeners alike will probably enjoy Vox. To hear some of Andreas' best work, check out White Winds, Dancing with the Lion, Down to the Moon, Book of Roses, and Caverna Magica.

Finally, I strongly disagree with the Amazon.com reviewer's critical take on Vox in the review of the domestic edition. There, the reviewer accuses Andreas of doing a corny Louis Armstrong imitation as a joke on "Enchanted Rocks." That's his opinion, of course, but I think it's a real stretch. I didn't take Andreas' singing on "Enchanted Rocks" that way at all, and I think that song is actually quite entertaining.

So great.......2005-07-12

This cd is just awesome. It blends Vollenweider's own famous sound with instrumental pop and ethereal new age. Such a pleasure to listen to, it really just transcends to another level.

And when it comes out in the US from the Savoy label, it's going to have all these extras on the reverse side!
Check this out:
- full 5.1 Surround remix of all the audio material on the release in Dolby Digital
- Bonus audio mixes of music NOT on the stereo CD side
- exclusive video performances of material from VOX at a live concert filmed earlier this year at the Kafleuten Hall in Zurich, Switzerland
- VOX video "making of" with Andreas Vollenweider narrating

I am so stoked, definitely a must have.

Music CD:

Music CD

Music CD

Music CD

Welcome to the Ghetto ~ Spice 1

The Art of Rolling ~ The Blue Van

The First and the Last ~ New Race

Between Drinks ~ Honolulu Playboys

Magdalena

Illusion

Van Morrison ~ Van Morrison

Ghostyhead [IMPORT} ~ Rickie Lee Jones

Yo, Yo, Yo ~ Medina Green

Do for Self ~ Invisible