Bantock: Sappho & Sapphic Poem

Advantages: An amazing story
Disadvantages: Very hard to find

...In 1996, Jeff Ament, Robbi Rob and Richard Stuverud, released three fish. One of pearl jams many side projects. This is a great album. It is a story of three fish, as the title implies. The album is lovely and mellow. The story is presented by spoken word backed by harmonious music. One fish was intelligent, another half-intelligent, and the third, stupid, it is the story of how they survived when a fisherman came to their lake. It is originally a poem by philosopher and poet Jelaluddin Rumi. Rumi lived in Afghanistan in 1207 to 1273 Many of his other poems are still in circulation today. And all his poems have something to ponder on. All have a deep meaning. Jeff Ament, Robbi Rob and Richard Stuverud, in my opinion did justice to the three fish poem. The first time I heard the album I was hooked. Listening to the album you can see... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average helpful

Advantages: Never gets dull, gives you a headache or irritates you
Disadvantages: Some would call it airy-fairy

...Beauty personified. If you love fairytales and have been seraching for a music beffiting of that theme, then the search ends here. McKennit manages to blend mythical music, haunting vocals and olde englishe poems into a fantastical mixture of imagination and reality. In several tracks, she turns traditional poems into such music that you actually believe that this way the way in which they were intended by the author. In 'Stolen Child' McKennit renovates Wlliam Butler Yeats' poem of the same name into a faerie song to delight anyone with a good imagination and a love of fantasy. 'Lullaby, meanwhile, has an overvoice of a prologue by William Blake, and you can almost smell the rain in the background. I usually find that my favourite McKennit songs are widely spaced between her collections however, and someone who is already a fan... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful

Advantages: Working with a range of singers
Disadvantages: Several tracks too long

...An album which see the Bristol-born artist working with a range of other performers, the 'Nearly God' project is an album of experimentation both musically and vocally. The opening slow-burner "Tattoo" is the only track on which Tricky performs alone. This is followed by the excellent "Poems" in which he sings alongside Martina and Terry Hall - a song based on the most minimal of beats, this is one of the finest tracks in his repertoire. As usualy sombre lyrics prevail: 'I cannot wait to deeply neglect you, deeply forget you' "Together Now" is a startingly upbeat duet with Neneh Cherry whilst "Make A Change" sees Alison Moyet taking centre stage. Icelandic singer Bjork guest appearances on two tracks that work especially well - "Keep Your Mouth Shut" and "Yoga". In amongst this though are a few weak numbers. "I Be The Prophet... Read review

Ciao members have rated this review on average somewhat helpful