10/28/93 - Stretch Armstrong

Advantages: Amazing contrast of voices,
Disadvantages: Some sonic quality is lost due to the age of the recording

...This CD is a brilliant stepping-stone into the Jazz world. The instantly recognisable voice of Louis Armstrong is familiarly heart warming, Louis stood next to the sensational Ella, make a fine pair. The strong vocals are supported by the excellent band, with great instrumental links keeping the listener on the edge of their seat. The intensity and coarseness of Mr. Armstrong's voice compels the audience to wish for the next scat solo or the next parade of incredible human talent that is Louis. Of course the same can be said of the sassy Ms. Fitzgerald who can sustain these high levels of aptitude. I recommend this CD to any budding music fan who wishes to broaden their Musical horizons! HAPPY LISTENING! BY, JAKE HEMMING... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Different, exciting and composed by a renound Electronica artist
Disadvantages: not a lyrical album with 'songs'

...This is an incredible soundtrack written for the 18th Century action/drama film Plunkett and Macleane starring Robert Carlyle, Jonny Lee Miller and Liv Tyler. It is composed by Craig Armstrong, also composer to some of the famous heavy instrumental tracks used in Baz Lurhman's Romeo and Juliet in1996 such as the track 'O Verona'. This whole sound track is in a very similar style to that of Romeo and Juliet in the sense that it uses so many different genres of music within one film. As the film is set in the 18th Century it seems a bit of an odd choice to ask Craig Armstrong to create the film score as he is known as an Electronica artist. Overall surprisingly it works though. This CD has some amazing tracks ranging in styles from Carl Orff's symphonic, apocalyptic methods, to Opera, to modern day dance tracks and calm/subdued background... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: a few truly superb songs
Disadvantages: A few weaker links.

.... The second is a dinky little song based loosely on the nursery rhymne. "A Rose in April" Another classic folk story - girl falls in love with bloke, girl sleeps with bloke, member of girl's family finds them and kills bloke, girl announces that she has every intention of following him into the grave. I could have readily believed this was a traditional song, but it is actually written by Kate Rusby! "Radio Sweethearts" This is a modern song - Miller/McCusker, and has a bit of a country feel to it I thought - it doesn't quite seem to fit with the rest of the album. "I am stretched on your grave" I tink this is my favourite track, and it's superb - another tale of lovers parted by death, with a haunting tune (Rusby's I think) and some poignant lyrics. "Old Man Time" This is another one of Kate's own, and very good it is too... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful