Advantages: A great return to form, should win the old fans back and then some Disadvantages: I cant help feeling the coldplay penned track is the weakest on the Album
It was towards the end of 1997 that I first heard of Embrace. They were a new fresh band from Huddersfield and without even releasing a single had everyone raving about them. For the months that followed they became media darlings, everyone loved them. The first album was superb, it shook up the music industry and suddenly Embrace were the new Oasis. Then a few years later the follow up, Drawn From Memory was released and although no where near as good as its predecessor it was still a decent album.
By this time Danny and the lads didn?t seem to be able to do anything wrong. The McNamara brothers were writing and releasing some great materials. That was until the dreaded third album syndrome took over. A year after Drawn, Embrace released their third album, If You?ve Ever Been. Then almost overnight they went from being a great band ...
Advantages: A slice of life, Argentinean style Disadvantages: Slow moving and nothing much happens
The Lost Embrace is what Ariel, a mid to late twenties Argentinean Jew of Polish extraction, feels he missed in his childhood, his father having run off to fight in Israel not long after he was born. What he has instead of a father though is what amounts to an extended family, the shop owners of a small mall in Buenos Aires where his mother runs a little lingerie shop. A diverse group of many ages and many nationalities run the shops, the Italian family who run the electrics shop and the beauty saloon, the Koreans who cannot get into the 'Korean' Mall and run a Feng Shui shop, the two old Jewish tailors and, of course, other Argentineans. They are all friends and help each other out whenever they can.
While Lost Embrace focuses on Ariel and his aimless life, forever complaining about his father and trying to get a Polish passport so ...
Advantages: Lovely lyrics, singing and music Disadvantages: A little short
If you’ve never been
Embrace release their 3rd album following on from their brilliant debut album ‘The good will out’ and their much under rated follow up album ‘Drawn from memory’. All complaints that were made about both albums seem to have been addressed, many people however dislike the lead singers voice, I on the other hand think it’s brilliant and conveys emotion really well.
OVER
This is a song about a relationship ending. It’s also somewhat of a statement of intent, Embrace were criticised by some people for having songs that lasted too long. Well this one lasts 7 minutes, and to its credit it doesn’t get repetitive, in fact the song is over in a wave of brilliance. This song bears most of the Embrace hooks, such as an orchestral sound, interspersed with guitars ...
Personnel: Deva Premal, Peter Makena, Maniko, Sudhananda (vocals); Miten (acoustic guitar); Robert Powell (pedal steel guitar); Manose (bansuri flute); Kit Walker (piano, Hammond B-3 organ, keyboards, programming); Jai Uttal (harmonium); Marquinho Brasil (dumbek, djembe, percussion); Ty Burhoe (tabla, percussion). Producers: Miten, Deva Premal, Kit Walker. Recorded at Stillwater Studios, San Francisco, California. A favorite of yoga studios across the country, EMBRACE has created a stir with its haunting, ethereal music and the beautiful voice of vocalist Deva Premal. Comparisons to Enya and other hypnotic vocalists abound, but dedicated listeners will hear something much deeper than moody pop in Premal's chants and mantras. Om Tare is a traditional, ancient mantra offered to the goddess of infinite compassion. Its arresting groove seems genuine and reverent, not manipulated by modern studio controls. That's not to say that EMBRACE doesn't feature top production skills. Produced by Premal's long-time partner Miten and world-music veteran Kit Walker, each track is polished, employing just enough studio wizardry to sound contemporary without tipping into New Age sentimentality. Unlike other chant CDs, Premal sounds relaxed, joyous, and open, using varied rhythms and loose phrasing. Such pleasurable listening shouldn't be reserved only for the yoga matEMBRACE is a perfectly soothing and restorative listening experience.
Album Reviews
NAPRA Review (09-10/02, p.78) - "...With this third recording...she reveals greater vocal depth, more developed musical abilities, and a more defined individual sound..." Yoga Journal (04/03, p.171) - "...Elegant, atmospheric arrangements that ride on supple grooves and insinuating beats....The ultimate effect is one of radiant cross-cultural harmony..." New Age Retailer (1-2/03, p.162) - "...Premal creates music that serves slow movement, meditation, and dance..."
Titles on disc 1
1.
Om Tare Tuttare
2.
Om Namo Bhagavate
3.
Hari Om Shiva Om
4.
Om Ram Ramaya
5.
Shima Shima
6.
Sammasati
7.
Yemaya Assessu
8.
Gayatri Mantra
Ciao
Listed on Ciao since
24/06/2005
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