African Sanctus - David Fanshawe

Advantages: Highly emotive choral work
Disadvantages: Better live

...A combination of traditional African music in a western choral set up sounds a little unusual but this piece is actually a modern masterpiece and a very poigniant tribute to world music. The piece's underlying theme is a trip Fanshawe made across Africa in the shape of a cross, recording native sound as he went. Having heard the piece live I must say it loses a little in recording but the power of the Kyrie and haunting rock-operatic Crucifixous are still something very unusual and beautiful. Thoses interested in world music should definately purchase a copy of the score to accompany the piece as it has some fascinating insights to the performance written by Fanshawe. The inside of the sleeve has a good history of the piece as well as detailed break downs of each movement's African music. An unusual and fascinating piece. I believe... Read review

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Advantages: Refreshingly Different
Disadvantages: None

...Don't be put off by the title Missa Luba 'An African Mass' or think that it's 'too high-brow'! Missa Luba is a wonderful example of African rhythms and percussive instrumentation - drums and shaken gourds - with traditional African 'call and response' melodies together with additional harmonies. Based on the traditional Mass the work consists of just five tracks - Kyrie, Gloria, Credo, Sanctus, Agnus Dei - and is just over fifteen minutes long. The remainder of the recording consists of 10 Kenyan Folk Melodies. These too are as wonderful and refreshing as the Missa Luba . Ideal for the 'serious' listener, as background music or for those who wish to listen to something a little different. Go on. Give it a try; you will be glad you did. After all you have nothing to loose but much enjoyment to be gained. This is my first... Read review

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Advantages: Wide range of music; some truly great tracks; consistently high quality
Disadvantages: Very few, perhaps only that it is very slighty shorter than previous albums

...After a somewhat shaky start with his first three albums, David Gray Finally hit it big with the self financed White Ladder in '98, but many were asking whether he could ever emulate such a performance again. A New Day at Midnight, David's follow up album certainly made a good attempt, but it is only with the release of Life In Slow Motion that David Gray has truly cemented his 8 year move from acoustic obscurity to a true musical star. From the moment Life in Slow Motion begins, you know that the album's going to be a good'un - the opening, faint, tinkling notes of the first track 'Alibi' slowly fade to silence before an explosion of the unique vocal stylings of Gray. This is followed by 'The One I Love', the first single released from the album and by far one of David's best ever songs. Its catchy tune, powerful voice... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful